1 Peter 1:2, commentary and pictures

God chose His people beforehand to belong to Him, and saves them through the Spirit making them holy so they obey Christ and are cleansed by His shed blood, with grace and peace multiplied to them. From eternity He planned to have obedient children and gave His Son to die for them. No one is chosen to remain in disobedience, but to obey all of God's commandments and be purified from all disloyalty. The Holy Spirit does this sanctifying work upon mind, heart and character, forming Christ within as the believer trusts, prays, obeys and cooperates. Christ's blood cleanses from all guilt and makes partakers of the divine nature, and grace and peace are multiplied to those who keep adding grace to grace in overcoming and character building.

Text and Immediate Context

The verse describes those chosen in line with the foreknowledge of God the Father and made holy by the Spirit for obedience and for cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ, joining the Father's purpose, the Spirit's sanctifying work and Christ's atoning provision in one call to obey, and it closes with the greeting that grace and peace be multiplied in abundance, with God's light and presence desired along with them.

Believers purify their souls by obeying the truth through the Spirit, and Christ's sacrifice is the reason and provision for that response, while hearts and minds are likewise purified by obedience to the truth.

What follows unfolds its fullness: new birth to a living hope through Christ's resurrection, an imperishable inheritance kept in heaven, and God's power keeping believers through faith for salvation, with trials testing and strengthening faith rather than destroying it so that faith may bring praise, honor and glory at Christ's appearing.

The chapter to which the verse belongs stirs love for souls and desire to see them walking in the light shining on their pathway, upholds prophecies as important and sacred, and teaches that Christ speaks in the Old Testament as well as the New so the Old Testament Scriptures are not to be cut out. God's chosen ones receive His love in large measure, bringing comfort and strength to the feeble and afflicted and rich food to hungry souls from the living oracles, and their election is unto obedience to all of God's commandments, against the claim that the Old Testament Scriptures were done away with the law of God.

The chapter gives valuable instruction for all, especially those who preach the Word, to be studied faithfully with an open mind so believers entrust their souls to the living God rather than to human agents, living in humility and continuing as learners. The verse is to be obeyed by every church member in letter and in spirit, beginning with full purpose to carry it out, bringing a decided change in words and in spirit in speaking to others, especially for every man and woman seeking church office. It is to be read with James and First and Second Peter, with each person bowing before the Lord Jesus Christ and interceding for the converting influence of the Holy Spirit to come, as part of the instruction and admonition needed now for believing, commandment-keeping people who have a special work as faithful laborers together with God in saving sinners.

Election by Foreknowledge

Believers are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, made holy through the Spirit for obedience and cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ, with grace and peace multiplied to them. From eternity God chose a people to be His obedient children and gave His Son to die for them, so that they might be sanctified through grace, for salvation is a plan formed in His mind from eternity according to His eternal purpose. Those who belong to Christ are marked by His sacrifice and are to consecrate themselves wholly as living sacrifices in service for winning the unsaved. These words are evidence that God desires to bless His people and gives clear, trustworthy promises to which they can turn with Bible study and prayer in perplexity, presenting a precious picture of what Christians may become when they hear and obey, while warning against lifting the soul to vanity.

Election is unto obedience to all the laws of Christ's kingdom and all of God's commandments, meaning purification from all disloyalty. No one is elected to be saved in disobedience to God's law, but election unto salvation is expressed in character formed through the Spirit's sanctifying work and obedience to the truth. Through Christ's grace believers are to reach God's standard of character, bear the cross, and prepare for the inheritance and crown of eternal life. That inheritance requires remaining incorruptible and undefiled, without turning from the straight lines God has laid down, and it is Christ's death alone that makes it possible to partake of the divine nature and carry out God's purpose, with men and women appropriating the efficacy of Christ's blood through the power of the Holy Spirit, called the blood of sprinkling because it cleanses from all defilement and guiltiness.

