The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1900-03-20

and read the first and second verses.
You can note two things: First. the
general character of the letter as shown
in the address,; and second. the cleo
ton Of believers to salvation. Christ
gave the name p to the sterling
and bold apostle I'M He those for
that high office. In this first letter
both the Jews who had been converted
to Christianity and were Of the dispers-
ed abroad, and such Gentiles as had
been brought to a true n saving
knowledge OF the Saviour and His gra-
cious work are included. They were the
elect sojourners' or strangers" in the
several countries named in the first
verse. He addresses God ancient peo-
pie and Gentiles engrafted by faith. In
second verse He describes them as
elect according to their foreknowledge
of God the Father, through the sanctifi-
cation of the Spirit unto obedience and
sprinkIing of the blood Of Jesus
Christ" Here are three particulars
stated: First, that their election was
foreknown by God. He foreknows all
events. He foresaw that they would
come to Christ and be saved. Their
election was according to His fore
knowledge. But knowledge of anything
is not c~ausation. Their salvation was
carrying out faithfully what was fore
known. Elect according to the fore
knowledge of God" We who are saved
have been chosen to be Christians,
oLo-o- % -. -,o-aborc af rhrict abncaD
to be heirs of Heaven according to the
purpose of God, who knows absolutely
all things. That is Peters teaching. But
all are thus chosen through the anc
LITIGATION of the Spirit" appointed to
be made meet for Heaven by being
made holy upon earth. Without sancti-
ficatiOn there is no salvation, there is
no heaven. That is Gods teaching. The
declaration of Peter is that by the
qualification of the Spirit believers
are made unto obedience and sprink-
ling of the blood of Jesus Christ" You
must take the whole passage. 1t is
taught that the great work is wrought
and the blessed contamination is at
tanned by the precious blood Of the
Son of God shed Upon Calvary's cross.
God foresaw all this. He foresaw the
election; he foresaw the blessed, glo-
riouS work of the Holy Spirit in the
soul, changing, transforming, regener-
ating the believer, and lastly He saw
the perfected work in obedience by
the spriukling of the blood of the Re-
deemer, which cleanseth from all sin,
which takes away all defilement, and
makes the redeemed, the elect of God,
fit to enter in after his life ends to
the kingdom above where the saved of
God are to enter upon the eternal rest
He has promised to the faithful. This
perfected work is set forth by Peter in
the words dweIt upon. 1t is the compile
ton of the redemptive scheme, and
brings eternal happiness to the sou
Burkitt says: That sanctification is
the fruit of our election, and obedience
the end of our sanctifcation,' and that
'sanctification and justification al
ways each other" Christ
is the one and only Mediator. If you
are cleansed and sanctified and saved
it is all because of the sacrificial death
of Jesus Christ. May God who begins
the work of saving in us give us grace
and power to live in obedience and to
persevere unto the end, and at last get
home to heaven, to be forever happy
and forever blest by Him h made
us and redeemed US. Who CAV Him
self for US, that He might redeem us
from all iniquity and purify unto Him
self a peculiar people Jealous of good
works." Again: But if the Gospel be
hid, it is hid to them that are lost
HOME DIX