1 Peter 1:1-2
1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia,
2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

1 Peter was written for new disciples. Peter was an apostle (actually the lead apostle), and also an elder. This letter was written to the Dispersion, in Northern Turkey.

1. We are God's elect

The word means "chosen." God has chosen us. That's incredible! It's an awesome concept, but sometimes life makes us feel differently. Being chosen by God doesn't mean everything goes smoothly.

Luke 23:35
The people stood watching, and the rulers even sneered at him. They said, "He saved others; let him save himself if he is the Christ of God, the Chosen One."

"He saved others, let him save himself." Even Jesus' life didn't always go smoothly, and he was God's son. The point is: In the big picture, it will always work out. We don't have the big picture, but God does. We have to learn that.

2. We are strangers on earth

1 Peter 1:17
Since you call on a Father who judges each man's work impartially, live your lives as strangers here in reverent fear.

1 Peter 2:11
Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul.

We're scattered all around the world, like resident aliens. When you're abroad and meet an Indian, they're like family.

2 Corinthians 5:1-5
1 Now we know that if the earthly tent we live in is destroyed, we have a building from God, an eternal house in heaven, not built by human hands.
2 Meanwhile we groan, longing to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling,
3 because when we are clothed, we will not be found naked.
4 For while we are in this tent, we groan and are burdened, because we do not wish to be unclothed but to be clothed with our heavenly dwelling, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.
5 Now it is God who has made us for this very purpose and has given us the Spirit as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come.

Also Chapter 4 We're living in a tent. We don't really even belong here. We understand that we're not at home now, we're just traveling. Our body is not our permanent home. What do we talk about, though? We talk about our bodies all the time. It shouldn't be that way. Don't be preoccupied with your body. It's a tent, not a castle. Watch out for an obsession with temporal things and money. Ask yourself, where is my focus? Do I really live in a tent? Patriotism is okay, but it doesn't fit when I remember I'm an alien. Their primary source of persecution was their failure to hail Caesar. As a disciple, my ultimate allegiance is to the Lord, not to the state.

3. According to God's foreknowledge

Greek for foreknowledge is "prognosis." Knowing beforehand. We're not here by chance. "Coincidence" is what the world uses to describe God's work. God chose each of us at a specific point in our lives. "Chosen" in the New Testament is always used in a plural sense.

Matthew 22 : "Many are called, but few are chosen." The chosen few are the ones who accept the invitation.

4. Sanctifying work of the Spirit

The Spirit works to make us whole and right. Obedience is a key concept for young Christians to grasp. God doesn't feel the same way about obedient and disobedient people. God uses his Word to convict us, and purify us as we obey it. We're also sanctified by the blood when we're not obedient. Blood and obedience work together to sanctify us at different times. People leave the Lord because they focus on obedience instead of sprinkling.