Subject: Election and Sanctification - 1 Peter 1-3

1 Peter 1:1-2 (ESV Strong's)
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.

Subject:  Election and Sanctification

If you want to split believers into various "camps" just mention to the group you want to discover what is meant by "election" and "sanctification."    Despite the clarity in God's Word, as we will see above, man's natural mind cannot wrap their head around the fact that God "elects."    Peter is not dissuaded by the complaints that flow from our carnal minds.   He boldly just states that his letter is written to "THE ELECT."  To deny election would be to say Peter wrote his book to no one.   Yet, Peter calls the believers that have been dispersed abroad by persecution and suffering as "elect."   He goes on to say that God did this election, in the "sanctification" of the Spirit. Not only does God rob man of any contribution to his own salvation through the thought of election, the perfection of his salvation (sanctification) is also stated as a work completely by God, via the Spirit.  Man wants to take some credit for some part of his holiness.  Peter states right up front in this book, NO!!  God started man's salvation ("according to the foreknowledge of God"); elected man on the basis of that foreknowledge; purifies that election (sanctification) via the Spirit.   Outside of Paul's long opening sentence in his letter to the Ephesians believers, these two opening verses are one of the best opening statements as to the character of Salvation.   The fruit of our salvation is that it "grace and peace" will be multiplied to us.   Having grace and peace in our lives is the benefit of a God who acts sovereignly in our lives to bring us to Him.  We should be humbled at the thought!!  We should rejoice in His choosing us.   Some reject these thoughts because we can't understand them.   Yet, some make it an issue of what God is allowed or not allowed to do as God.   Rejoice in what He has done, not what you would do!!1