Considered Alien-2 Series

CONSIDERED ALIEN-II—1Peter 1:1-2

ALIEN ENOUGH?

Attention:

Remedy?

We must consider the way Christians appear to a lost world—To many we are strange, weird, alien & thereby, a little fruity.

There was a song some years back by DC Talk entitled ‘Jesus Freak.’

“I saw a man with tat on his big fat belly

It wriggled around like marmalade jelly

It took me a while to catch what it said

Cause I had to match the rhythm Of his belly with my head

'Jesus Saves' is what it raved in a typical tattoo green

He stood on a box in the middle of the city

And claimed he had a dream”

Then the chorus follows with—

“What will people think when they hear that I’m a Jesus Freak? What will people do when they know that its true. I don't really care if they label me a Jesus freak. There ain't no disguising the truth.”

True Christians are indeed ‘Considered Alien’!

Peter addressed his circular letter to those who were considered as aliens in the world.

Why are Christians considered aliens?

4 reasons Christians are considered aliens.

?Am I ‘alien enough’ to garner an audience for Christ?

?Are you ‘alien enough’ to call attention to Christ?

We have discovered that Christians are considered alien by...

1. ASSOCIATION(:1)

a. Apostles

b. Jesus

c. Christ

2. SOJOURNING(:1b)

3—Christians are considered alien by...

ELECTION(:2a-e)

Explanation:(:2a-e)

:2a-e—“elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience & sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you & peace be multiplied.”

These who reside as pilgrims/strangers/aliens/sojourners/temporary residents(:1) in the world & live in various geographical locations are identified as being the “elect” of God.

“Elect/Who are chosen”—eklektov—Adj.—1)Picked out, chosen. Strong—Select; by implication--Favorite.

a. Foreknowledge(:2b)

“according to the foreknowledge of God the Father...”

God has Himself “elected”/chosen based on His perfect “foreknowledge.” In this He is well aware of who will trust & who will not trust, who is true & who is a pretender, who is righteous & who is lawfully moral.

The “elect” are the “elect” in the sense that their election is in “accordance” with “the foreknowledge of God”, i.e., They have been “known” from before the time that the world’s very foundation was laid.

Eph. 1:3-6—“Blessed be the God & Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ, just as He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy & without blame before Him in love, having predestined us to adoption as sons by Jesus Christ to Himself, according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved.”

“Foreknowledge”—prognwsiv—1) Foreknowledge; 2) Forethought, pre-arrangement. Used 2X.

English= ‘Prognosis’—A likely forecast of an ailment.

From—proginwskw—To know beforehand, i.e. Foresee.

b. Sanctification(:2c)

“in sanctification of the Spirit,...”

This tells us how the elect become elect...

The elect are elect solely because of “sanctification of the Spirit” of God. It is not a choice forced upon us but rather a willful choice to which we are compelled. “Sanctification” is not our work but that of the Spirit. The Holy “Spirit” working in the believer brings our flesh into compliance with His design & His desire to fulfill that design.

Apart from one’s personal trust/belief one cannot be “sanctified” by the Holy Spirit.

Rom. 8:5-9—“For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit, the things of the Spirit. For to be carnally minded is death, but to be spiritually minded is life & peace. Because the carnal mind is enmity against God; for it is not subject to the law of God, nor indeed can be. So then, those who are in the flesh cannot please God. But you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. Now if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he is not His.

“Sanctifying/Sanctification”—agiasmov— 1)Consecration, purification; 2) The effect of consecration—2a) Sanctification of heart & life Strong—properly--Purification, i.e. the state--Purity; concretely (by Hebraism)--A purifier. Used 10X.

From —agiazw— meaning 1)to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow; or 2)To separate from profane things & dedicate to God; or 3)To purify. The root of this is where we get our words “Saint” & “Holy.”

c. Obedience(:2d)

“for obedience...”

*1Pet. 1:13-16—“Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, & rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance; but as He who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, because it is written, “Be holy, for I am holy.” ”