…elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ: Grace to you, and peace be multiplied. –
I Peter 1:2

     The dictionary defines the word ‘elect” as that which is chosen or picked out. This is what the elect is, the apostle Peter tells us how we are given the unique title of God’s elect.
     Through God’s foreknowledge, which is His ability to know what is going to happen in the future, He chooses those He knows in advance will obey His plan of salvation. The chosen are “sanctified by the Holy Spirit unto obedience.” Those who are sanctified by the Holy Spirit have obeyed the Gospel as defined by the apostles and have been sprinkled by the blood of Jesus, the means by which the Holy Spirit is released to the believer.
     Peter uses the word sprinkled to relate what he is saying back to the Old Testament, which contains foreshadows of God’s plan of salvation which was fulfilled in the Messiah Jesus.

     For when Moses had spoken every precept to all the people according to the law, he took the blood of calves and goats, with water, scarlet wool, and hyssop, and sprinkled both the book itself and all the people, saying, "This is the blood of the covenant which God has commanded you."
Then likewise he sprinkled with blood both the tabernacle and all the vessels of the ministry.
And according to the law almost all things are purified with blood, and without shedding of blood there is no remission. – Hebrews 9:19-22.
'For the life of the flesh is in the blood, and I have given it to you upon the altar to make atonement for your souls; for it is the blood that makes atonement for the soul.' – Leviticus 17:11.

     Those who are God’s elect, His chosen, have been cleansed by the blood of Jesus, the only means by which man can be made holy enough to enter the presence of a holy God.
     If you are the Lord's you will respond to His call upon your heart. And if you already have made that wonderful eternal life giving decision – Grace to you, and peace be multiplied.

"For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” – John 3:16

Copyright 2013 by H. D. Shively