This question is not about physical exile per se.
Rather, it is a question of whether you are obedient to your faith when the stakes become higher than you expected.
Are you aware there are more martyrs for Christian faith today than at any other time in history?
If this startles you, it is probable that you live somewhere where Christianity or being a follower of Jesus is not under outright persecution.
It may also startle you if you are not someone who keeps informed about the state of God’s mission to redeem people from every group across the globe.
Today, we will study the opening two verses of 1 Peter from the New Testament.
I hope these two verses will encourage you to consider deeply what it truly means to be an obedient exile no matter where you live.
Are You an Obedient Exile?
Studying the Passage
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. [1]
Who is Peter according to the opening phrase?
Describe Peter before he wrote this epistle sampling from the following verses.
Note both positive and negative traits.
Matthew 16:22-23; Mark 8:32-33
Matthew 26:69-75; Mark 14:66-72; Luke 22:55-61; John 18:15-27
Acts 1:15-26; 5:3-10; 8:14-17; 15:7-11
From the verses you sampled from above, why is Peter qualified to write his epistle?
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. [2]
Explain the meaning of the phrase “elect exiles of the dispersion.”
The word “elect” causes great discussion. The Bible’s concept of “election” is about God choosing people, not based on any qualities of the people in question, but simply because he has determined to extend mercy on the people he freely chooses. (See Romans 9:14-18 and Matthew 11:26) This lack of criteria to be chosen by God is important in reinforcing that His choice of person is not up to the person, but solely at His grace. If we are among the elect, it is because of God’s love for us rather than from anything we have done on our own.
At the time of Peter’s writing, Christians were under persecution by Nero, emperor of Rome. Thus, many had traveled away from their original homes and scattered across the middle eastern area.
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. [3]
Considering the phrase “according to the foreknowledge of God the Father,” why did God want his elect to be dispersed away from Jerusalem? (See Acts 8:4 and Acts 11:19)
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. [4]
Based on the above, is Peter’s use of the phrase “sanctified by the Spirit” referring to the ongoing purifying work of the Holy Spirit in the Christian life or the setting apart at one’s initial conversion?
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. [5]
For what two purposes are the elect exiles sanctified?
Remember, Peter is writing at a time of great persecution to scattered believers. Thus, obedience to Jesus Christ is a high calling.
How is this true even if you live in an area that lacks outright persecution of your faith?
To understand better the “sprinkling with his blood” phrase, review Exodus 24, Exodus 29 and Leviticus 14:7.
Do you agree the result of being sprinkled with Christ’s blood is that as a follower of Jesus Christ, his atoning blood has been applied to you and as a result you are part of the new covenant, set apart as holy, and spiritually clean? Why or why not?
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To those who are elect exiles of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, 2 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:
May grace and peace be multiplied to you. [6]
Why would elect exiled believers need grace and peace multiplied?
Are You an Obedient Exile?
Personal Application
This past week I completed a course called Perspectives that was hosted at my local church that started at the end of January 2025.
A friend of mine wanted me to take this course with them, but initially I was hesitant.
I went to a pastor and asked him if he thought it would be wise for me to take this course, given the season of grief I am still navigating. My concern was that I did not want to start it and then not be able to finish it.
His counsel was to suggest I ask myself what I wanted to think about in 2025.
Initially, that shocked me. But as I pondered his comment, I realized he was challenging me to be open to focusing on God’s mission for the world while navigating my season of grief.
I registered the next morning.
Fifteen weeks later, I am finding myself actively seeking how I can be more effective, exactly as Peter describes in the verses studied above.
Below are some questions I have asked myself and now ask you to consider for yourself.
Am I being an obedient exile in the sense of am I living my life in so that those around me know I am a follower of Jesus? Why or why not?
How does my life show that I am more concerned with God’s love for His creation more than my own personal comfort or ease? If not, what do I need to change?
How am I experiencing grace and peace from the Lord being multiplied in my daily life?
If you have never taken the Perspectives course, I highly recommend you do. Check out their website to find a class near you: https://perspectives.org/.
Remember to share with others what you learn.
Warmly,
Barbara Lynn
[1] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 1:1–2.
[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 1:1–2.
[3] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 1:1–2.
[4] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 1:1–2.
[5] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 1:1–2.
[6] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), 1 Pe 1:1–2.
Yes grief lasts for a season . However long that might be. You are beautiful in your life of honesty as you traverse this time in your life. Continuing to pray for you !
Thanks!