Salvation & Sanctification for the Glory of God

The apostles Peter and Paul show us what the believer's life is like. When God saved them, both men were changed forever, yet they also had spiritual struggles. We can learn the answer to the question "Why are Christians changed by God?" as we look at what Peter and Paul teach us.

Believers don't belong to this world.

1 Peter 1:1-2  Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2) Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace unto you, and peace, be multiplied.

Notice the term that Peter used to address believers. He used the term "strangers" and in 1 Peter 2:11 he used "strangers and pilgrims" together. A "stranger" is a person who travels from his home country to a foreign land. The "stranger" does not belong in the land that he traveled to because he is staying on a temporary basis. 

In New Testament terms a born again believer is a citizen of heaven who is just passing through this life on earth. Thus, believers should view living in this present world as a temporary life on the pathway of faith that leads to heaven's glory.

What does it mean to be the "elect?"

Next, Peter tells us that we are the elect. I have mentioned many times how God put His plan of salvation into place before the world was created, before He made Adam and Eve and before the fall of man into sin.  

The word "elect" means that God knows the beginning and the ending of all things, and he knew us in eternity past. Before He created man God knew that Adam would fail the test and mankind would fall into sin. Before He created man, God knew salvation for mankind would be needed and He planned our redemption through Christ.  Before He created man, God knew each and every person who would accept His offer of salvation by faith and He made their election sure.  

The foreknowledge of God means that He has knowledge of what is going to happen before it happens. God peered down through all of the ages of time and saw each person who would accept His salvation by faith. Thus, He elected or chose us in Christ before the world began. Election based upon Divine foreknowledge is a mighty work of God that is so vast, I confess, I cannot begin to fathom it's implications. 

The Foreknowledge & Omniscience of God

Isa 44:6-7  Thus saith the LORD the King of Israel, and his redeemer the LORD of hosts; I am the first, and I am the last; and beside me there is no God. 7) And who, as I, shall call, and shall declare it, and set it in order for me, since I appointed the ancient people? and the things that are coming, and shall come, let them shew unto them. 

God is the beginning and the ending, Alpha and Omega (Revelation 1:8) and as such He knows all things past, present and future. God alone can declare what will happen in the future and God alone can set history in order so that it happens just as He said it would. 

Isaiah 46:9-10  Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me, 10) Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure: 

God along can tell us about creation because He was there. He is the Sovereign Creator and Sustainer of all the universe. He alone can tell what the future holds because He foresaw it all and set it in motion. His counsel will be done as He declared it would. His Word will never return void. Rather, it will always accomplish His purposes and move His plan toward perfect fulfillment.

Isa 48:3-5  I have declared the former things from the beginning; and they went forth out of my mouth, and I shewed them; I did them suddenly, and they came to pass. 4) Because I knew that thou art obstinate, and thy neck is an iron sinew, and thy brow brass; 5) I have even from the beginning declared it to thee; before it came to pass I shewed it thee: lest thou shouldest say, Mine idol hath done them, and my graven image, and my molten image, hath commanded them. 

Jehovah told Isaiah about creation from the  beginning. How powerful is our God? He speaks the word and it is done suddenly. Therefore, He spoke during the 6 days of creation and those things were quickly created according to His Word.

Concerning future or prophetic events, God said that He showed them before they happened and when the time was right, He did them quickly, suddenly so that vain man could not claim any glory. He showed His prophets the things that will happen in the future before they come to pass. We know this is true because of our End Times studies. Even now, we can see things moving toward God's intended conclusion.  

The word "foreknowledge" is carried over intact in our word "prognosis" which is most often a medical term. It means to predict the trajectory  of a disease or the expected outcome of an illness for a specific patient. In the case of God's foreknowledge, there is no prediction. God is omniscient and knows all things. He never reacts to anything nor does any event happen that catches Him by surprise.   

Sanctification: the present work of God in us.

To this point, Peter told us what God has done for us in eternity past and now the apostle will show us what God is presently doing in us. God is presently sanctifying us, setting us apart for Himself. The purpose of sanctification is to teach us to obey His Word and instill a desire in us to live a holy life. 

Living stones in the body of Christ

1 Peter 2:5  Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.  

Peter connects with the teaching of Paul about the body of Christ being composed of many members (born again believers) yet being one body united together in Christ by his Spirit (1 Corinthians 12). He calls each believer a living stone in this spiritual body God is building. 

Moreover, Peter tells us we are a holy priesthood who are to offer acceptable sacrifices to God through Jesus Christ. We know that spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God are not offering an animal like the law required. No, these sacrifices are spiritual in nature. 

Acceptable spiritual sacrifices 

Psalm 19:14  Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my heart, be acceptable in thy sight, O LORD, my strength, and my redeemer.

Words spoken by each believer should be viewed as a potential spiritual sacrifice acceptable to God. Our words should be governed by what is in our heart, soul and mind. The Psalmist prays that the meditation of His heart is right before God.

What are the things that will transform what we think about, what we say and do? Studying and delighting in the scriptures.  A vibrant prayer life. More than anything else, Bible study and prayer will shape how we think, which will impact what we say and do. In addition, Bible study and prayer will prepare our heart for worshipping and praising our All Glorious God.

Romans 14:17-19  For the kingdom of God is not meat and drink; but righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost. 18) For he that in these things serveth Christ is acceptable to God, and approved of men. 19) Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another. 

In Romans 14, Paul spoke about the need for believers to make sure that their behavior does not become a stumbling block to other believers. The specific example he gave concerned eating meat that was offered to idols. 

Within that context, Paul stated that the kingdom of God and the life of a believer should be focused on the things that promote righteousness, peace and joy as the Spirit of God leads us. Such service offered for Jesus Christ our Lord and Master is acceptable to God. Therefore, Paul urges all believers to pursue those things which foster peace and which build up the faith of other believers. 

Thoughts to Ponder...

1 Peter 2:9-10  But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light: 10) Which in time past were not a people, but are now the people of God: which had not obtained mercy, but now have obtained mercy.

Peter wraps this up for us. We are a chosen people of God who are separated out from the world to be a royal priesthood, administering spiritually acceptable sacrifices as we love and serve God and our neighbors. God saved us and He called us out of sin's darkness into the glory of His light. We have obtained mercy and forgiveness through the merits of Christ. 

Because all of this is true our response should reflect our gratitude and love for all that God has done for us. We should experience an increased desire to walk in a way that pleases Him, because He is worthy and He has made us unworthy ones worthy to stand before Him in Christ. 

Are we living like we belong to the world or are we living like we are children of our King, Jesus Christ?

Are the words and thoughts we have acceptable to God or are we self absorbed and self centered?

Do we use our body as our own to do what we want with it or do we keep our body holy because it belongs to God?

We have so much to learn about the glory of salvation and God's mighty work of grace in us. I pray that the Spirit of Christ will help us understand these truths and to work in us, making us more like God's Son, Jesus Christ.

Bob