The Excellent Exceptionality of Existing as Elect Exiles

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  The focus of this morning's sermon is on who we are as believers, what our identity is, what is true about us. So this sermon is not going to focus on what we do. It's not going to focus on what we should be doing. It is not going to highlight our shortcomings as many as there are, but rather the unbelievable foundation we stand on, the amazing realities we possess as precious sons and daughters of the living, loving, holy, good Father. We are going to see what the Bible says to us as believers in Christ Jesus, through the words of  Peter that he wrote to a bunch of Christians who lived in what is now northern Turkey 2000 years ago. But in all substantive ways, we are just like them. This morning we are going to consider the first nine verses in the first chapter of Peter. But I want to remind us this is something that's important to me, these letters of the New Testament by Paul. Peter, um, who else wrote letters? The book of Hebrews. We're not sure. They were writtento be read as unified compositions and as modern Christians with Bibles that are, you know, divided into chapters and verses. We often read our Bibles as if it's a bunch of distinct thoughts, sort of, you know, the way the Book of Proverbs is. It has a lot of distinct sayings. You know, I think it's a lot how we text each other this and this and this and this. But, this letter from Peter is intended to be read in entirety in the churches. That's how he wrote them. But we don't have time for that this morning. Sowe're not going to read the whole book. We're going to read just the first nine verses. That's what I'm going to focus on. But even these nine verses contain way too much glorious truth to cover in one sermon. And you've witnessed Adam come up here, and he gets up and he's got his outline and his verses, and he's an accomplished preacher. And halfway through the sermon, he'llsay, oh, you know, I'm not going to get through this. We're going to have to finish it next week. Well, I don't have that fallback position because I'm not preaching next week. So we've got to get through this. So let me read God's Word, the words of Peter, just the first nine verses of the first chapter. 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. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary. You have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith, more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him, though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. As much as I desire. In fact, I wrote three manuscripts, and two of them I discarded because I wanted to unpack these beautiful, wonderful words in these nine verses. It can't be done in a 40 minute sermon. Instead, we are going to focus on Peter's audience this morning. We are going to see what he says is true about them, not what he hopes for them, not what he admonishes them to become. Peter begins this letter to these churches by telling them who they are. And by extension, if you are in Christ, who you are. So we're going to we're going to talk about Peter's audience. We're going to see ten realities, characteristics that define them. So the first one is elect exiles and two adjectives. Elect exiles. Now right from the start, because a lot of us read the new American Standard, a lot of us have read the ESV. We've got some new King James. There are probably some NIV folks out there. Some of you may have felt a little bump when I read that first verse or the second verse, because the NASB reads differently than the English Standard Version. The NASB reads to those who reside as aliens scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. So I hope you see the difference. But why the difference? The Greek has two adjectives one for elect, one for exiles. In the Greek manuscript there smack dab together. But the NASB took that word elect moved it down, and it says, who are chosenaccording to the foreknowledge of God the Father. Well, why? It appears that those who translated that translation may have thought, boy, if we read Elect Exiles, then people are going to go, oh, they were chosen to be exiles. That's the emphasis. It'smodifying exiles when that's really not the case. Peter's describing his audience. They are elect and they are exiles. Sothe word order doesn't really matter. But in case you felt that little bump there, let's briefly address that. His audience are elect. In verse two, Peter says that they are elect by the foreknowledge of God, or, as the NASB reads, chosen. Now, given my limited time this morning, I'm sincerely referring you to Adam's sermon on September 8th. On 2 Thessalonians 2: 12 and 13. In that sermon, Adam explained what the Bible means by election. However, staying in the context of Peter's writing here in verse three, he says, according to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again. God's choosing is always effective. If God chooses you, elects you. You will be born again. You will turn to choose him. You will believe a person who sincerely comes to Jesus repenting of his or her rejection of Jesus or of God does so making a genuine personal Decision, but the ability to believe, which is like coming from the dead to life. That's a gift from God, and it's according to his sovereign mercy. If this biblical teaching is difficult, please speak to one of the elders after the service. And I'm not one yet, so officially. And I would I would really encourage the careful reading of Ephesians chapter two, verses 1-10 and Romans 8, verses 28-30. So Peter's audience is elect, but they are exiles. He's writing to Christians. They're mostly Gentiles. There probably were a smattering of ethnic Jews, believers in Jesus mixed in among them.

