1 Peter 1
We have studied the prison letters that Paul wrote from prison in Rome, and now I want to continue with the Pentecost season. As you look at the calendar, it is the 12th day of Pentecost. The Church takes this time until the season of Advent, which starts in November, and ends with the celebration of Christmas. During this period, the Church around the world focuses on studying our doctrines, our faith, and how we can lead a holy and victorious Christian life in this world through the various teachings in the Bible.
Peter, one of the disciples of Christ, wrote two letters in the Bible—First Peter and Second Peter. We can begin by looking at Peter’s letters, particularly when he writes to the exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia. These believers have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. Peter begins by addressing the people to whom he is writing. Unlike Paul, who wrote specific letters to individual churches like the Ephesians, Philippians, or Romans, Peter is writing to a group of believers scattered throughout various provinces in Asia. He calls them "God's elect exiles." It’s a unique way for Peter to address the people of faith—"elect exiles."
Peter's letters are sometimes hard to understand, much like Paul’s letters. However, while Paul’s letters are difficult in a theological sense, Peter’s writing is complex because of the structure of his sentences. I reviewed various versions of the Bible—both in English and other languages, including Greek—and found that the sentences in Peter’s letters are long and complex. He doesn’t pause; the sentences continue for extended stretches. Because of this complexity, some scholars argue that Peter might not have written these letters himself, as they believe he may have lacked the formal education to construct such complex sentences. After all, Peter was a fisherman, and we have no record of him receiving formal schooling. Some suggest he might have dictated these letters to a transcriber or used a scribe. But regardless of who physically wrote the letters, I believe that God can use anyone to accomplish His will. If the Holy Spirit gave Peter the message, then it doesn’t matter who wrote it down—it was through Peter that we received this divine message.
Peter addresses these believers as "God’s elect exiles." These people of faith were scattered across different parts of Asia Minor—modern-day Turkey—both Gentiles and Jews who had moved from Jerusalem and other areas due to persecution. The churches they had established were small, and Peter, along with Paul and others, helped found these churches. In his letters, Peter identifies these people as "God’s elect exiles." This is a profound identity he gives them—elect exiles in the world.
The Bible refers to the people of God in various ways, and we each have a special identity. Often, the world tries to impose an identity on us. For example, we attach our education or occupation to our names—"Dr. So-and-so," "Pastor So-and-so." These are identities we take on, but our true identity, as stated in Scripture, is that we are children of God. Just as children resemble their parents, as children of God, we should reflect the traits of our Heavenly Father. God is love, and we are called to show His love to others. This is one aspect of our identity.
Another identity we have, as Paul mentions in his letters, is that we are citizens of the heavenly kingdom. We may have citizenship in this world—in whatever country we live in, whether it’s the U.S. or another nation. But as Christians, we have a second citizenship: we are citizens of heaven. We are not meant to live as if this world is our ultimate home. Instead, we should always look forward to the kingdom of heaven. This is an additional identity we have as Christians, one that transcends the worldly identity we might have.
Peter calls these believers "God’s elect exiles" in this world. It’s essential for us to understand who we are as Christians. Many people are passionate about defining their identity. In the corporate world, companies spend a lot of effort establishing their identity through logos and trademarks to distinguish themselves. This is a reminder that, as Christians, we too must be aware of our identity. Sometimes, we forget this, especially when the pressures of life overwhelm us. For example, when we’re cut off in traffic, our reaction might not reflect our identity as children of God. It’s easy to forget who we are in those moments, but as believers, we must strive to live according to our true identity in Christ.
Let me share a story that I’ve probably mentioned before: a young boy, freshly graduated, was struggling to find a job. He finally went to a zoo and applied for a job. The zookeeper told him, “Our gorilla just died, and we won’t get a new one for a few months. I can offer you a job if you’re willing to dress up as the gorilla and just walk around the cage for a while.” Desperate for work, the boy agreed. He dressed up as the gorilla, jumping around and acting the part. But, as he jumped around, he accidentally opened the gate next to his cage, which led to the lion’s cage.
Suddenly, the lion started to approach him, and the boy became terrified, crying out, “Help! I’m not a gorilla; I’m just a boy!” The lion came closer and whispered, “Shut up, you fool, or we’ll both get fired!”
The point of the story is that sometimes we act like something we’re not, just as the boy was acting like a gorilla even though he was a human inside. Peter is reminding us that we must always remember who we are. We are "God’s elect," chosen by Him, and we should never forget our true identity. Even though we might try to define ourselves in different ways in this world, our ultimate identity comes from God. Through our faith in Jesus Christ, we are God’s children. Our lives should reflect this identity in everything we do.
The term "elect exiles" may seem paradoxical, but it is not a contradiction. Peter explains that, while they were scattered and exiled from their home regions, their election by God made them exiles in the world. They were chosen by God, and their faith in Jesus Christ set them apart from the world. As believers, we are also exiles. When we are chosen by God, this world becomes foreign to us. The culture around us is no longer our home.
Think of it like a fish living in the sea. Even though it lives in saltwater, a freshly caught fish doesn’t taste salty unless salt is added to it. Similarly, we are in the world, but we are not of the world. We are called to live differently, to reflect the love and purity of God, even though we live in a fallen world.
Peter’s words are powerful because they remind us that, as elect children of God, we are not meant to fit in with the world. This world is not our home; we are looking forward to the eternal home that God has prepared for us. We, too, as believers, live with an exile mentality, anticipating the kingdom of heaven.
The inheritance we look forward to is not like anything we can inherit here on earth. Peter speaks of an inheritance that “can never perish, spoil, or fade” (1 Peter 1:4). Our earthly inheritances are fleeting, and one day, they will be spent by others. But the inheritance we have in heaven, as children of God, is eternal. It’s kept safe for us by God’s power.
Living with this perspective gives us hope. We are not just elect people; we are exiles, longing for our true home, which is not of this world.
Peter’s teachings remind us that our hope is in Christ, who will one day return to establish His kingdom. We are citizens of that eternal kingdom, and we should live our lives accordingly. May we continue to study these truths and embrace our identity as elect children of God, living in the hope of an eternal inheritance.
As we continue to reflect on these words, may the Lord bless us and guide us in our journey. Amen.
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