“To God’s elect…”
Summary: The use of the word “elect” in the NIV points to a source of division in the church. Could this division serve God’s purposes in some way?
Note: Today’s meditation is a flashback to 1 Peter 1:1. I want to prepare the ground for understanding Peter’s greeting in 2 Peter 1:1 by first looking at how he greeted his readers in his first letter.
The principle goal of Christianity here on earth is unity. (John 17: 20-23) Unity in the Body of Christ, that is. Perhaps it is because the Lord’s sheep attract wolves that there are passages like today’s passage.
I will explain…
The NIV, as well as a few other translations, have chosen to translate the Greek word, parepidēmos, as “elect.” This concept of describing God’s people as the “elect” has created centuries of division in the church body.
Why? Because some people see themselves as chosen by God. They reason that if they are the “elect” then they can do no wrong. They become prideful and pass judgment on those they deem to have not been chosen by God.
I believe God has given us his Word exactly as he wanted us to have it. Sometimes there are disagreements over what God intended us to understand from his Word. Perhaps this is by design.
Romans 8:28 reads, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him…”
If that is true, then these divisions over words also work “for the good of those who love [God].” But how?
As we discussed in “The Rock,” Jesus (a.k.a. God) is often referred to in Scripture as a rock. This rock, in turn, is often described as a “stumbling stone” (Romans 9:30-33). Jesus, the “Stumbling Stone,” divides the wheat from the tares (Matthew 13:24-30) simply by being Jesus. As God’s people, we reveal ourselves by how we respond to God’s Word and his Spirit.
Jesus himself tells us that “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven…” (Matthew 7:21). He means what he says. Not everyone who claims to serve the Lord is serving the Lord.
Now, a word of caution: As believers, there are certain things we are to judge, and there are other things we are not to judge. Only God knows our hearts, and it is my firm conviction that we are not to indulge in sitting on God’s judgment seat and passing judgment on people’s fitness for heaven. That is not our role. Judging people in that way is falling into Satan’s trap. In so doing we become guilty of a great sin.
Because of this, we have to draw a clear line between judging a person’s fitness for heaven and judging their behavior here on earth. Paul tells us that we are not to judge those outside the church. Yet we have a responsibility to judge those inside the church (1 Corinthians 5:12). How we respond to Peter’s first words in this letter provides a basis for making one of those judgments.
The concept of “the elect” is grounded in the timeless nature of God. I do not claim to know how the folks at the NIV decided to use this word here, so I am not speaking for them. However, the basic idea of “the elect” is that God knows us before we are born (Psalm 139:13) and knows the future before it arrives (Jeremiah 29:11). From God’s perspective, he sees all of his creation as a kind of tapestry. Woven into the tapestry are the threads of each of our lives. God can see the beginning, the middle, and the end all at once, even though we are limited to being in the “Now” now.
We, on the other hand, only “see” a sliver of time. Worse, our perspective is limited to what we can see from our place in the world. Where God sees all of us and the whole of our lives, we see the equivalent of one pine needle in a forest of a thousand trees.
Do you see the problem here?
Anyone who claims to “know” what God knows is pulling the wool over your eyes. (That is a problem we sheep have!) Like you and I, their perspective is equally limited. They are no more able to “see” into the future than anyone else.
If I claim to be one of God’s “elect” I need to act like one of God’s elect. Such people are loving, patient, and kind. They love God above all else and their neighbor as themselves (Matthew 22:37-40). If I do not love others as myself, if instead, I am argumentative, demanding, and angry, then I have stumbled over the stumbling stone.
By the way, the word “parepidēmos” is quite interesting. Vine’s Expository Dictionary of New Testament Word’s defines it this way: “Pilgrim: an adjective signifying ‘sojourning in a strange place, away from one’s own people.’”
Isn’t that a delightful definition? Sojourner?
We are in the world but not of the world (John 15:19). Peter is quite aware of that fact. He knows that once we are born again spiritually (John 3) we are already dead to the world (Romans 6:1-14).
Application: Trust but verify. Jesus said, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves.” (Matthew 10:16) We must always be vigilant.
Food for Thought: How is it possible to be shrewd and innocent at the same time?
We are also to be salt in the world too,..and the last time I checked salt poured onto a wound kinda stings a bit,..unless it’s lost it’s saltiness.
I would think being shrewd is kinda like pouring salt on a wound with a look of innocence like,.. did I do that? Whoops,..I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings with the truth,..but as you know the truth hurts,..
