Down to Earth But Heavenly Minded

Question:

“E. C.” ― “What is the general meaning of 1 Peter 1:1-2; and why is obedience mentioned before blood? “

Answer:

James, in his Epistle, addresses the scattered twelve tribes, as Israel had still the character of God’s people in his eye: and he recognises both the synagogue (c. 2:2), and the assembly (c. 5:14), before the final separation of the believing remnant from the nation in general had taken place. It was a transitional moment, and he has the nation as a nation, although scattered, before him. Peter, on the other hand, takes up only the elect strangers of the dispersion, who were anywhere but in the land of Israel ― Pontus, Galatia, etc. ― and sets their eye upon a heavenly hope. Consequently, verse 2 is a complete reversal of the whole hopes of Israel, to this remnant of faithful ones. As to Israel of old, we might read it thus, “Elect according to the foreknowledge of Jehovah, through sanctification of ordinances, unto obedience of the law, and sprinkling of the blood of the old covenant (Exodus 24), which sealed their condemnation.” Now, he can write of the believing ones that they were “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (the name He reveals Himself to Christians, in the Son of His love, as Jehovah was His revealed name to His elect nation ― see Exodus 6), through sanctification of the Spirit (not ordinances) who separates us from man, unto the obedience of Jesus Christ” ― i.e., to obey according to His order and pattern, who never did even His own perfect will, but the Father’s; “and (unto) sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ.” The Spirit separates us unto both. Thus separated or sanctified by the Holy Ghost unto His obedience, we come under the efficacy of the blood of sprinkling of the new covenant, which purges the conscience, instead of sealing our condemnation.