God's church and chosen ones have obtained precious, true saving faith in Jesus Christ, not heretical, hypocritical, or merely formal profession. Even the weakest believer is joined to Christ by this faith, whose strength makes the weak strong, for faith is God's gift to the humble and contrite. Those chosen of God and precious are true believers in Christ, His servants, whose lives blend with the life of Christ under the sanctification of the Holy Spirit and who speak and act to reflect light for the saving of many souls. Having received power to become His children, they are accepted in the Beloved as the purchase of the blood of Christ, and they will be acknowledged and rewarded in the great day when all are judged by the things written in the book. Each person must make sure he is among that elect number by judging himself instead of judging brethren, seeing his own heart is right with God and faithfully weeding out his own character faults rather than finding fault with others.

God has chosen a people out of the world to remain forever separate from the world; while living in the world they are not to be of the world but kept free from contaminating influences. This shapes the manner of labor, not binding up with worldlings by inviting them into councils nor bringing worldly lawyers into connection with God's work, but binding medical missionary work with gospel ministry, with physicians and brethren in the relation God designed, medical workers molded after the similitude of Christ, standing on the platform of truth uninfluenced by false theories, and laboring unitedly with church and ministers in soul-saving harmony. The verse shows the united work of the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit in saving people: God the Father elects, Jesus Christ redeems by His blood all who will come to Him, and the Holy Spirit sanctifies. This is the fulfillment of God's covenant in which God is Father, the Son is Redeemer and Comforter, and the Holy Spirit is Counsellor, Comforter, and Sanctifier, the sure ground on which to stand, and those born again and made new in Christ are to cooperate with these three powers, revealing righteousness to the world, while Jesus Christ's relation to believers is as their Redeemer and without God's grace human efforts to wrestle with God are worthless.

Sanctification of the Spirit

Sanctification is the work of the Holy Spirit upon mind, heart, and character, forming Christ within those He works upon. In it the Lord is the one efficient power and agent, working in the believer while the believer also works, trusting wholly in God and walking obediently. It is known by faith and earnest prayer for the divine Spirit to work within, and it is experienced as the Spirit works upon the heart, received by faith as promises are claimed and self dies to trust as His children.

It means placing oneself under the discipline of the Holy Spirit in this life, so that little things build the life as drops make a river, and the life becomes peaceful, calm, and enjoyable rather than a troubled river casting up mire, growing more like Christ. All the righteous demands of God are met through it, requiring self humbled and brought under the Spirit's control, daily conversion, walking in the light while it lasts, being led with mind and heart carrying a burden for souls, and following on in true obedience by which wisdom and goodness grow brighter. Refusing to walk in given light brings confusion until darkness pervades the soul and shapes the whole course of action.

It cleanses the mind so it can discern heavenly things and the deep things of God and see divine power in the word. A mind trained only in worldly science cannot discern them, but the same mind when converted and sanctified can. It likewise cleanses mind and heart to enable that discernment.

Through it the thoughts, especially of young men and women, are made pure and sanctified by virtue and holiness rather than trivial, clear as crystal with pure motives and aspirations. This purity and inward holiness refines, elevates, and ennobles the life. Grace and peace are multiplied on God's plan of multiplication as believers do their part on the plan of addition by adding grace to grace in character building. Jealousy, evil speaking, and unjust treatment of others mark those who have not been under the Spirit's sanctifying influence.

Sanctification through obedience to the truth is joined to obedience yet is not a means of earning salvation, for obedience is the fruit of faith. Faith brings peace and joy and supplies what is lacking in character, cleansing defilement, correcting faults, and developing excellence. Lack of peace and joy among those striving to obey comes from failing to exercise faith and claim the promises.

It leads unto obedience and cleansing by the blood of Jesus Christ, meaning obedience to the law of the Lord with Christlike love flowing from every soul, and lack of it is the difficulty behind failure to love as Christ loved. Where it is present, workers draw together in unity, pray with humility of soul, seek the Lord, confess their own sins and defects of character, avoid confusion, speak truth, and pray in faith laying hold on God's promises. The Spirit's work sanctifies the heart, adorning character and fitting the soul to learn from Christ the greatest Teacher and to be an heir of the kingdom. It is evident in earnest, united prayer and work proclaiming present truth, as the Spirit draws believers closer together and increases their unity and happiness.

