1 Peter: Set Apartنموونە

Chosen By God

In these verses, Peter continues the progression of his letter. He began in chapter one by talking about what Jesus has done for us and that we can persevere in suffering because of the inheritance that awaits us. Then, in 1 Peter 1:13-25, we saw how what Jesus has done for us leads us to want to honor him with our lives. This passage goes a step further by showing why Jesus is the cornerstone on which we should build our lives.

It’s important to understand that following Jesus starts with knowing and experiencing him first, not obeying him first. Nowhere in scripture are we commanded to love or honor or obey God simply because he is God, even though that alone is a good enough reason. Instead, we are always called to do this in response to what God has done for us.

The good things we do are only acceptable to God through Jesus Christ (verse 5). In other words, our good works mean nothing apart from Jesus. This means the popular idea that if I’m just a good person or do good enough things then God will forgive me and let me into heaven is fundamentally untrue.

Imagine, for example, a wife discovering her husband was having an affair. The next time she sees her husband kindly and generously interacting with this other woman she would not think, "look at all the great things my husband is doing, he's such a great guy." Instead, she would witness and be devastated by the adultery that is being committed. She would view her husband’s kindness as filthy rags in comparison to the wrong he is doing.

Therefore, while good works are good and important, they can’t save us because we are still broken. But there is really good news. Followers of Christ are part of the priesthood of believers, which means we can go directly to God with our sin and our shame.

Peter tells us that those who do follow Jesus are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, and a holy nation. Followers of Christ are now God’s chosen people like the Israelites were in the Old Testament. That blessing has now been passed to anyone who follows Jesus. It is Jesus and what he has done that makes it all possible, not our effort.

That being said, one of the biggest questions we face is if we can be fully known and fully accepted. If people really know all we do, think, and feel, would they still accept us? In this passage, Peter shows us the amazing news that God fully knows each one of us, and still chooses us.

Today’s reflection

How does it feel to know that God is the only one who fully knows you, and at the same time is the only one who will fully accept you if you receive the grace and forgiveness through Jesus that he offers?