http://www.goingtojesus.com/site/php/sanctification.html
Hey uncle John.
Aaron and I were reading in 1Peter a lil bit ago, and we were having a hard time understanding verse 2:
“[1] Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
[2] Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ”.
We read the tract you wrote on “Sanctification”, too, and we were wondering if “sanctification of the spirit” and “sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” mean the same thing.
Abby
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Hi Abby!
“Sanctification of the spirit” and “sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ” are closely related, in that God sanctifies us by “sprinkling” the blood of Christ upon us. If we put Peter’s phrase, “through sanctification of the Spirit” in parentheses, and add a clarifying few words, it might clear things up:
“[2] Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father (through sanctification of the Spirit) to bring us into obedience and the sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ”.
The word, “elect” is the key here. It means to be chosen. We were chosen by God long ago to be brought into obedience and to receive the (continual) sprinkling of the blood of His Son. This all begins when we are sanctified by the Spirit.
Uncle John
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Uncle John,
So Peter is saying that u are sanctified so that u can obey and get the Holy Ghost? So he’s just telling the difference between the old covenant and the new?
Abby
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Well, of course, the sprinkling of the blood of Christ is the difference between to Old and New testaments, but that is not what Peter is emphasizing here. Instead, he is celebrating with the saints the fact of their being called by God to obey the gospel and be washed by the blood. So, instead of “saying that u are sanctified so that u can obey and get the Holy Ghost”, Peter is saying that you have received the holy Ghost so that you can obey God and live in sanctification.
Thanks for the questions. You and Aaron are doing well by reading the Bible together.
Uncle John