if you'd like to find your place in 1 Peter 1. 1 Peter 1, we'll be reading verses one through five, and the title of the message is Safe and Secure, Safe and Secure. 1 Peter 1, in verse one, it says, Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus and Galatia and Cappadocia and Asia and Bithynia, elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ. Grace unto you and peace be multiplied. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled, and that fadeth not away, reserved in heaven for you, who are kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation, ready to be revealed in the last time. Last week we introduced this epistle and looked at Peter's first words of encouragement for the trials the believers were facing and the ones that were yet to come. And he reminded them of the importance of keeping heaven in sight. He said to the strangers. He said, you're just pilgrims here. We're just passing through this old world and don't get dug in too deep because you need to keep heaven in your sights because that's where you're headed. And we thank the Lord for heaven. We thank the Lord for that blessed hope and we're looking and loving his appearing and we're praying that Jesus come back today. And last week we looked at how Pontus and Galatia, Cappadocia and Asia Bithynia kind of looked at the way that they kind of connected there and we see the connection with Peter. and how they had went back there in those areas and churches had been started. The Apostle Paul started some of these churches and then letters were written to the churches in Asia there in Revelations 2 and 3 and we looked at all that, but now we're going to kind of focus in on verse 2. because verse 2 is a verse where those who say they are Calvinist, they love to use verse 2 as one of their proof texts for their false doctrine of predestination. And they believe that God predestined some people to go to hell and some people to go to heaven. That's what they believe. And again, that is a false doctrine. It's a false teaching, Calvinism. What is Calvinism? Let me give you a definition of Calvinism. According to Calvinist theology, God unconditionally and sovereignly elects who will be saved. And this election has nothing to do with anything the sinner does, including exercising faith in the gospel. Those who are sovereignly elected will be irresistibly drawn and saved, and those who are not elected cannot be saved. Question. Does God know who will reject Jesus and who will accept Jesus as their Savior? Absolutely. Absolutely he knows that. But that's not what this verse is talking about. It's not talking about salvation here and for a few minutes allow me to refute this false doctrine of Calvinism. If God had predestined some to hell and some to heaven, then why does the Bible say in Isaiah 5 and verse 14, it says, therefore hell hath enlarged herself and opened up her mouth without measure. If God already knew who was going to be saved, and listen, he knows who's going to be saved, he knows who's going to reject, but yet he leaves that will, he gave man a free will to choose to accept Jesus or to reject Jesus as their Savior. Had he known, had God already predestined a certain amount of people to go to hell, then why would there ever be a need for hell to enlarge herself? God would have made sure and made it the exact measurement to start with. In this false doctrine of Calvinism, if it was true, then Jesus did not die for the sins of the whole world. He only died for the sins of the elect. The false doctrine of Calvinism was true. If man has no choice whether or not he believes in Jesus as his Savior, then why even bother going to all nations and teaching them and baptizing them? Why bother being witnesses unto the uttermost parts of the earth if man has no choice? There are some Christians who are, they resemble a Calvinist because they're lazy and they act like Calvinists. They never bother giving the gospel out. They never bother giving out a gospel tract. They never bother to invite a single person to church in order for them to hear the gospel and be saved. They have their little family saved and the rest of the world can just bust hell wide open. But let me read you a few verses here, and we're gonna modify those verses to make them sound Calvinist. I mean, because you think, they read the same verses that you and I do, but yet they don't read them in the light to which they're given. But let's just read a few verses, and we're gonna modify those verses in order to make it fit that Calvinist narrative. And you tell me if that sounds right to you. In Isaiah chapter 1 and verse 18, I'm reading from the King James Bible, it says, Come now and let us reason together, saith the Lord. Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. Again, Isaiah 118 says, Come now and let us reason together. If you're a Calvinist and you would read this verse, not like it's written in the King James Bible, but you would read it as saying something like this. Come now, ye elect. You see the difference? Because they believe that God elects some to heaven and some to go to hell. Well then for them, this verse now, it say, come now ye elect. Not just anybody, but ye elect and let us reason together, saith the Lord, after you are sovereignly born again, of course, And though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow. Though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool. You understand that there's a great difference right there. It makes no sense. In Isaiah 45, in verse 22, it says, look unto me and be ye saved all the ends of the earth. I like that little word all. For I am God and there is none else. Well, if you're a Calvinist, you would read it this way. Look unto me and be ye saved, mine elect, in all the ends of the earth. For I am God and there is none else. That don't make sense to me. That doesn't make Bible sense. Isaiah 53 6, let's read it. