The Pulpit Commentary — 1 Peter — Section 51

11. CERTAIN PARTICUl,ARS RESPECTING TJIIS DIVINE ELECTION. Father, Son, and 1'pirit-thc whole Godhead, 1:10 to speak, combine to the redemption of a single soul. 1. The .•0 1·rre ef election : " The foreknowledge of God the Fathei·." The word "to know" in Script uro is often used for" to know with favour" (Matt. vii. 23; Rom. xi. 2; viii. 28). God knows, foreknows all, so that the idea of foreknowledge with favour is inv0lwd in the expression in these passages. So here; the same word as is translated "foreordained" in ver. 20-the foreknowledge of purpose, favour, as in Eph. i. 61 9 11. Our salvation is enti:cl.r on a Divine basis; we are not ele_ct because of anything in 'our- selvrs; we choose bun because he first chose us (Eph. 1. 4). 2. The working out of election: " The sanctij/..cation of the Spii-it." Sanctification in the sense of separation, something that comes before" the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ;" separation to Gori, equivalent to the new birth; for only thus are we ea.lied out from the world, from its joys, and sorrows, and principles, and attitude towards God. This is the seal of election-the elect are the separated; the Spirit separates for God those whom God chooses for himself. And this separation is carried on to faith and every Christian grace, and final perfection in heaven. 3. The end of election : " Obedience and sprin- kli11g of the blood of Jesus Christ." "Obedience" here can hardly mean" submission to law;" it probably stands for the full expression, "the obedience of faith," as in Rom. i. 8 (comp. with xvi. 19; x. 16; 2 Tbess. i 8; eh. iv. 17). The passage, then, is a striking parallel to 2 Thess. ii. 13. The end of election is faith, and the consequent application of the atoning blood. Because of what the sprinkling of that blood does for us: justifies (Rom. iii. 9); cleanses (1 John i. 7); seals to us the blessings of the covenant (1 Cor. x'i. 25); heaven (Heb. :x. 19). III. 'l'HE BENEFITS OF THE Drvn."'E ELECTION. "Grace and peace multiplied." The fact of election can only be stated because there is untold good in it. It is essentially the believer's doctrine. For such it is full of encouragement and support. 1. It assures us of the certainty of multiplied grace. If God chose us to all the blessings of perfect salvation, it is certain we shall have them. Nothing can be more sure than God's eternal purpose. 2. And this assurance produces perfect peace. None can be afraid who have (in the separation of the Spirit) the seal that they are divinely elected to grace multiplied without end.-C. N. Vere. 3-5.-17ie key-note of the Epistle-the believer's hope. The "sojourners of the dispersion" were now entering on a season of severe trial; one purpose of the apostle, therefore, was to send them encouragement and support; and the purport of these chapters may be summed up in the word" hope." Paul was pre-eminently the apostle of faith ; John, of love; Peter, of hope. This passage has additional interest as written by the Peter of the Gospels. He was one of those who bad" thought the kingdom of God should i=ediately appear," and a party to the question, "Lord, wilt thou at this time restore the kingdom unto Israel?" Jn those early days they were captivated by the thouuht of an earthly heritage. HQw different now I Here his eye is fixed on the "inb~ritance reserved in heaven.» We remember, too, that we here listen to him who, on that never-to-be-forgotten morning, whilst it was yet early, came breathless to the sepulchre, and looking in, saw the linen clothes, etc., and was assured that the place was erupty, and how the sudden conviction of the Resurrection flashed on his mind with all the wonderful hope this would impart to the troubled heart of the Lord's denier. What he says here is what his whole consecrated, joyous life had been saying ever since that day and because of it : "Blessed be the God," etc. I. THE: CnBISTIANS HOPE. "The lively hope . . . of an inheritance.» 1. It is that of the inheratar,ce of sonship. "God bath begotten us" unto it; that is, God bath made us children a second time-by regeneration. "And if children, then heirs;" the inheritance is ours because we are God's sons. That brings its glory before us prominently. Father- hood does its very best for the children (" Let thy work appear unto thy servants, and thy glory unto their chlldren "-we'll do the work, if they see the glory). .Apply that to the heavenly Fa1her and the heritage he prepares for us. Prepares. "I go to prepare a place for you;" that will be God's best I What must that be which is pro- portionate to his resources and love? 2. This inheritance is permanent. "Incor- ruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away" (three almost synonymous words, charact.eristic of PetRr'e energy). They all include the idea of permanence, but they OH, I.1-26.) THE FIRST EPISTLE GENERA.L OF PETER. 45