  But he calls them exiles, not because they were literally thrownout of their country and pushed someplace else. He calls them exiles because they are Christians in a hostile environment. They were insiders, but now they are outsiders. They no longer fit in with the common practices and beliefs of their surrounding culture. Peter makes this clear in three other parts of this very letter. Farther along in chapter one, if you want to look down there verses 14 to 19, Peter says, as obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, you shall be holy, for I am holy. And if you call on him as Father, who judges impartially according to each one's deeds, conduct yourselves with fear throughout the time of your exile, knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot. Peter reminds them that their obedience means they no longer live like they used to, as easily as their predecessors, their grandparents, their parents. And they don't live like their present compatriots. They'redifferent. Chapter two, verse 11 and 12 Peter says, beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh which wage war against your soul. Keep your conduct among the Gentiles honorable, so that when they speak against you as evildoers, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day of visitation. Finally, in the fourth chapter, verses three and four, Peter says, for the time that is past suffices for doing what the Gentiles want to do living in sensuality, passions, drunkenness, orgies, drinking parties, and lawless idolatry. With respect to this. They are surprised when you do not join in with them in the same flood of debauchery, and they malign you. Peter is making clear that his readers used to live a certain way. They lived like the people they lived among. They no longer do. They lived like Gentiles. And Peter is using that word spiritually. The people, they're all the same, they speak the same language. But now Peter considers them to be Israelites or the true Israelites and their neighbors Gentiles. They don't believe. Remember at this time Christianity is a new religion. People were suspicious of it. The Roman Empire had by this time instituted laws that you had to worship the Emperor. Christianity did not play well with other religions. Christianity says there is one God. Christians are not going to worship the Emperor, and they are not going to participate in religious activities of false gods just to get along. They weren't very tolerant. This was not like here in the south, where to be a Christian is still acceptedand even maybe well regarded. This was more like being a Christian in Seattle, Washington or Portland, Oregon. Now it should be clear why these people stand out as aliens or strangers, as exiles in their communities. They are different. They used to fit in. Now they don't. They used to be thought of as us. Now they are seen as strange. They're even seen as dangerous. The people to whom Peter is writing are elect exiles. So if you were born and raised in Catawba County or Alexander County, or Iredell County or Burke County, or Caldwell County or Lincoln County, and your last name is Starnes, or Sigmon or Bowman or Bolick, But you have been chosen by God for salvation. You are truly a Christian. You're an exile. Being this kind of an exile is not a bad thing, though. It is something rejoicing because it is an indication that God has done something incredibly special and wonderful in you and for you. So they're elect exiles. Second characteristic Peter says they are born again. Now, this is a common term in Christianity. We're used to throwing it around. Maybe not so much, maybe a lot more when I was younger. And it's often equated with someone having a conversion experience that is becoming a Christian. But the emphasis on the term when Peter uses it is on the one causing or bringing about the new birth. So think of this if someone in this room, if you thought back to the day you were physically born and you raised your hand and said, yep. On the day that I gave birth to myself, right, everybody would say, well, that's nonsense. In this context and as well as in John three, when Jesus is speaking with Nicodemus, or in verse 23 of this chapter, the idea of being a born again emphasizes that God brought about the birth. He caused you to be born again spiritually. And the first words out of your new life are I believe. In the Bible, needing to be born again implies that you were dead. Ephesians 2:4-5. Let me read this. But God, being rich in mercy because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ. By grace you have been saved. And Paul says in 2 Corinthians 5:17 and 18. Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away. Behold, the new has come. All this is from God. So elect exiles born again. Third, they have a living hope. These people have a living hope. Verse three reads, according to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Why do they need hope? Because they are living in a difficult world. They suffer disease, loss, death, rejection, disappointment, dashed expectations, unfulfilled dreams and pain, emotional and physical. On top of a life in a fallen, troubled world, they'refacing persecution and trial from their community because they are Christians who are living like true followers of Jesus. They no longer participate in the God dishonoring practices of their societies. Is that any different from our experience? I mean, let'sface it, except for the most part, we do not face severe persecution. But there are ,there are brothers and sisters in this world who do. In fact, Denise and I had breakfast with a couple. It's been a couple of months ago working in the Middle East. And they know that if the Lord brings someone to them and gives them faith, they will likely be killed and this couple would be put out of the country in minutes. But that's still their goal, is to have people come to Christ. So what do they hope for? They are hoping for a future of glorious life. This new life was made absolutely certain by the resurrection of Jesus. That's why it is a living hope. Because Jesus is alive. Their hope is not a fairy tale. Their hope is not a Disney make believe and it's not a blind hoping for... Oh, I hope things get better. Peter says they have a real living hope. Now, this next characteristic fleshes out what this hope is. Number four Peter tells these folks that they have an incredible inheritance. We all have an idea of what an inheritance is, something we anticipate receiving in the future, of which we have a right to take possession. So I thought of Warren Buffett for this, right? He's 94 years old now. He'sknown as the Oracle of Omaha. He's a very successful investor. He's worth, I think, about $150 billion. So let's say that Warren Buffett passed because he's 94 years old. And you somehow you find your way into the reading of the will, and they're going through all this stuff and you raise your hand up, I'd like just 150 million, Please just. Can. I have 150 million? You know, he's got 150 billion. It's just a little bit, you know. Give me 150 million. Well, obviously, two security guards would get you by the elbows and they would escort you out of the room. You have no standing because you are not mentioned in his will. Let'sconsider his children. They are his heirs. But if they are not mentioned specifically in his will as being the recipients of certain funds, they cannot make a claim just because they are his physical offspring. Assuming Mr. Buffett made his wishes clear and legally binding, they cannot make demands just because he was their father. So Peter is saying to these people that they have the right to receive an inheritance.

  They have been born again to a living hope, which includes this inheritance and what an inheritance. He describes it as being imperishable, Undefiled and unfading, kept in heaven for you. This inheritance will never lose its value. It will never degrade. It will never become obsolete. It will never fall apart. It cannot be stolen. It cannot be scammed or taken away by fraud. And it can't be even diminished by taxes. This inheritance, though, is a real entity. It's not some piece of paper. It's not a pie in the sky. Hope. It is the new heavens and the new earth that God will create. It is being in the presence of eternal God Himself. It is being with Jesus face to face who himself is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading in glory. Now, finally, this inheritance is being kept for them. Do you have I mean, most of us have something, right? We've got some savings. We've got some investment. We've got some cash hidden in a box. Maybe some of you even have gold buried in the backyard. Or maybe some of you have Bitcoin. How are those savings safe? Who protects them? Federal government, police... Encrypted passwords that you forget. Confidence in a growing global economy. That's our hope. None of them are a sure thing. I mean, we know even gold can lose its value and you can't eat it. This inheritance that Peter refers to here is backed, is kept, is preserved by Almighty God, who never goes back on his word, never fails in what he chooses to do. Tom Schreiner, in his commentary says, Peter emphasized in the strongest possible terms the security and certainty of the reward awaiting believers. They are elect exiles. They are born again. They have a living hope. They have an imperishable inheritance. Number five they have faith. That's a fundamental one. But Peter's emphasis is actually not their faith, but that their faith is being guarded by God. In Hebrews 11:6, the writer says, without faith it is impossible to please him. For whoever would draw near to God must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who seek him. Ephesians 2:8 reads, for by grace you have been saved by faith, and this is not your own doing. It is the gift of God. Faith is essential to obtain salvation. I think we would all agree with that. To be well received into God's presence. To have the right to receive the inheritance. Then the question is why? Why faith? Because faith says, God, you are good. You are trustworthy. You are faithful. Your promises will