Through it Christ uses believers in His service as they pray with heart and voice for the Spirit of Christ, producing obedience to right principles so Christ is not misrepresented in the family, unity with fellow workers to build up the kingdom, continual pressing upward without self-satisfaction toward higher fervency and greater zeal, and a place among the meek and lowly people of God that makes them able to find and win souls. It means using every physical, moral, and mental power to minister as a laborer together with God, with all bound to devote themselves actively and unreservedly to service and to cooperate with Christ in helping others, since Christ died and gave His life to ransom every man from an aimless, selfish life unto Himself. Not all are called to enter the ministry, but all are to minister, and to choose a life of self-serving is an insult to the Holy Spirit. It is the present experience of true believers who are the light of the church and world, taught of God and imbued with His Spirit as true messengers of healing and ministers, who as sons and daughters of God accept the Word as counselor, impart it to others, diffuse light, speak Christ's words, and show in conversation and deportment daily conversion to truth, becoming a spectacle to world, angels, and men in whom God is glorified.

Through the word it produces unselfish liberality, seen when early believers' generous sending of the gospel to those in darkness showed changed lives, proved grace had not been received in vain, stood as a miracle of grace, and brought joy. That liberality throws the church into joy, bears God's power to the needy, testifies grace was not received in vain, and stands before believers and unbelievers as a miracle of grace.

It is transformation of character that greatly changes a person away from selfishness, anger, and fractious blame so Christian influence is not defiled. Without this change even one with knowledge of truth and insight into it mars influence, brings perplexity, sorrow, and keen anguish upon brethren who will not know how to treat the case, fails to do the good expected of a Christian, and brings truth into disrepute. When earthly families are governed rightly this sanctification is brought into the church, for earthly families are meant to be symbols of the heavenly family. Bible study and prayer strengthen, enlighten, and sanctify workers by the Spirit in their work.

From eternity God chose a people to be His obedient children and gave His Son to die for them that they might be sanctified through grace, and sanctification through the Spirit means perfect love, perfect obedience, entire conformity to God's will, unreserved surrender, and being pure and unselfish without spot, with continual progress in knowledge, virtue, and perfection of character as God's purpose. It is the experienced power of truth in the life, filling the soul with joy that remains glad amid self-denial, privation, and suffering, and satisfying the heart as fallen beings are restored to favor with God. The hope that Jesus would soon come stirred a more earnest pursuit of this sanctifying work in preparation for His appearing. Developed through daily conversion and humility, it prepares believers to trust Christ in the severe trials of the last days and to bear a convincing witness.

It is understood through doing the work God gives and bearing the message for this time, for Christ lives, intercedes, and saves those who come to Him in faith and obey His directions.

Obedience and Sprinkled Blood

The chosen end is obedience and cleansing represented by the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, for the elect are set apart by the Holy Spirit for obedience and cleansed by that blood. This holy calling is joined with purified souls, obedience to the truth, and sincere, fervent love for fellow believers. Following the Spirit of truth in willing obedience gives spiritual strength.

The blood of sprinkling cleanses from all defilement and guiltiness, and through faith in Christ's blood sinners are reconciled to God. Christ's death alone makes it possible to be a partaker of the divine nature and to carry out God's purpose. Men and women appropriate the efficacy of that blood through the power of the Holy Spirit, and the preaching that led many to study Scripture brought them through such faith to reconciliation. Election to salvation is election to obedience to all the laws of Christ's kingdom, which means purification from all disloyalty.

A person who has sinned and feels forgotten by God can still belong to this elect number by repenting and believing in Jesus as Sin-bearer. The sin-stained garments are taken away and the repentant one is covered with the robe of Christ's righteousness, so that Christ's perfection is accepted in their behalf. They stand justified before the Father, not through their own perfection but because they trust in Christ's merits, with Christ as their righteousness, while resting in His love despite imperfections. What makes them the elect is obeying Christ and being cleansed by His shed blood, being sanctified by the Spirit, and to such repenting, believing children grace and peace are multiplied.

Grace and Peace Multiplied

Peter greets those chosen by the Father's foreknowledge and made holy by the Spirit for obedience and cleansing through Christ's blood with the wish that grace and peace be multiplied to them in abundance. The greeting seeks not grace and peace alone but also God's light and presence with them. Its words show that God desires to bless His people and has given clear promises that can be trusted. In times of perplexity they can turn to the Bible and pray for help. The provision made for those who accept it is complete and brings this multiplied grace and peace.

