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Elect Exiles. Christian Identity According to the Apostle Who Walked With Jesus…. 1 Peter. 1 Peter 1:1-2. 1 Peter , an apostle of Jesus Christ ,
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Elect Exiles Christian Identity According to the Apostle Who Walked With Jesus…
1 Peter 1:1-2 1Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you.
Who I am vs. what I do • Recent surveys show that 18-25 year olds in the U.S. are some of the most self-confident people ever • Yet, depression is on the rise and counselors at Harvard and Yale are seeing more and more visitors each year… • Think about the phrase “identity theft” • Functional Saviors, Heavens, and Hell
Who am I now? • Peter is writing to a group of people who have just become Christians • Striking to see how little he says about himself • Much of the letter has to do with living in the tension who they used to be and who they are now • Verse 1, “Elect Exiles” • Acceptance AND Exclusion
The weird dance of identity • We all want to accepted, but we want to be special too… • You can’t have it both ways • You will what you want to be accepted by and what you want to be excluded by…
chosen • “Elect” doesn’t mean there was an election or vote • Not based on anything you did! • Historically, this is scandalous! • The Hebrews were the chosen ones! • Deut 4:37, 7:6–8, 10:15; 14:2
Aliens • Heaven and stuff • These people had probably lived in the same place their whole lives • The “exile” here is one of the heart that knows something is wrong… • But this creates tension… • Hebrews 11:13-16, Rev. 21:1-4
Scattered like seed • 587 B.C. the Hebrews went into exile • This is not like that… • Foreknew is not just about predicting the future • “Know” in the Hebrew mind is about love, experience, and knowledge
Why? • Sanctified (the and ongoing) for obedience? • Word means “answer” • This is the proper response if this is real • But it doesn't happen by your power • Obey then accepted?
Sprinkled with blood? • In the OT the sprinkling of the blood is used for three things: • 1. Cleansing of a leper (Lev 14:6–7) • 2. The sprinkling of priests in ordination (Exo. 29:21) • 3. The sprinkling of the blood when the covenant with Moses was inaugurated (Exo. 24:3–8)
Lepers, priests, community • Is this as archaic as we think? • We push people to the margins in all sorts of ways, and we push people away • Ray Lewis and Lance Armstrong • What is our cleanness based on? • The Good News. • The temptation is to see yourself as to good or too bad • Grace and Peace…