Not everyone accepts Jesus being God,..let alone being the Son of God,..that’s where the shrewdness comes in,..being shrewd to all the nay sayer’s about the fact that Jesus is Who He said He is,..an then being innocent by not accepting their nay saying attitude or ways of unbelief,..if I accepted what they are saying then I am the guilty one because I know the difference,..or at least I believe I do anyway,..
So,..that’s my take on it,..
Have a great day!
John,
Thanks for taking time to share your “take on the shake” (salt shake-er that is … 🙂 )
You make a good point. We need to be shrewd enough to know the value of remaining faithful to our Lord and at the same time innocent of the world’s ways.
08-29-2021, How is it possible to be shrewd and innocent at the same time?
First I appreciate your taking time to dive into “The Elect.”
As you write, God can see the beginning, the middle, and the end all at once, even though we are limited to being in the “Now” now. Peter addresses this truth “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in sanctification of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood” For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son. He chose us in Him before the foundation of the world, that we would be holy and blameless before Him.
1 Peter 1:1-2, Romans 8:29, Ephesians 1:4-5
The church has been split by men who promote teaching, only God has free will, and all who are saved or not saved, have been predestined by totalitarian god for heaven or hell. A form of wolf has brought division to a unified body by selective acceptance of God’s Word.
Most importantly, these men choose to ignore the the Holy attributes of God on display as He chooses to allow each believer to personally experience salvation through His Son Jesus Christ, by our choice even when He already knows our choice. He allows each of us to serve Him through all eternity in unity, with eternal knowledge of the price Christ paid to give us the opportunity to make this choice. Forever grateful, knowing we are saved by His works not ours. They reject the opportunity to glorify God for what He has done as they choose to make themselves great in their own eyes.
God Is Infinite – He is Self-Existing, Without Origin
God Is Immutable – He Never Changes
God Is Self-Sufficient – He Has No Needs
God is Omnipotent – He Is All Powerful
God Is Omniscient – He Is All-Knowing
God Is Omnipresent – He Is Always Everywhere
God Is Wise – He Is Full of Perfect, Unchanging Wisdom
God Is Faithful – He Is Infinitely, Unchangingly True
God Is Good – He Is Infinitely, Unchangingly Kind and Full of Good Will
God Is Just – He Is Infinitely, Unchangeably Right and Perfect in All He Does
God Is Merciful – He is Infinitely, Unchangeably Compassionate and Kind
God Is Gracious – God Is Infinitely Inclined to Spare the Guilty
God Is Loving – God Infinitely, Unchangingly Loves Us
God Is Holy – He is Infinitely, Unchangingly Perfect
God Is Glorious – He is Infinitely Beautiful and Great
They will one day have an opportunity to appear before God with full knowledge of what they have done.
Judgement: The Bible is very definite that skeptics are collecting up vengeance against themselves and that God will “give to each person according to what he has done” . At the final judgment, the destiny of the wicked and nonbelievers will be in the control of the almighty God who will assess and reveal everyone according to their soul’s status.
Romans 2:5-6, 1 Corinthians 4:5, 2 Corinthians 5:10, Matthew 12:36-37, Revelation 20:11-15,
Shrewd:
Having or showing astute or sharp judgment in practical matters, sometimes at the cost of moral compromise: having or showing an ability to understand things and to make good judgments : mentally sharp or clever. Our walk with God is at stake. We need to mature and listen with our ears, eyes and minds. Listen to the words, their tone, physical actions, expressions. Our goal is to retain our innocence and as we grow as believers.
Jesus is our example of being shrewd. He pointed out the truth, “You are those who justify yourselves in the sight of men, but God knows your hearts; for that which is highly esteemed among men is detestable in the sight of God. He would not entrust himself to the world of men, for he knew all people. He did not need any testimony about mankind, for he knew what was in each person. Jesus perceived their malice, and would call out those who would test His faith. He would listen to the Holy Spirit rather than relying on human understanding, He would listen with discernment as He addressed the unspoken intentions of men over their expressed words.
Luke 16:15, John 2:24-25, Matthew 22:18, Mark 2:8, Luke 11:17,
Ron,
You have outdone yourself today! Your study today provides a wonderful foundation for the main part of Peter’s letter. You might smile when you read tomorrow’s post, too. Your outline of God’s qualities foreshadows what I wrote about Peter’s next words.
Blessings!
Brother Jeffery,
You have not lost your touch with your summaries of of Gods word and thoughtful questions. Looking forward to tomorrow,
Ron