Those without Christ, apart from Christ, lay their own path. But, because of Christ, the child of God finds Christ to be Source and Strength, Path and

Purpose, Instigation and Destination.

He is the Why, the How, and the Where.

In Peter’s first letter, he writes to those chosen, living as exiles – paradidemos = sojourner; temporary residents in a strange place.

We hear a lot about “foreigners, aliens”, but in Christ, whether politically, positionally, actually, or relationally, we are just on a journey in this world.

Peter writes to followers of Christ in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. He tells them that God knew already that they would become his. As they have become his, the Spirit is at work sanctifying them. That word, hagiasmos = making them holy.

Paul speaks in Romans 4:29+ that these God forknew, he had destined them to be conformed to the image of Christ, and he had called… justified… and glorified. All of those are listed in the past tense in that they are completed work of God, even before we experience them. Then Paul continues… if God is for us, who can be against us?

God will finish the work, Praise the Lord, but between the justification and glorification Peter speaks of the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient… That’s the day-to-day lifelong process of becoming who we are remade to be.

1 Peter 1:3 says because of mercy he has given us a new birth into living hope… v4 into inheritance… and as you read on he says, be holy because I am holy.

Well now I want to Preach 1 Peter… but that’s for another time.

Let me get back to where I started in 1 Peter 2:9… Peter says, But You Are….

That means there is a negative opposite experience. 2:1 says, Therefore, rid yourselves of…

What?

• Malice – kakia = wickedness, evil, malice
• Deceit – dolos = not just lying but deceit with intent = deceit, treachery, cunning
• Hypocracy = hypocrisis = a playcating answer
• Envy – phthonos = envy, jealousy – i.e. I want what you have and I hate you for having it
• All Slander – katalalia = evil speech, slander, not necessarily lying, but seeking to destroy by truth, and false implication
• GET RID – apotithemi = to lay aside, take off – Take Off these filthy, nasty, clothes…

Why?

• v2b so that you may grow up into your salvation – not to receive salvation, but to grow into the salvation you have already received

Peter confesses, yes, you may be rejected by people, but you are CHOSEN and Honored by God.

I have struggled much in life and continue to try and be accepted, be good enough, be honored… but Peter tells us that in Christ, we are Known – prognosis, Chosen – eklektos, and Honored – entimos = valued, precious, highly regarded

Come on Now Somebody…

Honor will come to all who believe, but the Unbelieving he says, they stumble – proskopto = strike against… because they disobey – and just as God knowns who will be his, and has chosen them for great things, he also knows those without him, and because of their refusal, he has destined them to stumble

and fall.

But YOU are…

When he tells us who we are, and tells us to put aside the clothing that doesn’t match the holiness we are, and are becoming, who we will be, he gives us the biggest…

Why

• You are Somebody – a Chosen Race – genos = nation, people, class

You are part of a somebody in a group. Not somebody by yourself out there. You are part of a bigger Somebody, a Chosen People Class.

• For Something – a Royal Priesthood – a people called to serve in the holy worship of the king
• Into Something – a holy nation – hagio ethnos – a set apart spiritual ethnicity
• To Him – a people for his possession – peripoiesis – comes from the word poieo = to make – he has making us into a treasured possession
• To Be Something Outward – so that you may Proclaim the Praises – exangello = an angelic proclamation – Tell out arete = the excellence of his character. Go Tell somebody about the the one who called you OUT of Darkness, INTO Marvelous Light. Tell Them that ONCE you were not anything… but now you are a people, once had not mercy, but now have received mercy…

Well that’s a lot – then you go and read the rest of the chapter, and the rest of the letter based on understanding who you are. It affects then how you lie, how you act, toward people, toward the government, at work, in relationships…

v21 – for you were called to this…

It all comes back to living according to who you are, who we serve, why he saved us, as you are Growing Up Into the Great Salvation we have received.

Yeah we have a way to go, like a kid walking in Dad’s Shoes… but grow up into it!