Who We Are In Jesus Christ

Who We Are in Jesus Christ

1 Peter 1:1-9

Sermon by Rick Crandall

Grayson Baptist Church - October 21, 2012

*Most of us are old enough to remember famous actor, Kirk Douglas. He is Michael Douglas’ father. And in his day, Kirk was perhaps more famous than Michael. Kirk Douglas starred in many movies including “Spartacus” and “Seven Days in May.”

*Once in an act of kindness, Kirk pulled over to pick up a sailor on leave who was hitchhiking. When the sailor recognized who his driver was, he excitedly asked, “Hey, man, -- do you know who you are?!?” (1)

*That's a great question for Christians to ask: “Do you know who you are?”

-Here in his first letter, the Apostle Peter helps us find out who we are in Christ.

1. First, Peter shows us that Christians, we are selected people.

*As Peter said in vs. 1&2:

1. Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,

2. elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. . .

*All Old Testament believers and all Christians are part of the “elect.” God uses this same word 23 times in the New Testament, and it simply means “picked out” or “chosen by God.” Most of the time this word is translated as “elect,” but sometimes it is translated as “chosen.” One example is Matthew 22:14, where Jesus said: “Many are called, but few are chosen.”

*And here in vs. 2, God the Father can do this choosing, because He has “the foreknowledge” of all things. Peter says we believers are “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. . .”

*Think for a moment about God’s perfect knowledge. He knows everything about everything, past, present and future. Time is not bigger than God. God is bigger than time!

*If time was bigger than God, then God wouldn’t be God. And if time was bigger than God, then God couldn’t have made all of the prophecies He put in His Word. Has God ever gotten anything wrong about the future? -- No, of course not. And He never will.

*Do you think the Lord had to squint as He looked down the corridors of time? -- Of course not. He really does see the end from the beginning. In Isaiah 46:9-10, God says:

9. Remember the former things of old: for I am God, and there is none else; I am God, and there is none like me,

10. Declaring the end from the beginning, and from ancient times the things that are not yet done, saying, My counsel shall stand, and I will do all my pleasure:

*As human beings in this world, we are perpetually stuck in a moment of time, the fleeting instant that is always passing by. But God is not like us.

-He is bigger than time.

-He is not bound by time.

-He stands over time.

*God sees the end from the beginning, so He foreknew who was going to be saved. We see this truth in Romans 8:28-31, where Paul said:

28. . . We know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

29. For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to be conformed to the image of His Son, that He might be the firstborn among many brethren.

30. Moreover whom He predestined, these He also called; whom He called, these He also justified; and whom He justified, these He also glorified.

31. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?

*God’s vision is perfect. -- As someone said, “We can’t see around corners, but God can.” Someone else said: “We can count the seeds in an apple. But God can count the apples in a seed.” (2)

*So when we believe in the truth about Jesus Christ, when we choose to receive Jesus as our Lord and Savior, then at some point we will look back and see that really, it was God who chose us. Before the beginning of time, God looked into the future, and saw you and chose you to obtain His salvation.

*When Jesus Christ was on the cross, you really were on His mind.

-And before He even formed the world, you were on His mind.

*He chose to pay the highest price for your sins. Christian, He chose to save you for all eternity. We find great security in this truth! God has chosen to make something special out of your life for all eternity.

*As believers, we are selected people.

2. And we are sanctified people.

*As Peter said in vs. 2, Christians are: “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”