come to pass. Therefore, I believe in you. I have faith in you. But how can the people to whom Peter is writing have confidence that their faith will sustain? Why would they not succumb to the pressure of the communities that they live among? Right? That'spressure every day. Come on, come on. Let go of that. It's a fluke. It's going to pass. Do come back to what? The way you used to live. Why go on trusting God and not go back to their former ways of life? Because God is guarding their faith. I sohope that each of us understands and knows this amazing truth. The man who is writing this letter, Peter, knows this firsthand that his faith has been protected by God. In Luke 22, verses 31 and 32. Soon before Jesus' arrest, he speaks to Peter. He uses his former name. He says, Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you that he might sift you like wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers. When Peter denied Jesus, when he did, and he did right the very one he rightly identified as the Messiah, he turned his back on. But Peter's faith did not fail. Peter gave in to fear, gave in to fear, and he sinned. He quit being an exile and wanted to join up with the community that he was, that people were he was faced with at that time. Peter turned away from Jesus, but Jesus prayed for him. In fact. Right. Jesus says, when you have turned again. And indeed, Peter's faith did not fail. And how do we know? Because Peter repented, was forgiven. And he's writing this letter that we're talking about this morning. Let's see this for us in Romans 8:31-34. What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? Who shall bring any charge against God's elect? It is God who justifies, who is to condemn. Jesus Christ is the one who died more than that, who was raised, who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. Same thought. Hebrews 7:25. Consequently, he is able to save to the uttermost those who draw near to God through him, since he always lives to make intercession for them. Finally, 1 John 2:1. My little children, I am writing these things to you that you may not sin. Peter did. But if anyone does sin. Peter did. We have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. What is Christ's intercession? How does he advocate for us? Is he up there just going? Oh boy, I really hope this guy. Oh, her. She is really on the edge there. He speaks to the third person of the Triune God, the Holy Spirit. Keep their faith alive. Bring them to confession. Cause her to repent. Renew his love for me. Cause her hope to endure. The faith of these people was protected. That does not mean it was not tested. This protection is not like an overprotective parent. Right. Don't go outside. Oh, you know, put sort of wrap them in bubble wrap. The parentsfear is because they know they cannot protect them. Not completely. They cannot keep them from any harm. God is not like such a parent. His protection. His protection does not mean that nothing difficult, painful, troubling, tempting, trying will ever face you. But he will see you through. God guards our faith. All right. We need to keep moving. Number six. Twice in these verses. Verse 5 and verse 9, he says that the goal of their faith is salvation. So this is one of these basic questions again, what is salvation? We hear it all the time. Are you saved? Are you saved? I was saved. Saved from what? Likewise. What do we need to be saved from? So let me read these verses from Romans 5:6-9. For while we were still weak at the right time, Christ died for the ungodly. For one will scarcely die for a righteous person, though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die. But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Since therefore we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved from him, from the wrath of God, saved by him from the wrath of God. This truth that we need to be saved from God's wrath can be difficult to swallow. God has righteous deserved anger against all who in essence have said to him, you are not trustworthy. You are not good. You are not worthy of my praise. You are not more desirable than all the stuff that you've made. But God is the only one worthy of praise. He is the only one worthy of devotion. He's the only one worthy of hoping in. And we all, every person that Peter was writing to every person in this room have sinned. And by sin, I don't want to... We so often think of it as some naughty things. I did this sin. Really, truly, all sin is against God because all sin is denying that his ways are good and to be obeyed for our good. All sin is saying to God, you are not trustworthy. You cannot satisfy my heart's longings. But Peter's audience had been born again. They have authentic, obedient faith. So instead of anticipating the coming wrath and punishment of God, they look forward to salvation. So in this context, salvation is the combination of what Peter has already referred to That is living hope that will be fulfilled when they come into their inheritance. This salvation is still in the future, but it is already prepared.

