The Eternal Elite

Transcripts for Dr. Wiersbe's sermons are forthcoming. Below is an outline of his message.

First Peter is a letter of encouragement to Christians scattered around the world.

Peter identifies Christians as sojourners and strangers, suffering in the world’s eyes.

In God’s eyes believers are elite, the elect.

When you are discouraged, find encouragement in your status before God.

Four distinctives that set the Christian apart from the rest of the world:

-       Believers are special because we belong to a special family.

• Christians are born again into the family of God.
• Salvation includes all persons in the Trinity bringing us into the family.
• God chose us before the foundation of the world.
• It is dangerous to play with the Gospel message and deadly to reject it.
• Believers are sprinkled by the saving blood of Christ.

-       Believers are special because we share a special future.

• We are hopeless without God, but in Him we have a lasting and living hope.
• Believers share a future with Christ to look forward to.
• Our life might fall to pieces, but our hope in Christ will never die.
• Our inheritance in Christ is incorruptible. 

-       Believers are special because we possess a special faith.

• Our faith can be trusted and tested.
• We are kept by the power of God.
• Only Christians, because of their faith, can go through the furnace and still find joy.

-       Believers are special because we enjoy a special fellowship.

• A person is known by the company he or she keeps.
• We are all important in the body of Christ.
• The Holy Spirit lives in believers and is part of our fellowship.

As believers set apart by God, we should have a sanctified superiority complex.