Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the chosen ones who are living as strangers in the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,
Another word is in order with reference to "obedience" as used by Peter in this phrase.  Hart compared it to "the obedience of faith," as used by Paul in  Romans 1:5; 16:26,[9] indicating that in every instance of attributing salvation, whether to faith as Paul has it in Romans, or to "sanctification of the Spirit," as Peter has it in this passage, the sine qua non of all heavenly blessing is obedience on the part of the one to be blessed, obedience being one heavenly requirement that is never waived.  Of course it is God's free grace that saves; and even the obedient are not saved either by works or by merit, but the disobedient are not going to be saved at all  (2 Thessalonians 1:8).