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of us all. Well, if you're a Calvinist, you'll read Isaiah 53 6 with this type of understanding. All we like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord hath laid on him the iniquity of some. of some, not all, but some, the elect. I'm glad that ain't the truth, aren't you? In Matthew 11, 28, it says, coming to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Well, if you're a Calvinist, you read it this way, coming to me all ye elect that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. in Matthew 1528. It says, Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith. Be it unto thee even as thou wilt. And her daughter was made whole from that very hour. Now look, if you're a Calvinist, you've got to read this from a false point of view. In Matthew 1528 it would sound something like this. Then Jesus answered and said unto her, O woman, great is thy faith, which was sovereignly given to you from God. Be it unto thee, even as thou wilt, seeing that you are one of the elect, and her daughter was made whole that very hour. Aren't you glad you're not a Calvinist? Matthew 23, 37 says, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as an hen gathering her chickens under her wings, and ye would not. Well, if you was a Calvinist, you'd have to read it a little different. You'd have to read it like this, O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets and stonest them which are sent unto thee, how often would I gather thy children together, even as a hen gathereth her chicken under her wings, but ye were not mine elect, so I would not. In Luke 2.10, it says, And the angel said unto them, Fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. If you read that like a Calvinist thinks they understand it, they would have to read it like this. Let's go to John. John 1 and verse 11. It says, Well, if you're a Calvinist, you'd read it like this. He came unto his own, and his own received him not. But as many of the elect as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them of the elect that believe on his name." Well, it makes no sense. In John 1 29 it says, Next day, the next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world. Thank God for that. Well, a Calvinist would have to read it with these next words to make sense for their narrative. The next day John saith Jesus coming unto him and saith behold the Lamb of God which taketh away the sin of some of the world. I could go on and on disproving Calvinism. But I think everybody under the sound of my voice understands that when God says, whosoever will, he means whosoever. And I'm glad that he included me. Let's go back to 1 Peter, 1 Peter chapter one. And here in verse two, this is not a reference to Calvinism. That's not what it's referring to, to the false doctrine of Calvinism, that God elected some for salvation. Peter's not telling them, you are the elect and you're the ones that God chose. That's not what Peter's saying in reference to salvation. Peter is reminding them to never forget that they're part of the family of God. They were already suffering some persecution and there was much more persecution to come and they needed to be reminded that their stand for the Lord was not in vain because God had chosen them for such a time as this. These believers desperately needed strong encouragement and to be reminded that they were safe and secure in Christ. In Ephesians chapter 6, God tells every believer to put on the helmet of salvation. Nothing will stop or hinder a soldier faster than a head wound. If the devil can get to your mind and cause you to doubt your salvation or doubt the reason but you were saved, he can stop your progression. He can stop your effectiveness. He can stop your witness. He can stop your involvement in the work of God. You see, the devil has but one goal, and that's to stop the spread of the gospel. Therefore, he wants to stop you and me. He wants to stop every Bible-believing and Bible-preaching church. Well, let me illustrate verse 2 using some Scripture. Calvinists take and twist these scriptures, but there are plenty of illustrations in the Bible to confirm the use of this verse. Esther is a prime example of someone who God sovereignly put in place to save the Jews. I like what old Mordecai told her in Esther 4 in verse 14. He said, for if thou altogether holdest thy peace at this time, then shall their enlargement and deliverance arise to the Jews from another place. But thou and thy father's house shall be destroyed. And who knoweth whether thou art come to the kingdom for such a time? As this, hey Esther was, there was no mistake that she was in the place she was in and the time that she was in and she simply humbled herself and chose to get involved and God used her in a great way. Boy, there's another one that comes to mind, old Joseph. He's another example of the sovereign power of God to put people in a position to be used of him. He told his brothers there in Genesis chapter 50 and verse 20, he said, but as for you, ye thought evil against me. But God meant it unto good to bring to pass as it is this day to save much people alive. Do you think God had a hand in everything that was going on in the life of Joseph? Absolutely. Absolutely he did. Zerubbabel is an example of God choosing a person to accomplish his will. Over in Haggai chapter 2 and verse 23 it says, In that day, saith the Lord of hosts, will I take thee, O Zerubbabel, my servant, the son of Shealtiel, saith the Lord, and will make thee as a signet. For I have chosen thee, said the Lord, Hey, this verse and previous verses here in Haggai