  And this appropriately leads us to the next characteristic. Peter's readers are rejoicing. They are joyful. In verse 6, Peter says, referring to the salvation that is ready to be revealed. In this you rejoice. And in verse 8 he writes, you rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. And Peter does not say to them, rejoice! And he doesn't say, oh, I hope you rejoice, or you should rejoice. How can he be so sure that they're rejoicing? It'san emotion, right? Emotions come and go. Peter knows. Now listen to this paragraph, because this is going to be one of those going to hurt your brain. Peter knows their identity, and he knows that they know their identity. He knows they have been born again to a living hope. He knows that they know that they have an incredible inheritance. Peter knows that their faith is being guarded by God, and he knows that. They know that there is a salvation ready for them. Rejoicing just makes sense. Rejoicing is completely reasonable and expected considering the reality that these people know and are experiencing. It is completely appropriate because of what God has done for them and what God has prepared for them. Now let me say now, this is the characteristic that challenges me the most personally when my eyes are on myself. My weak, self-centered self. And then when my attention goes to the world, Either to the dangers, the troubles, the confusion, or to its baubles. The little bubbles floating in the air going, oh, I want you the cotton candy amusements. I tend not to rejoice. But I have every reason to rejoice, and so do you if you are in Christ. Number eight. The eighth reality for these elect exiles is not a happy one. It's not like rejoicing, but it is real for them nonetheless. They have been grieved by various trials. We all know that suffering is a part of life. No one, I don't think anybody can deny that. We see it every day on the news. We experience it ourselves from one degree to another. But we have been taught well here at Hickory Bible Church. Suffering trials are an expected characteristic of life, but particularly of the Christian life. Why? Is it because God is not able to protect us? I mean, he truly is not sovereign and control of the world. No, no. God intentionally, wisely, lovingly brings trials into our lives to purify our faith. Or as Peter says here, to test the genuineness of our faith. He says that our faith is more precious than gold. And because God is guarding our faith, it is way more durable than gold. The important phrase that Peter uses here is, if necessary. That means that there are no random, meaningless trials or troubles. If you lose your keys and you are late for an appointment, it is a necessary trial. I'm thinking of Matt. If you lose your watch and you can't find it for months, and then you find it. That was a necessary trial. If you get a diagnosis, though of cancer, it's a necessary trial. If you're home has been damaged by a hurricane, it is a necessary trial. If your child wakes up in the night terrified by a dream or with a fever, these are necessary trials. If your company eliminates your position, it is a necessary trial. If you hurt within a relationship, it is a necessary trial. If you are a missionary in another country and they give you 30 days to leave. It is a necessary trial. To conclude otherwise means God is weak, asleep, uncaring, distracted, and he is not the sovereign Creator and Lord of the universe. The conclusion must be that he only has control over some of the molecules, but not all of them. And it must be, then, that humans and our decisions are ultimately decisive. That is not what the Word of God says. Every trial provides an opportunity to have your faith and trust in God become stronger, purer. And remember, God guards your faith. Therefore, he sees to it that we do not fall away into unbelief. We know that at times we fail the test. We sin, and still God sees to it that we grow in faith. Remember back to Peter. He denied Jesus, but his faith did not fail. It'd be a different thing, right? If those people had come up. Hey, Peter. You're one of them. Yes, I am, and I am one of them. And I'm going through this trial and not. No. He rejected Jesus. His faith did not fail. Now, do not hear this, as the last thing you remember from the sermon is. Lauren says, it does not matter if we fail to endure the trials. Now here's a warning passage from 1 Timothy 1:18-20. This charge I entrust to you, Timothy, my child, in accordance with the prophecies previously made about you, that by them you may wage the good warfare, holding faith and a good conscience. By rejecting this, some have made shipwreck of their faith. Among them are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, that they may learn not to blaspheme. Some people, when they face trials and suffering, reject God. They become angry with them and turn away from him. This is blasphemy because either they are saying God cannot protect me, which is blasphemy, or they are saying God is not good. He does not care. That too is blasphemy. Hebrews 12 says, God disciplines those he loves for our good. All right, we're nearly done. Number nine, this is a future reality that Peter's audience will experience. Their tested, genuine, enduring living faith will result in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. That praise, glory, and honor is for them as well as for Jesus when he returns. Let me read two passages for this. James 1:12. