Chosen for a Purpose

"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." - 1 Peter 1:1-2, ESV

Usually when the concept of election is brought up for discussion, attention is centered on how we are elect.  For example, when 1 Peter says that we are elect "according to the foreknowledge of God," does that mean that God looks ahead and chooses those whom He foreknows will choose Him or will be a good asset in His kingdom?  Such a view of foreknowledge roots our election in us, in our own decision or our own potential value to the kingdom of God.  If this is the basis for God's election, the fact that He foreknew something good about me, then I have reason to boast in my election.  God chose me for something He saw in me.

This is not what foreknowledge likely means.  The use of "according to the foreknowledge of God" here is similar to the expression in Romans 8:29, "For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers."  These verses show that Peter and Paul had the same theology, that predestination/election is grounded in foreknowledge.  For God to "foreknow" someone does not mean that He looks ahead and foresees something true about them.  No, it really means "fore-loved" as in "Now Adam knew Eve his wife, and she conceived and bore Cain (Gen. 4:1)."  For God to know someone is for Him to love them personally. 

However, what gets lost in these kinds of discussions over the basis or ground of our election in Christ is the other end of election- namely, the purpose or design of God in election.  For what goal or purpose are we elected?  The word "elect" in 1 Peter 1 means "called out" and the church in the Bible literally is "the called out ones."  Why does God call us out from the world?  What is His purpose?

According to 1 Peter, it is "for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood."  In Romans 9, God says, "to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers." 

God wants to make us like His Son, Jesus.  He wants us to obey Christ.  He also wants us to have clean consciences, to be sprinkled clean by the blood of Christ.  Forgiven and growing in Christ-likeness- this is what God has called us out to be.  It's very easy for us to focus on only one or the other of these two purposes of God.  Sometimes, we can rejoice in being forgiven and be complacent about the need to persevere in obedience.  At other times, our focus can be so fixated on how far we fall short in the quest "for obedience to Jesus Christ."  But God wants us to be neither complacent nor depressed.  What's the solution? 

We need to remember that God has called us out to be holy, even as He is holy.  Yet even in calling us, He has made us holy by sprinkling us with the blood of Jesus.  In other words, even as we are growing in our sanctification, we have already been sanctified.  Hebrews 10:14 puts it like this: "For by a single offering he has perfected for all time those who are being sanctified." 

If you are in the furnace of sanctification wondering how much more dross has yet to be removed.  If you are struggling up the mountain of holiness wondering how much further it is to the top, remember this: Christ is your righteousness.  He has already perfected you for all time.  God's purpose is to make you like Jesus, and His purposes never fail.  Be encouraged: The race is already won.  And press on!