chapter 2, they were not in reference to Zerubbabel, if you would. They were prophetic of Jesus Christ, but these verses reassured Zerubbabel that God had put him in that place for such a time of this as this, and God had given him a work to do. Boy, David's another example of God's choosing of a person. for his purpose. In 1 Samuel 16, 1, and the Lord said unto Samuel, How long wilt thou mourn for Saul? See, and I have rejected him from reigning over Israel. Fill thine horn with oil, and go, and I will send thee to Jesse the Bephlamite, for I have provided me a king among his sons. We could go on and on in the Bible with illustrations of people that God chose for a particular time and a particular purpose. You and I are not here by chance. We are here by divine appointment. It's no mistake that God has brought you here for such a time as this in this place for a specific reason. And yes, we're going to face suffering, we're going to face persecution. Esther faced it, Joseph faced it, Zerubbabel and David, they faced it and they succeeded to accomplish the will of God for their life. And Peter is reminding these believers that persecution and suffering was coming, but they could rest assured that they were not there by accident. God was working in them and through them and for them, and God had chosen them for such a time as this. God has chosen us. for such a time as this. There's a work to be done, both individually and corporately. And thank God we're not alone. God is with us. Verse 2 of 1 Peter 1 is not referencing the false doctrine of Calvinism, but is referencing God's sovereign purpose in placing them where they were. Well, Ephesians 2 and verse 8 says, For by grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves. It is the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast. And for we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. God has a work for all of us to do. both individually and corporately as a church. God wants us to be a part of his plan and his purpose and that work is accomplished through the local church. When God put it in Pastor Buddy Countess's heart to start this church some 52 years ago, he had no idea all the people that would come through these doors over the next 52 years. But I sure am glad that he did what God told him to do. Here's a man that suffered greatly through physical suffering, through emotional suffering, but because he followed God's will and he did what God wanted him to do, you and I have a place together and be part of the plan of God. Pastor Buddy Countess has run his race. He was faithful. He did what God asked him to do, but now it's our turn. It's our turn to take the torch and keep it burning and keep going forward and keep it bright for the next generation. God has brought every one of us here for such a time as this. and knowing that it's God that has brought us here to be used of Him ought to give us great reassurance that no matter what comes our way, that we are in the will of God and we are here to accomplish His purpose. In verse 2 of 1 Peter 1, it says that elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father through sanctification of the Spirit unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ, grace unto you and peace be multiplied. The foreknowledge of God means he already knows beforehand. God already knows exactly what's going to happen. And it's a good thing that you and I don't know. Because there's a lot of things we wouldn't do if we knew. But it's a good thing for us to understand the foreknowledge of God. The fact that he knows. In Romans chapter 8, if you turn there, Romans chapter 8. Romans chapter 8. In verse 28 it says, And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose. For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. Moreover, whom he did predestinate, them he also called. And whom he called, them he also justified. And whom he justified, them he also glorified. What shall we then say to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us? He that spared not his own son, but delivered him up for us all, how shall he not with him also freely give us all things? Who shall lay anything to the charge of God's elect? It is God that justifieth. Who is he that condemneth? It is Christ that died, yea, rather that is risen again, who is even at the right hand of God, who also maketh intercession for us. Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long, and we are counted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. How can God work all things out? You know how he can do that? Because he already knows the events and the things that's gonna happen. And we can rest assured that he knows what's going on. We can trust him and we can believe him. You know, there's no greater security and assurance than to know that as a follower of Christ, I've been chosen by God. And because I was chosen, nothing can separate me from the love of God. Job says, he knoweth the way that I take. God's the one that knows the end result. You see, Job's assurance did not come from what he knew, but what his assurance came from was based on what God knew and what God was doing in his life. We know that all things work together for good. God is always at work. And what is God doing? What is God doing in your life and my life? He's conforming us into the image of his Son. Peter is reassuring these believers that even though suffering and persecution was coming, nothing had caught God by surprise. And that God had a plan and a purpose. And Peter is reminding them that no matter what they had to face, they were guaranteed the victory over suffering. Because he lives, I can face tomorrow. Because he lives, all fear is gone. Because I know who holds the future and life is worth the living just because he lives.