1 Peter 1:1-2

Narrator: Ivona Gentwo
1 Peter 1:1‑2  •  2 min. read  •  grade level: 13
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• BibleTruthPublishers.com
A. James, in his Epistle, addresses the scattered twelve tribes, as Israel had still the character of God’s people in his eye: and he recognizes both the synagogue (James 2:22For if there come unto your assembly a man with a gold ring, in goodly apparel, and there come in also a poor man in vile raiment; (James 2:2)) and the assembly (James 5:1414Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord: (James 5:14)), as before the final separation of the believing remnant from the nation in general had taken place. It was a transitional moment, and he has the nation as a nation, although scattered, before him. Peter, on the other hand, takes up only the elect strangers of the dispersion, who were anywhere but in the land of Israel — Pontus, Galatia, etc. —and sets their eye upon a heavenly hope. Consequently, verse 2 is a complete reversal of the whole hopes of Israel, to this remnant of faithful ones. As to Israel of old, we might read it thus, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of Jehovah, through sanctification of ordinances, unto obedience of the law, and sprinkling of the blood of the old covenant” (Ex. 24), which sealed their condemnation. Now, he can write of the believing ones that they were “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (the name He reveals Himself to Christians in the Son of His love, as Jehovah was His revealed name to his elect nation — see Ex. 6), through sanctification of the Spirit, (not ordinances) — who separates us from man, unto the obedience... of Jesus Christ” — that is, to obey according to His order and pattern, who never did even His own perfect will, but the Father’s; “unto obedience (of Jesus Christ) and (unto) sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” The Spirit separates us unto both. Thus separated or sanctified by the Holy Spirit unto His obedience — that is, unto that end — we come under the efficacy of the blood of sprinkling of the new covenant, which purges the conscience, instead of sealing our condemnation.