Pursued by His Love

1 Peter 1:1-2a (NKJV) – “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God…”
 
First Peter was written by Peter while he was in Rome. He was writing to a group of people, not just one church, but a group of people who were in several different colonies of Rome who were believers. Some had Jewish backgrounds, some had Gentile backgrounds, but all of them were beginning to experience suffering and persecution for their faith. Peter is writing about this intense persecution that he and others were experiencing. According to Church history, that persecution in Rome would ultimately lead Peter and his wife to be martyred for the cause of Christ. They experienced great persecution and were sent to their deaths, proclaiming Jesus as Savior and risen Lord. A couple of years before this ultimate martyrdom of Peter and his wife, persecution began to intensify in Rome. Peter also heard about the persecution that was happening in these Roman colonies.
 
Why were Christians suffering persecution? First, Nero burned down many parts of Rome so he could rebuild it the way he wanted. When citizens grew upset about it, Nero blamed it on the Christians. They were easy targets because they were a group of people that the Roman citizens really didn’t understand. He would ultimately call Christians “atheists.” Why? Because they wouldn't worship the Roman gods or deities that the other citizens would worship. So, they would point to Christians and say, “Who are these people? They don't even acknowledge our own deities. They must be atheists.”
 
Second, Roman Christians were accused of being cannibals. The confusion came from the practice of the Lord’s Supper, also known as communion. In John 6:53, Jesus told His followers, “Unless you eat My flesh and drink My blood, you do not have life in you.” This was a symbolic statement, but outsiders viewed it as literal. Jesus instituted Communion, when He said, “Take, eat. This is My body, which is broken for you. Take, drink. This is My blood poured out for you” (see Matthew 26:26-29). Jesus was referring to our identification with His sacrifice on the Cross. However, the Roman citizens would overhear them and think they were cannibals.
 
Third, they would call the Christians incestuous, believing they were marrying their own siblings. Why? Because, those Christians would greet one another, referring to one another as “brother” or “sister”. Ultimately, they would marry, and so there was the accusation of incestuous marriages. Of course, all of these were misconceptions about first-century Christians. Imagine the context where being a believer meant that you were misunderstood for your convictions. Of course, we don’t have to imagine it, as it is part of our daily lives living in this country. Our faith is misunderstood. We stand for truth and are misunderstood by secular society.
 
First Peter is describing that we can be encouraged even in the midst of challenging times. Peter was experiencing suffering in Rome, and he sent this letter to the Christians who were in all of these Roman colonies where persecution was intensifying, suffering was taking place, and his mindset to them was that this should not surprise Christians. You can be courageous. You can be joyful even in the midst of difficulties or suffering. Prepare your minds for the suffering that may take place in your communities.
 
We can be encouraged when we can see things from God's perspective, not from a human standpoint. Verse 2 begins by expressing how God foreknew us as His children and we are chosen by Him.
 
We have been chosen by God. Our salvation was never initiated by us. Our salvation was always initiated by God. He called us, and He drew us to Himself. He pursued us into a relationship with Himself, and then we responded to that. Romans 3:20 says, "No one seeks after God, not one." You might say, "I said ‘Yes’ to Jesus." Yeah, but that's because He was first pursuing you. He was reaching out to you with His arms of love. Jesus said in John 15:16, "You didn't choose me, but I chose you."
 
Sometimes, people get really caught up with this idea of election, and they begin to think, “Well, did God preordain who will say ‘Yes’ to Him and say ‘No’ to Him? Did God preordain who will accept His salvation, and who will reject His salvation?” That’s not what is taught here. Nowhere in the Bible does it say that God predestines people to go to hell. However, in the mysterious work of God, He does say that He has called us, chosen us, and pursued us to initiate a relationship with us. We should be encouraged by that thought. D.L. Moody once said, “Election should always encourage the saved, not discourage the lost.” Revelation 22:17 says, “Whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely (KJV).”
 
John 3:16 says, "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." 1 John 2:2 says that Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice not only for our sins, but also for the sins of the whole world. Jesus died for everyone and anyone who wants to be saved can be saved. However, I like what Charles Spurgeon once said, "When we get to heaven, over the gates it will say ‘whosoever will may come,' and upon entering, we will see inscribed on the backside, 'elect before the foundation of the world'." There is a mystery to our salvation - we have been chosen by God, and then we have said "yes" to Him, but our salvation was initiated by Jesus Christ and God the Father pursuing us into a relationship with Himself. This should bring comfort. You belong in His family. Your salvation is not based on you, it is based on God.
 
“Dear God, thank You for pursuing me with Your love. I praise You for saving me. You are my Lord. I belong to You. Thank You for being brought into Your family. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
 

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