"The Work of the Trinity"

Peter begins this letter to God's elect, strangers in the world. He reminds them that God has chosen them, the Spirit has sanctified them, and the call is for obedience to Jesus.

The Work of the Trinity

(1 Peter 1:1-2)

Introduction:

A.   Some of you may know that I enjoy things like Star Trek and Star Wars.  I enjoy fantasy and science-fiction novels.  I have read articles on aliens living among us and I have to admit, that over the years I have come to believe in aliens.  In fact, I would be greatly disappointed if there were not aliens on the earth.  Now before you jump to a conclusion that I am a little insane, I want you to examine the passage that was read to you just a moment ago.  We often read it in the NIV, but the New American Standard reads it like this:  “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered …

B.  Today we begin a new study from God’s word.  Today we begin to look into the first letter of Peter to Christians who have been dispersed because of persecution.  These Christians are probably more Gentile than Jew, but both would be in the congregations that received the letter.

C.  Peter affirms who these Christians are:  They are God’s chosen people, aliens (or strangers) living alongside the world.  If you were going through trials because of your faith, a letter like this one would be of great encouragement to you and help for you to continue to stand firm in spite of the trails.

D.  This opening has some spiritual words that held deep meaning to Christians in the first century, a meaning that is not as important to you and me.  So Peter begins by calling them “elect.”  In Greek this is simply “chosen ones.”  It is a term that was most often used to describe the Israelites of the Old Testament.  Of all the nations of the earth, God chose one man to become the father a race of people through whom all other nations would be blessed.  That man was Abraham and through him came the great nation of Israel.  With all their problems and sinful action they were “God’s chosen people.”  That understanding helped them through the most difficult times, because they knew that God had chosen them.

E.  We as Christians are not created for this world.  We were chosen by God for another world, and therefore we live as strangers and aliens among people who do not know the saving grace of Jesus Christ.  We have become the new Israel, the new chosen people.

I.  Chosen By The Father

A.  Peter than begins to give us a unique view of the trinity, the Father, Spirit and Son.  Peter unfolds the work of God among us and helps us to claim the understanding of what it means to be God’s chosen people.  You see, you were chosen by God for a purpose.  Your life has meaning and value.  It is not some random act that you just happen to exist and just happen to come to a knowledge of God and through that an understanding of Jesus as God’s redemption and accept through an active faith and repentance the grace to cover sins and bring us home to God.  NO.  You are not an accident.  You were chosen according to foreknowledge of God the Father.

B.  This idea of election and being chosen has often been seen to be in conflict with idea of foreknowledge.  In our religious world today people argue over free will in salvation versus predestination where no one has any choice in salvation.  I believe we have a great amount choice and I don’t believe Peter is say that God gave no person any choice in their salvation.  It was an almighty roll of the dice and some of you made it and some of you didn’t.  No, I don’t believe that doctrine can be upheld in a study of the fullness of the Bible.  But I want you to remember who pen the word guided by the Holy Spirit.  It was Peter, a devout Jew who did not have this theological argument that we have created over the last several centuries.  Peter understood what it meant to be chosen by God and was honored to be a Jew.  Now he understands what it means to be chosen by and is honored to be a Christian, an apostle of Jesus.

C.  But God’s foreknowledge allows him to see the end of mankind at the beginning.  God knew we would sin and planned the cross before he created the world.  He determined beforehand to send himself as Jesus and become an atonement so we could – of our own free will – choose to love him back.  God knew from the beginning that some would choose to accept his grace and love and others would spurn that invitation to banquet of salvation.

II.  The Sanctification of the Spirit

A.  Now watch what Peter helps us to see.  God chose us according to his foreknowledge through the sanctifying work of the Spirit.  Peter continues to use Hebrew words to express the work of the trinity in our lives.  The Holy Spirit sanctifies us.

B.  You were chosen for the purpose of sanctification.  That word means “to make holy, consecrate.” In the OT the utensils that were used in the worship of God at the Tabernacle, and later in the temple, were no different than what would be used in ordinary life.  Yet when they became set aside for the use of God they were sanctified.  They no longer were going to be used in everyday life, they now had one purpose, to be used for the glory of God.

C.  So when God chose you and the Spirit sanctified you, you became set aside for a holy purpose.  No longer are you to live like you did before becoming a Christian.  No longer will you think like an unbeliever or talk as one who does not have the Spirit living in them.  You are called for something greater by the Spirit and Peter says that which you and I have been set apart to do is to be obedient to Jesus Christ.

III.  Sprinkled by the Blood of Jesus

A.  Let’s keep thinking back to our OT understand of sanctification.  When the alter, its utensils and basin were consecrated it was done with a sprinkling of blood from a lamb without blemish.  Without the shedding of blood and using that blood to consecrate or sanctify the items in the Tabernacle, they could not be used for the glory of God.

B.  Turn back a few pages in your Bible to Heb. 9:11-14.  The blood of Jesus is what the Spirit uses to sanctify us.  When we are baptized, immersed in water, we go through a ceremony that brings the blood of Jesus into our lives.  Our baptism is where we contact that blood and God washes away our sins.  But what Peter wants you understand as God’s chosen people is that you were cleans to become obedient to Jesus Christ.  You were chosen and sanctified to keep on living the way you always lived in sin.  When we are too sick, to tired, to busy, to anything to worship God, follow the commands of Jesus, and walk in his footsteps we have missed the point of sanctification.  We were simply looking for cheap grace, and brethren, the death of Jesus is not cheap grace.

C.  The trinity is at work today doing exactly as it did when Peter penned these words.  God’s calling and the Spirit’s sanctification is to bring us into a desire to be obedient.  For we have a living hope.  Will you respond to God’s call today?