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life which God has promised to those who love him. And Paul writes in 2 Timothy 4, I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith. Henceforth there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, the righteous which the Lord, the righteous judge, will award to me on that day, and not only to me, but also to all who have loved his appearing. Now understand the relationship between the preceding characteristic. They face trials, and this one that they will receive praise, glory, and honor. It is not because they gutted it out and endured that they received the crown, the praise, the glory and the honor. This is not a reward for completing the ultramarathon or my dear brother Greg, who ran a marathon yesterday and he's hurting today. You don't finish this race, you know. You pull out your phone and go look at the GPS. That's what I did there buddies. Come on. See it? You see it? You see the topography there. You see the hills. I had to do give me my prize. I did it in this race. You reach the finish line. And who are you looking for? You're looking for the organizer of this race. You're looking for the one who planned it all. Seeing him is the reason you ran. You run into his arms with delight. Because when you hit that finish line, you've got energy again. All the many strenuous miles, the hills, the times you tripped and fell, even the times you got lost are now forgotten. You are not focused on your accomplishment. You are focusedon the prize, the revelation of Jesus Christ. The reward is for those who loved God despite the trials. Faith in God is living out our love for him, even when the living is hard and you are an exile among your own people. Let me read that. I referenced that Hebrews passage, but let me read this chapter 12:1-2. Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Peter's readers are grieved by various trials, but their faith will be shown to be genuine because God is guarding it and purifying it.

  They will finish the race. And like the crowd of witnesses enumerated in Hebrews chapter 11, and like Paul and even like Jesus, they look ahead to receive praise and glory and honor. I will not read it here, but I would put down Philippians 3:12-14, because those are good verses of Paul leaving behind and looking ahead. All right. This leads us to the final qualities or attributes of Peter's readers, but I'm going to combine them into one because of a common element that Peter uses to tie them together. Without having seen Jesus, they love him. And even though they continue to not see him, they believe in him. They rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory. So let me just read the actual verse. Though you have not seen him, you love him, though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory, obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls. Now I would love, I wanted really to focus on the reality that these elect exiles love Jesus and it's going to be covered. But why does Peter emphasize the fact that they have never seen him? And Peter saw Jesus in the flesh, right? He lived with him for three years. He followed him. Peter was even there when Jesus was transfigured. You know, glorious. This brilliance, this what words cannot really describe Peter saw that happen to Jesus. But Peter knows what happened to Judas. Judas lived with Jesus for at least two or so years, maybe all three. Judas heard him teach. Judas saw him heal, and Judas rejected Jesus. Judas turned away. Peter is saying that seeing is Believing is not necessarily true and not necessary. Let's consider Thomas, one of the 12. He also saw Jesus, lived with Jesus, listened to Jesus. He did not turn away as Judas did. But after Jesus' resurrection, Thomas says to the other disciples, well, wait a second, guys. I think you all have a delusion or a hallucination. I'm not going to believe until I put my fingers in here and my fingers in here. So let me read from John 20:26 to 29. Eight days later, his disciples were inside again and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, peace be with you. Then he said, right to Thomas, put your finger here and see my hands. Put your hand here in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas answered him, my Lord and my God. Jesus said to him, have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believed. Why does Jesus say, those who have not seen but believe are blessed? I mean, is not the important issue to believe, regardless of whether you've seen Jesus or not? Because the one who has not seen but believes clearly shows that the believing is a gift from God. Such a person cannot claim any merit or achievement in figuring it out. You know, I researched it, really dug into the options, weighed the possibilities. I examined all the facts, and I came to the conclusion that this guy Jesus is worth believing in. Or, like Thomas was intending, I examined the guy. I put my fingers here and it really is him. Let's be clear. Thomas did not believe because he saw or touched the risen Christ. He believed because Jesus said to him, do not disbelieve, but believe. Thomas confesses that Jesus is his Lord and God. After Jesus' words, not after he examines him. In fact, he probably didn't. Let's consider one other passage this from 2 Corinthians 4:4-6. In their case, the God of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God. For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants, for Jesus' sake. For God who said, let light shine out of darkness, has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. When God said way back in Genesis, let there be light. Light came to be. When God shines in a person's heart to reveal his glory in the image of His Son, the Lord Jesus Christ, that person believes whether or not that person has seen Jesus with his eyes. Peter is emphasizing that their new life, their living hope, their protected faith, their love for Jesus, and their ongoing belief and joy are not dependent or contingent on their having seen Jesus. Just as we haven't.
