1 Peter 1:1-3
Sanctified by the Spirit
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,
To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of 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, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood:
Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
After the ascension of Jesus Christ and the beginning establishment of the church with the apostles in the forefront, God was not finished with the selection process of his kingdom members. The instructions to the apostles and to those who read the scriptures was to go and make disciples of all the nations (Mt28:19). God beforehand knew and knows whom he selected (Jer1:5). His selection process is based on your heart, and he searches it to see if you are one of the chosen ones (Mt22:14). And, just like God rejected Esau and chose Jacob (Ro9:11-13) knowing there hearts, He chooses you. God is in search for the exile ones, those whom have been rejected by others; the ones who used to be belong but not anymore. He gives a real purpose to those who are purposeless.
Now, the work of the Spirit of God is to sanctify the chosen ones, and this he does through guidance in prayer, through the scriptures and fellowship with other believers. But, the question that to often is misunderstood is, what is sanctification or holiness? According to Vines dictionary it holy means to be separated to God. It is similar to a magnet which sides either attract and creates a positive union, or it un-attracts creating a negative appeal. When we are sanctified by God’s Holy Spirit we are attracted to everything to belongs to his kingdom (ph2:13). He will repel sin from our lives by placing conviction in us (Jh16:8). The Spirit of God leads us to being obedient to Jesus Christ, and that is when we need to repent we must come to him for the forgiveness of sins. When we are the chosen we do not need to be washed with his blood, but we need to be sprinkled just to keep us separated for God.