Who are You?

To get the most out of my comments, read 1 Peter 1:1-2



Introduction







First and Second Peter were written between 63 and 66 years after Jesus' death. Nero was ruler and persecuted the Christians terribly. Peter writes to the Christians in Asia Minor to prepare them for suffering, comfort them in their suffering and urge them to remain strong during their suffering.



Peter is writing this letter to "God's elect". Who are they? They are scattered Christians in Asia Minor. They are his chosen people. At this point in history, the old covenant has been set aside and the new covenant has been established. Therefore, I believe, God's elect are not the Israelites God led to the promised land and their descendants. God's elect is anyone who believes Jesus Christ is the Son of God and follows his example. The old covenant Canaan was the Israelite's/Hebrew's promised land. The new covenant Heaven is promised to those who believe-- no matter your ancestry or continent you live on. Revelation 17:4 says, "Gods elect are his called, chosen and faithful followers". You cannot reject Jesus as the Son of God like the Jews and be a faithful follower.

There are characteristics God's elect should possess. In Colossians 3:12 it says,"Therefor, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love which binds them all together in perfect unity."





Christians are also 'strangers in the world'. Strangers in the sense that you don't feel like this world is your home and you long to be with Jesus in heaven. Our focus should not be in this world even though we live in it. We should find a way to separate ourselves from the knowledge that leads to death and focus on spiritual matters. Matthew 6:16 says, "Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy.... But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy.... For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." We should not feel comfortable here on this earth. We should feel like we are just passing through. If we begin to feel comfortable and satisfied where we are then, I think, we have stopped trying to please God.



I thank God for having a plan for his people before he began to create us. He foreknew we would not be able to keep his commands. He planned for Jesus to sanctify us even before we existed. He is a smart God, too. He saved the best for last--salvation by faith in Jesus Christ. He set up those 600+ laws in the old testament to make it impossible for us to follow. He did this so the better covenant through his Son could accomplish completely. God's plan is perfect.



So, who are you? You are God's elect, strangers in the world, who have been chosen by God to lavish his grace on through the work of the Spirit by faith in Jesus Christ.

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.