Good morning. Today we start the book of first Peter. He is writing to those who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood. Here we have all three members of the Godhead at work. As a note of interest – the word translated foreknowledge is the same Greek word from which we get the word prognosis. God knew all about us ahead of time (and still chose us). He knew that we would believe. It is the Holy Spirit who does His work in us to bring about sanctification. Legally we are sanctified when we are born again; but experientially it takes the work of the Holy Spirit our entire lives to make it a reality. And then we are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ like the pastor was talking about on Easter with the sprinkling of the blood with hyssop. Peter then says may Grace and peace be yours in fullest measure. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His great mercy has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. Our hope is not dead – He is alive! If God raised Jesus from the dead, then He will raise us from the dead one day. Father thank You that You chose the reader and are sanctifying him/her continually. He/she has a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead.

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