  So conclusion. These are the characteristics, qualities, realitiesof people who are elect exiles. Are these the only qualities? No, of course not. Right. If you guys, if you dug into the Bible, you would come up with a whole lot more qualities and characteristics of believers. And are these even all the ones out of these nine verses? Not necessarily. I skipped verse two. I didn't mention sanctification and obedience and being sprinkled with the blood of Jesus. So don't get hung up on the list. Here'sthe critical point. Peter is writing to people who embody these truths. Are you such a person? Am I such a person? Peter wrote to people who were living day to day lives, just like we do, with a mix of day to day joys, pleasures and difficulties and hurts. After these nine verses, peter has much more to say to them about how they conduct their lives. Verse 13 of chapter one. Most of your translations should start with the word therefore. Then Peter begins his instructions, his admonitions, his warnings, and many more encouragements. But all that follows that word, therefore, is rooted in, founded upon, based on the preceding verses in chapter one, the ones we've just gone through. The starting point, the touchstone, the foundation on which he builds and bases all his further instruction is the reality that these people possess because of what God has done for them and in them. In the beginning, God. So this sermon is not meant to be a pep talk to help you feel better about yourself. You should feel better, but you're better feeling should be deeply embedded in God's power, wisdom, goodness, and faithfulness. Peter's words to these elect exiles are not to build up their self confidence. You should have incredible confidence, but in God's unfailing promises and assured fulfillment of all of them. The rock solid, unfailing reason to rejoice is in God Himself. Look at how many of these characteristics are God centered, originate from God, or are initiated by God. Elected God did that. Born again. God did that. A living hope. God did that. An incredible inheritance. God did that. Your enduring, guarded faith, that is all God. The salvation that is ready and waiting. God's work, our love for Jesus, even that 1 John 4:19. We love because he first loved us. The reason to leave here this morning glad. Heartened. Encouraged. Strong. Looking up, looking out is because of God. That is why Peter begins verse three with blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Taste and see what he has done for you. If you are in Christ, if you are saved, a believer, a follower or disciple of Jesus, then indeed you are included in Peter's audience. He is writing to you. I know he is writing to me, and that is what challenges my faith and gives me hope because I am an elect exile. Are you? If that question cannot be answered with an assured yes, then please come up and speak to one of the pastor elders after the service. You can know him. You can love him. You can have peace. You can have joy. You can have an absolute confidence that you will receive an incredible inheritance, having never seen him, but knowing that one day you will see him face to face.  
  Let me pray, please. Father. All of our hope is in you. We confess when we put our eyes on our self, our weaknesses or our strengths. And yet we also recognize that we are but dust. We need you, Father. We cannot endure. Our faith will not be guarded without you. We cannot reach the finish line. Unless you continue to work in us and for us. Help us not to fear, but to believe your Word. Help us to be elect exiles, Father. Trusting you. Rejoicing in you. Amen.