Text: 1 Peter 1:1-2
As a new school year begins, we will start a new teaching focus in the youth ministry. For the remainder of the year, we will be studying the topic, “What is the Gospel?” In our youth group meetings, we will be examining this question in the letters of 1 & 2 Peter.
Peter wrote his first letter to “the elect exiles of the dispersion in [Asia Minor].” He wrote the letter during the reign of Nero – a Roman emperor with a penchant for killing Christians. Nero eventually had Peter executed. In this letter, Peter encourages the Christians who are in the dispersion, or those who are scattered abroad. Peter’s purpose for writing this letter is to exhort and declare the true grace of God (5:12). In God’s grace, the Christian is to find comfort during his/her trials. For the 1st century Christian, it was the threat of death and violence for his/her beliefs. Today, we do not expect to die for our faith, but we still endure the hardships of a sinful world.
In the opening of the letter, the apostle greets his reader with the assurance of the gospel. The way in which Peter presents the message here is remarkable. He draws upon the three Persons of the Godhead and shows their relationship to our salvation.
First, he greets the elect, how are such “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father.” What is this foreknowledge? It is not simply God’s knowledge of the future, but it is that in God’s knowledge, he sees things come to pass. His foreknowledge is his sovereignty in determining and implementing his decision to save sinful man.
Second, he says their election is “in the sanctification of the Spirit.” What is this work? The Shorter Catechism says that sanctification is “a work of God’s free grace whereby we are renewed in the whole man after the image of God, and are enabled more and more to die unto sin, and live unto righteousness.” Scripture says that we have been set apart from the beginning to be save “through the sanctification by the Spirit (2 Thessalonians 2:13). Our conversion to Christ cannot be separated from our continued growing in him. Even in those times when we rebel, God still grows because the Spirit sanctifies, not us. Though our sanctification does not depend on us, we take part in it. God calls us to be holy as he is (1 Peter 1:15).
Last, our election is “for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood.” This clause points also to our sanctification, which leads to our obedience in Christ. The idea of “the sprinkling of blood” reminds us of the atonement we have in Jesus, because of the shedding of his blood. The atonement for our sins is a one-time event in which we have our sins forgiven, but it is also a continual event in our life, and one we should pray for. David prayed for God to wash him so that he would be clean again (Psalm 51). That isn’t to say that we continually need atoned for, but that Christ atonement continues to work in our live towards making us more like himself.
One of the aspects about the gospel is God’s intimate involvement with his elect. From the beginning of time, the Father foreknew them. The Spirit quickens their dead hearts and makes them alive in Christ. Every Person of the Godhead is involved in seeing a person come to faith and continue in that faith. Christians should be abundantly encouraged and strengthened in reading these truths. They speak plainly of a gospel message works in the hearts of men, who are unable to help themselves.
Way you can follow up with you child:
1. If you do not already have a Bible reading plan for your family, I might suggest you reading 1 Peter together. It is only 5 chapters, and I suggest reading it together over the course of a few weeks.
2. Some questions to ask:
a. What is an apostle? Are there any more apostles?
b. Who are God’s elect?
c. What is God’s foreknowledge?
d. What is sanctification?
3. Scripture Memory: Ephesians 4:23-24
0 comments:
Post a Comment