…exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia…
Where to begin?
Peter is writing to exiles. Exiles are people who have been forced to leave their homes. Actually, that is a bit misleading. It is not like they were exiled to the next town or city. They were forced from their own country.
Why were they forced out?
Because they believed in Jesus.
The political implications of believing in Jesus have always been unsettling. Jesus is not of the world. His message calls us out of the world. The world, it seems, doesn’t like that.
“If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.”
— John 15: 19
The world’s political systems are rooted in power, and power is dependent on having control. The means of control requires loyalty from those controlled by the State or loyalty of those willing to enforce control in others. The idea that people can think for themselves is a threat to that control. People who affirm their loyalty to someone other than the State is more than a threat, it is a conflict of interest that the State cannot tolerate. Thus, those who reject the State’s control must be subjugated or forced out.
In Ancient Rome, Nero persecuted the Christians mercilessly. If the emperor could do it, then it was open season for others to do the same. Many Christians whether Jewish or Gentile left to live someplace else. These are the exiles.
As you can see from the map, the exiles had traveled as far away as they possibly could in the ancient world.
Application: Choosing to believe sometimes requires choosing to leave.
Food for Thought: How does being exiled serve God’s kingdom?
We are exiles in this world in the sense that this world is not our home. Since we are exiles, we are ambassadors for our King in the land where we live. We have the unique opportunity to tell people about our King and to be His witnesses wherever we go. 2 Corinthians 5: 14 – 21.
Rich,
I think I would add that we are like exiles in the sense you mention. But we are soon to be welcomed home. In a very real sense, those who have not accepted Jesus are truly exiled from heaven. A very sad state of affairs. Your reference to Paul’s letter to the Corinthians is quite poignant: “We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. (From verse 20)
Romans 8:29, Those God foreknew, He predestined be conformed image of His Son, He would be the firstborn among many brothers.
Ephesians 2:10, We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance.
1.) We have been predestined in the foreknowledge of God, exercise our free will and choose to be conformed to the image of Jesus.
John 16:8-11, 8 When He is come, He will reprove the world of sin, righteousness, judgment: 9 Of sin, because they believe not on me; 10 Of righteousness, because I go to my Father, and ye see me no more; 11 Of judgment, because the prince of this world is judged.
2.) The Holy Spirit convicts the world of sin, righteousness and judgement.
John 17:20, “My prayer not them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message,
3.) Jesus prays for each Christian as well as those God will bring to us.
Our task is to die to self and let the genuine love Jesus Christ be seen by those brought to us by God. We know they will be under conviction of the Holy Spirit. They need to know Jesus has provided the way to life.
Ron,
Thank you for the excellent overviews! I really appreciate your closing thought: Our task is to die to self and let the genuine love of Jesus Christ be seen by those brought to us by God. Well said!