The Joy of Salvation in the Face of Persecution

1 Peter 1:1-9

Life is full of ups and downs. When everything is going good we continue to roll on, but what happens when things hit a wall? What happens when hard times come? We struggle through them, but we can rely on Jesus all the way. It does not usually change the situations, but it does make it more bearable.

Peter is the author of this letter, and he is sending it to the the people in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia. These groups are in the area of modern day Turkey which used to be under Roman control. “Foreknowledge” can be translated preordained, which we called predestined. Predestination is tricky. Many people will run away with the idea claiming that God picks and chooses. In reality we are all offered the same gift of salvation, but some accept the gracious gift while others reject it. Even though it is free. God is all knowing, infinitely knowing. Which means that He knows everything from before time, He knows everything that is happening and has happened during the duration of our existence, and He sees far beyond our world’s demise. Which means He knows who will and who will not be accepting Him. So predestination does not mean that He picks and chooses who goes. It means He knows who will come, and who will refuse, and sometimes God speaks directly to those who will choose Him. These people of 1 Peter were elects.

These recipients were people who had been dispersed due to Christian oppression. They were scattered. Exiles who were cast out. This is an interesting thought because though they were kicked out because of their faith they did not walk away from that faith. They held on, and the faith that they carried with them spread like a wild fire wherever they went. Which is why Peter wrote them this letter. He wrote it to those who were dispersed, and those who were saved through the dispersion.

The process of salvation is this. First justification, which if becoming just before a holy God. Then it is sanctification, which is the process of becoming holy. Sanctification means to be set apart. You can think of it as if the world is a crane machine, and the claw is God. You are a lowly stuffed animal in the vast pit, but then the claw begins to move. It positions itself right above you, descends, and forcefully pulls you out from amongst the others. You are no longer with them, but separated.

These men and women placed their faith in God, were persecuted because of that faith, held strong to their faith while facing the highest adversity, and continued to spread their faith wherever they went. This is the epitome of obedience. When we are saved, we enter into a covenant with God. Just as Moses sprinkled the blood over the Israelites, Exodus 24:4-8 “And Moses wrote down all the words of the Lord. He rose early in the morning and built an altar at the foot of the mountain, and twelve pillars, according to the twelve tribes of Israel. And he sent young men of the people of Israel, who offered burnt offerings and sacrificed peace offerings of oxen to the Lord. And Moses took half of the blood and put it in basins, and half of the blood he threw against the altar. Then he took the Book of the Covenant and read it in the hearing of the people. And they said, “All that the Lord has spoken we will do, and we will be obedient.” And Moses took the blood and threw it on the people and said, “Behold the blood of the covenant that the Lord has made with you in accordance with all these words.”” we are sprinkled in Christ’s blood. When we accept the gift of salvation, we are also accepting the word of God, and the word of God calls us to live obedient lives according to that word. It is our covenant with the Lord. Now are we perfect? No. Where the Israelites perfect? Are they still God’s people? Yes. Even when we fail God is still good and will still uphold His end of the bargain.

As these people were experiencing trials and tribulations they needed the hope that Christ gives us so that they might go on. When we are saved we are set apart from the world, but we are also given perks. We have an immediate claim to an eternal inheritance, and we have hope in a Lord who will sustain us through until the end. We know that come what may, at the other end we have a grand prize awaiting us. We will be resurrected spiritually, given new bodies, ones that are not corrupt and will not degrade nor decay, and we reign with our Savior forever. This is the hope that gave these Christians the fire to push on. This is what they were striving for.

Nothing comes at