CHRISTIAN IDENTITY ACCORDING TO THE APOSTLE WHO WALKED WITH JESUS… ELECT EXILES

1 PETER

1 PETER 1:1-2 1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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.

IDENTITY

WHO I AM VS. WHAT I DO Recent surveys show that year olds in the U.S. are some of the most self-confident people ever Yet, depression is on the rise and counselors at Harvard and Yale are seeing more and more visitors each year… Think about the phrase “identity theft” Functional Saviors, Heavens, and Hell

WHO AM I NOW? Peter is writing to a group of people who have just become Christians Striking to see how little he says about himself Much of the letter has to do with living in the tension who they used to be and who they are now Verse 1, “Elect Exiles” Acceptance AND Exclusion

THE WEIRD DANCE OF IDENTITY We all want to accepted, but we want to be special too… You can’t have it both ways You will what you want to be accepted by and what you want to be excluded by…

CHOSEN “Elect” doesn’t mean there was an election or vote Not based on anything you did! Historically, this is scandalous! The Hebrews were the chosen ones! Deut 4:37, 7:6–8, 10:15; 14:2

ALIENS Heaven and stuff These people had probably lived in the same place their whole lives The “exile” here is one of the heart that knows something is wrong… But this creates tension… Hebrews 11:13-16, Rev. 21:1-4

SCATTERED LIKE SEED 587 B.C. the Hebrews went into exile This is not like that… Foreknew is not just about predicting the future “Know” in the Hebrew mind is about love, experience, and knowledge

WHY? Sanctified (the and ongoing) for obedience? Word means “answer” This is the proper response if this is real But it doesn't happen by your power Obey then accepted?

SPRINKLED WITH BLOOD? In the OT the sprinkling of the blood is used for three things: 1. Cleansing of a leper (Lev 14:6–7) 2. The sprinkling of priests in ordination (Exo. 29:21) 3. The sprinkling of the blood when the covenant with Moses was inaugurated (Exo. 24:3–8)

LEPERS, PRIESTS, COMMUNITY Is this as archaic as we think? We push people to the margins in all sorts of ways, and we push people away Ray Lewis and Lance Armstrong What is our cleanness based on? The Good News. The temptation is to see yourself as to good or too bad Grace and Peace…