God-Treasured People Untrendy



(A version of these thoughts were published in 2015. This newer, reworked version was sent out in a congregational letter on 25 March 2021)

Why is it that when God’s people are at their best, we are often un-trendy? What is it that sets our feet solidly on the ground while society swirls around with various forms of emotional and moral vertigo? Peter gives us clear clues in 1 Peter 1:1-5:

 

Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 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. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time (1 Peter 1:1-5).

 

Peter charges out of the chute in verses 1-2 with declarations about God and about his people. The God-treasured people are chosen yet alienated (v.1 – elect exiles).  In fact, this tension between being chosen and desired by God while being rejected and alienated from society runs throughout the letter. For example, our Lord Jesus was rejected by men, but chosen and precious to the Father (2:6-8), and so, because of our unanimity and union with Jesus, we too are rejected by men, but chosen and precious in God’s eyes (2:4-5). 

Therefore, we are made elect exiles by the three-Ps (1:2): First, there’s the plan, “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father”. Next, there’s the process, “in the sanctification of the Spirit”. Finally, there’s the purpose, “for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood”. If you will quickly glance down at 1:17-21, you will see that this last statement “for the sprinkling with his blood” has to do with liberation. Thus, the principle is that the whole God, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (1:1-2), have liberated us, and so we now live liberated. Because God has made us his people, emancipated us, and is now radically transforming us, including our aims and our orientations, we march to a different drumbeat; we have different standards of morality, of marriage, of power, of honor, of success, and of worth. God redefines us, who we are, what we’re about, etc. He has thus made his deeply treasured people untrendy. Yet, there’s more. 

The God-Treasured people are made untouchable (1:3-5)! To begin, we are born anew according to his abundant mercy. This new birth is not based on anything in us, or any qualities of ours, but simply and solely upon his great mercy (see also 2 Timothy 1:9-10).  Furthermore, we are born anew into a living hope through the irreversible, irrevocable, unalterable, unchangeable resurrection of Christ. The One who died a shame-filled death for us, was vindicated and certified on the third day in the resurrection. And so, what he accomplished for us comes to be applied to us. Lastly, we are born anew unto an unfading, kept, secured inheritance (1:4-5). An inheritance that can’t be stolen by larceny or legislation, can’t rust or rot, and won’t be gutted by any stock market downturns or identity theft. We are guarded by God’s power through faith.

 

Why is Peter hammering this out in such detail at the beginning of his letter? He is encouraging these Christians, and all of the God-treasured people of all times: that in the face of troubles we can take heart. He is cheering us on to have a brawny, beefy, burly confidence. To take up a tough-minded assurance, because the resurrection of Jesus Christ has happened, and it is irreversible, irrevocable, unalterable, and unchangeable. Furthermore, you are securely held in the hands of the crucified, triumphantly resurrected Christ. Therefore, you will never be disinherited, disenfranchised, or disowned, no matter what the world may do. You’re the untrendy God-treasured people through the crucified and resurrected Jesus! And so, like Peter, we too can break out in rejoicing: “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ….!”

 

Therefore, brothers and sisters, because we have Jesus and are had by Jesus, and because we are his and he is ours, then, though we may be rejected, nevertheless, we are precious and chosen in the sight of God.


Pastor Mike 

Comments

Sheila Sliger said…
Amen! Thank you Mike, what a blessing and comfort this truth is for us!
March 26, 2021 at 6:54 AM
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