Without God's grace human efforts to wrestle with God are worthless, so that grace is essential to those who are elect through the Spirit's sanctifying work unto obedience and the sprinkling of Christ's blood. Grace and peace are multiplied to the obedient to be enjoyed in this life. They come on God's plan of multiplication as believers do their part on the plan of addition, adding grace to grace and virtue to virtue step by step in overcoming and character building. Through sanctification of the Spirit in this process the thoughts become pure and sanctified by virtue and holiness, and the life is refined, elevated, and ennobled.

This work of grace upon heart and character, wrought by the united work of the Father who elects, the Son who redeems by His blood all who will come, and the Holy Spirit who sanctifies, produces a meek and quiet spirit. Only those thus made meek and quiet become entitled to heaven and fitted for the mansions prepared for them.

Final Salvation and Trial

Salvation is kept by God's power through faith to be revealed in the last time, and that last time is the very close of this earth's history now being lived, when the Son of man is soon to be revealed in the clouds with power and great glory to give the reward to the obedient.

Those kept for that salvation greatly rejoice even while in heaviness for a season through manifold temptations. Every step heavenward is opposed by evil angels cooperating with evil men, yet no trial comes by chance or from the earth but by God's providence to work out an experience of highest value for standing in this last time. Trials test and strengthen faith rather than destroy it, so that faith may bring praise, honor, and glory at Christ's appearing. The trial of faith is much more precious than gold that perishes though tried with fire, to be found unto praise and honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ.

Therefore believers must not seek easy places or follow the majority but follow the Lamb wherever He goes, meeting the powers of darkness as He met them and enduring the temptations He endured, for partakers with Him in His sufferings will be partakers with Him in His glory. Through Christ's grace believers are to reach God's standard of character, bear the cross, and prepare for the inheritance and crown of eternal life. By the sacrifice of Christ every provision has been made for believers to receive all things that pertain to life and godliness, and the perfection of Christ's character makes it possible to gain perfection and to become a church without spot or wrinkle, called to the highest standard of glory and virtue.

Life Mission and Character

The verse reproves those who do not enter with heart and soul and strength into the work appointed them to do, addressing them as chosen by the foreknowledge of God the Father, made holy by the Spirit for obedience and cleansing through the blood of Jesus Christ, with multiplied grace and peace extended to them. It calls God's people to the standard of Christian perfection through learning Christ's meekness and knowing God and Jesus Christ.

For those troubled by the painful sayings and doings of professed believers and by a shepherd of the flock who is not consecrated in soul, body, and spirit to minister and to strengthen and build up the flock in the most holy faith, the verse means that Jesus knows it all. The afflicted are to contemplate its instruction and pray, to refuse exasperation and control by the feelings of the natural heart, and to cherish no spirit of retaliation. They are to rest thankful in innocence under false accusation and to commit the case wholly to Jesus who died for them. His hand is always stretched out in pitying tenderness to every suffering child, He never fails, and He is sufficient for the present hour of trial under every adverse circumstance.

It is an admonition of the Lord to be heeded and part of the instruction needed now, speaking to believing, commandment-keeping people who have a special work to do as faithful laborers together with God in the salvation of sinners. Servants of Jesus Christ who know the truth and the power of the grace of God have an extensive and important mission to fulfill, and every soul is held responsible for the proper exercise of the talents entrusted to him. Believers, especially missionaries in far-off lands, are to practice the truth and carry out its lofty principles in daily life as laborers together with God and moral representatives of Christ, with life hid with Christ in God. The instruction exhorts believers to live godly lives.

It shows part of the extensive privileges and advantages provided in coming into close relationship with Christ. The believer who has entirely surrendered to Christ and obeys His commands is loved by God as God loves His Son, and bears that testimony in life and character. Provision is made that, being delivered out of the hand of enemies, he might serve God without fear in holiness and righteousness all the days of his life. By always looking unto Jesus as the author and finisher of faith he is delivered from the devices of evil men and evil angels and breaks the bonds of sin and Satan.