1 Peter 1:2

Verse 2 Elect according to the foreknowledge of God.

Around this word "elect" have swept the wildest winds of religious controversy, and the gale is not in the least abated at the mention of the term "foreknowledge." While this is all true, I can see but little cause for the humble, teachable disciple of Christ to be in the least disturbed. The honest, sincere and prayerful study of God's revealed will leaves the student in no perplexity whatever. Elect means chosen. Who does the choosing? God. Who is chosen? Man. What is the procedure? It is set forth clearly in the gospel. Does the chosen one have anything to do in bringing about the result wherein the relationship is established? Yes, he is required to hear and obey. It must be plain to every reflecting mind that if the gospel of Christ, commanded to be proclaimed to the world, embraced the conditions upon which salvation is suspended, that when these conditions were performed then and in that case those obeying were chosen or elected. To state it differently, in obeying the conditions of salvation the obedient one is thereby pardoned of all past sins, and stands before God as one of his chosen. Such a one is elect. He has complied with all the terms upon which his election was suspended. This gospel of Christ, containing the terms upon which this election was suspended, was according to the foreknowledge of God.

According to the foreknowledge of God.

Looking back from the time when the Epistle was written to that period when our merciful Father conceived in his infinite wisdom the scheme of human redemption. Everything connected with the gospel plan of salvation is in strict accord with God's purpose determined in the past ages, that in the age in which Peter wrote, and in the age in which we live, it is said truly and correctly to be foreknowledge. God's conception and knowledge were many ages before he saw fit in his infinite wisdom to make the same known to the children of men in his revealed will the Bible. God has made known to us in these last days how we may become his elect. The how was known to him ages before. This was his foreknowledge, or, if you prefer the expression, his predetermined purpose. Now, this is all there is of it. No mystery whatever to perplex or annoy any one who will humbly content himself with what God has seen fit to reveal.

Through sanctification of the Spirit.

To sanctify is to set apart. Sanctification is, therefore, the setting apart. The spirit is to be sanctified or set apart. Now, since the. Savior has said that we hear with the ears and understand with the heart, it is plain that something must be heard before there can be a setting apart. Now, the gospel is heard, then understood, then believed. Setting apart, or sanctification, which is the same thing, is the result of belief. Belief in action is obedience. Obedience is followed by pardon. Pardon, or the forgiveness of sins, brings about, or results in, the elect state. It is by obedience we are baptized into Christ, and, being in Christ, are new creatures. All such are elect.

Grace unto you.

To the elect, Peter wishes not only a continuance of God's gracious favors and the peace he can bestow, but he earnestly desires these favors and peace to be multiplied when he contemplates the fearful ordeal through which they must pass.