Chosen to Obey

Let's consider one more point about God's choosing...and then I'll let it rest, unless someone has further questions or comments.

1 Peter 1:1-2
To those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.

Those who are Christians have been chosen (1) according to the foreknowledge of God, and (2) by the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. Today, let us consider a third point in this verse:

We are chosen to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood.
The REASON we are chosen is so we can be saved from our sins through the blood of Christ and so we can live for Him.

Notice how obedience and salvation are tied together in this verse. The idea of being "sprinkled with His blood" reminds us of Exodus 24:8: "So Moses took the blood and sprinkled it on the people, and said, 'Behold the blood of the covenant, which the LORD has made with you in accordance with all these words.'" Also Isaiah 52:15: "Thus He will sprinkle many nations." Under the old covenant, the blood of a sacrifice was sprinkled on things and on people to cleanse them of impurities and sins. This is how the blood of the sacrifice was applied. Under the new covenant, the blood of Jesus is sprinkled upon all nations allowing all men who call upon His name to be saved. Of course, only those who OBEY are cleansed by His blood. Our obedient faith is what accesses His blood today.

This is not a doctrine of "once saved, always saved," where a Christian is always in the safety of the arms of His Savior no matter what choices he makes. This is not a doctrine of "grace alone," leaving out any work of obedience on the part of man. No, a Christian is called to a life of obedience. If he ceases to obey, he ceases to be cleansed by the blood of Christ. Hebrews 10:26, 29 puts it this way: "If we go on sinning willfully after receiving the knowledge of the truth, there no longer remains a sacrifice for sins...[he] has trampled under foot the Son of God, and has regarded as unclean the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified, and has insulted the Spirit of grace."

Our Lord chose us so that we would obey Him!

Praise be to God who sprinkled us with His blood to cleanse us from all unrighteousness! May we walk in His paths.

God bless,
Nathan