Chosen to Obey
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who reside as strangers, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. 1Peter 1: 1-2
Picking up on Peter’s audience, something not to be overlooked, he adds another premise and characteristic that is consistently threaded throughout his letter and scripture. I am imposing nothing on the text or over-applying. The first point of application is that to live “scattered” versus “secured” in this world is akin to “losing your life to find it.” This goes back to the Old Testament, as shown. From here, eternal rewards that come only from the Father and will be distributed only in the next world come with scattered living now. To pursue the security of now is in direct opposition to scattered living. Few find this path. Not many are willing to teach such a truth. If God is sovereign, as we teach, then He permitted the scattering to take place. Their scattering through persecution was their opportunity for eternal compensation. The problem now is that many believers have a choice, and most will choose comfort and self every day of the week.
The second trait Peter designated for those chosen by God is obedience. In fact, he expressly says that true believers are chosen to obey. Many false believers and teachers of the church love to hijack this phrase, only to mutilate it and reshape it to bring artificial comfort: “You are chosen.” But then the world creeps in: chosen to rise above the rest; chosen to succeed; chosen to stand out, et al. But the pure word says obedience is the call. The choice has already been made for us. To obey Jesus Christ is everything. It is is love: “If you love me, obey Me.” (John 14:15). If. Jesus draws the line in the sand.
Samuel said, “Does the LORD have as much delight in burnt offerings and sacrifices As in obeying the voice of the LORD? Behold, to obey is better than a sacrifice. (1 Sam. 15:22).
Again, Peter is being consistent. The only problem with this truth is that it runs contrary to contemporary Christianity, to the mainstream, evangelical, mainstream, carnal, cosmopolitan, false Protestant church. Scripture through Peter declares the actual truth; society and its Christians demonstrate an artificial one.
Chosen to Obey
Next to Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherds, probably the most cited scripture is John 3:16. But this is not the whole story. Protestant Christianity has led astray here. I wish it were true, that all we need to do is believe, accept, receive Jesus and then participate in church, practice morality and do some good works, including tithing, and heaven awaits. but then Jesus gives the ultimatum: "The one who believes in the Son has eternal life; but the one who does not obey the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36).
Obedience cannot be done while maintaining or pursuing comfort and security. They are mutually exclusive.