Elect According to God
"To those who are elect exiles of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood."
1 Peter 1:1-2
The value of good people ought not to be estimated by their present external condition. Here was a set of excellent people, beloved of God, and yet strangers, dispersed and poor in the world; the eye of God was upon them in all their dispersions, and the apostle was tenderly careful to write to them for their direction and consolation. They are described by their spiritual condition: “elect ... according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,” etc. These poor strangers, who were oppressed and despised in the world, were nevertheless in high esteem with the great God, and in the most honorable state that any person can be in during this life; for they were elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father. Election is either to an office (so Saul was the man whom the Lord chose to be king, and our Lord says to his apostles, “Have not I chosen you twelve?”), or it is to a church-state, for the enjoyment of special privileges (thus Israel was God’s elect) ... This election is said to be according to the foreknowledge of God. Foreknowledge may be taken for mere prescience, foresight, or understanding that such a thing will be, before it comes to pass. Thus a mathematician certainly foreknows that at such a time there will be an eclipse. This sort of foreknowledge is in God, who at one commanding view sees all things that ever were, or are, or ever will be.
[1 Peter 1]
*Excerpted from Matthew Henry Daily Readings (Christian Heritage, 2009).
Where to Buy:
Matthew Henry Daily Readings by Randall J. Pederson (editor) is available at any good Christian bookstore. If you don’t have a Christian bookstore near you, you may want to consider purchasing a copy from one of the online book retailers listed below:
 |
Buy Now: |