Daily Bread – May 6, 2022 (The Sixth Day – Genesis 1:24-31) 1 Peter 1:1-2 – Peter, an Apostle of Jesus Christ, to elect sojourners of the dispersed of Pontus, of Galatia, of Cappadocia, of Asia, and of Bithynia; according to Father God’s foreknowledge, by sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace to you and peace be multiplied. The Elect: Chosen & Sanctified The Greek word ‘eklektois’, which is translated “elect”, brings to light the fact that Jesus has chosen us. Peter will highlight how the election took place in the following verses. The first time ‘eklektois’ occurs in the New Testament is in Matthew 22:14, where it is translated “chosen” in the Authorized Version. Of the twenty-three times that ‘eklektos’ occurs it is translated “elect” 16 times and “chosen” seven times. It also may be translated, “picked out”, “appointed”, or “selected”. Just as Jesus is our righteousness and our redemption, He is also our sanctification (1 Corinthians 1:30). Even as men were consecrated by special acts of grace in the old covenant, all men are given the opportunity to be set apart today by the blood of Jesus and the work of the Holy Spirit. It is by the Holy Spirit that we are sanctified (2 Thessalonians 2:13). The Greek word ‘hagiasmo’ means to be made holy. Therefore, when we were born of the Holy Spirit, we received a holy spirit and are those who are referred to as “holy ones” (saints), by God (Acts 9:13, 32, 41, 26:10; Romans 1:7, and Romans 8:27, 12:13, 15:25-26,31, 16:2,15; and 1 Corinthians 1:2, 7:1,2, 14:33, 16:1,15). When we were born of the Spirit, we were given a new heart and a new spirit and our spirit was made one with the Holy Spirit (Ezekiel 36:26; 2 Corinthians 3:18; Ephesians 4:24; 1 Corinthians 6:17, 12:13; John 3:6; Romans 8:9). We are holy because we received a divine nature when we were born of God and made a new creature (2 Peter 1:3-4; Galatians 6:15; 2 Corinthians 5:17). Now that we are born of God and filled with His Spirit, the ways of God are no longer foreign to us, and we are able to both agree with the Lord and walk in His ways. We are renewed in righteousness and true holiness, and washed with the water of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 4:24; Colossians 3:10; Titus 3:5). God wants us to believe what He has done for us and be renewed in the Spirit of our mind; He wants us to think differently about ourselves (Ephesians 4:23; Romans 12:2). We are no longer sinners, but saints. Our bodies are the temple of the Holy Ghost, and we are endued with Christ (1 Corinthians 3:16, 6:13, 19-20, 7:34; Galatians 3:27; Acts 10:15). Thus, sanctification is not a process, but an event. Blessings, Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
Daily Bread 5/6/2022
