Message Two

By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.
1st Peter 1:2

He didn't have a degree or a diploma, but he was a devoted disciple of the Lord. One day he came onto a group of doctors of divinity who were discussing the of election, and one asked him to explain it. doctrine "Brethren," he said, "it's like this. The Lord is always voting for a man, and the devil is always voting against him. Then the man himself votes, and that breaks the whom have you voted - the Lord? Let's tie." For think on this as we turn 1st Peter 1:2.

Note the selection. It's written, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father." The word "elect" means "to select." In Ephesians 1:4 the verb is rendered "chosen." There it's written, "He has chosen us in Him before the foundation of the world." Think of it! Before there was the sun or a star, before He made the world, God put a circle around you and me and every believer, and He chose us to be His very own.

"Chosen not for good in me; wakened up from wrath to flee;
Hidden in the Savior's side: by the Spirit sanctified:
Teach me, Lord, on earth to show, by my love, how much I owe."

"But," you say, "I'm not saved. Can it be that I've not been selected to be saved?" Oh, no. The Lord has never elected anyone to be lost. His message to everyone is, "Come unto Me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest." And He adds, "Him that cometh to Me I will in no wise cast out." If you die in your sins, if you perish, it's because you've chosen to do so. It was D. L. Moody who said, "Many men fold their arms and say, 'If I'm one of the elect I shall be saved, and if I'm not, I shan't. No use bothering about it.' I have an idea that the Lord saw how men were going to stumble over this doctrine of election, so after He had been in heaven 30 or 40 years He spoke to John. One Lord's day He said to him, 'Write these things to the churches.' He kept on writing. His pen flew very fast. And then the Lord, when it was nearly finished, said, 'John, before you close the last book of the Bible, put in one more invitation. The Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take of the water of life freely.'"

Note the sanctification. Our text reads, "thru sanctification of the Spirit." The word "sanctification" means "to set apart." The sanctification by the Holy Spirit is that work which separates a sinner from his sins, and sets him apart for salvation. One day her husband aired a tape of THE SOWER on his station. As she listened, she thought of her wickedness and became wretched. She couldn't eat or rest. Everything went wrong. She tried to keep her mind on her home, but she found herself thinking about heaven and hell, and her sins, and they became exceedingly sinful. What was happening? The Spirit of God was setting her apart for salvation. Finally she could stand it no longer. It seemed as if her heart would break. So she got into her car and drove to our studio. I opened the door and found her weeping. She said, "I want to be saved." After reading Revelation 3:20, "Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear My voice, and open the door, I will come in," she cried, "Dear Jesus, I open the door of my heart. Please cone in." He did, and she became a Christian. Oh, what peace and joy came to her heart and face as she was obedient to the faith.

Note the sprinkling. 1st Peter 1:2 reads, "Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ." According to this verse there are three steps taken by the three Persons of the Triune God in saving a soul. First, God the Father chooses the sinner to salvation. Second, God the Spirit brings the sinner to the Savior. Third, God the Son cleanses the sinner by His blood. Have you been cleansed from your sins? Wouldn't you like to be? Then come to the Savior. You go to the clothier for clothes, you go to the shoe store for shoes, you go to the furniture store for furniture, you go to the lumber yard for lumber, you go to the sea for fish, you go to the fruit tree for fruit. Now why don't you be as wise and go to the Lord Jesus for the cleansing of your sins? Just as a dirty garment can't cleanse itself, neither can you cleanse your sins. Just as your diseased lung can't make itself whole, neither can you. Only that which is pure can cleanse. Only the Savior can save.

"But," you ask, "how can I know I've been chosen to be saved?" Come to Christ. Admit that you have sinned and that you can't save your soul. Accept the Savior who suffered for your sins. Then God will save you. By so doing you'll find that God chose you for salvation, the Holy Spirit brought you to the act of faith, and the Son cleansed you from all your sins. An old minister of the Gospel, near the end of his course, giving his last public testimony, said, "I fled from my wickedness, I cast aside my good works, and now my soul is resting on the blood of Christ. Here alone is my salvation and rest."

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association
All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.