On a Sabbath day in the city of Antioch of Pisidia the apostle Paul addressed the audience at the synagogue. He began by saying, “Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience. The God of this people of Israel chose our fathers, and exalted the people when they dwelt as strangers in the land of Egypt, and with an high arm brought he them out of it.” (Acts 13:16-17.) Thus, he reminded his Jewish brethren of their history. They had dwelt as strangers in a foreign land. Egypt was not their home, but a temporary residence until the Lord would bring them out. Likewise, Peter, in writing to strangers scattered in various regions south of the Black Sea, alluded to their having passed the time of their sojourn in fear. For he wrote:
And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot: Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, but was manifest in these last times for you, Who by him do believe in God, that raised him up from the dead, and gave him glory; that your faith and hope might be in God. (1 Peter 1:17-21.)
As sojourners, we can call on God our Father. As children of God, we can call upon our Father in heaven. Jesus said to pray after this manner, “Our Father which art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.” (Matt. 6:9.) Paul wrote, “For this cause I bow my knees unto the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, of whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named.” (Eph. 3:14-15.) We are the elect, according to his foreknowledge through sanctification, obedience and the blood of Jesus Christ. His abundant mercy sent His only begotten Son to die for us. He raised His Son from the dead that we might be begotten unto a living hope. Even though great trials in life may come, as God’s children, we can call upon Him.
As sojourners, we are to pass our short time here on this earth in fear. But someone might ask: Why be afraid? Why “in fear”? The text gives two reasons: The Father is no respecter of persons. He does not show favoritism. Our families and friends may show favoritism. Those who have been bribed show favoritism. One’s cronies may show favoritism. But not God the Father. These words remind us of the statement Peter made at the home of Cornelius: “Then Peter opened his mouth, and said, Of a truth I perceive that God is no respecter of persons: But in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” (Acts 10:34-35.) James wrote, “My brethren, have not the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Lord of glory, with respect of persons.” (James 2:1.)
The second reason is that we should pass the time of our sojourning here in fear is because God judges every man’s work. In previous studies of this passage, I had assumed that this was referring to the final judgment, and that God the Father would judge through His Son (Acts 17:31; 2 Cor. 5:10). It is certainly true the Father will judge through His Son in the final day. What is said to have been done by one’s agent is said to have been done by one’s self. However, the verb “judgeth” or “judges” is present tense, indicating that the Father in heaven is judging our work now, as we are sojourning. The Father is inspecting our work now. If one knows that an inspector is looking over our work all the time, are we not more inclined to be diligent and careful in our work?
As sojourners, we have been redeemed, bought back. We were delivered from snare of the devil, who had taken us captive at his will (2 Tim 2:26.) What was the ransom, the price paid for our deliverance? It was not corruptible things, as silver and gold, that redeemed us. Our vain conduct handed down from our fathers did not redeem us. However, it was the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot, who redeemed us. This highlights the fact that each one is precious in the sight of God. How much one is willing to spend on an object is based on the value he places on the object. God the Father gave the greatest, the most precious gift of all, His beloved Son, in order that we might be saved. Thus, He considered each of us of great value. Does that not cause gratitude to swell within your heart?
As sojourners, we are told that this price for our redemption was no accident, no spur of the moment impulse buy. This ransom, the precious blood of Christ, was planned before the foundation of the world, i.e. before the creation of the world. Christ was manifest, made known, in the last times for us. The American Standard of 1901 reads, “manifested at the end of the times.” We are living in the last time, the last age. It is true that Jesus appeared in the last days of the Jewish dispensation; however, he was “manifested” or made known to the world in the last age, the gospel age. We are living in the last age which began on the first Pentecost after the resurrection of Christ (Acts 2:14- 21).
As sojourners, our faith and hope are in God. This was made possible by God’s having raised Jesus from the dead. Then, he gave him glory when he entered back into heaven (Dan. 7:13-14). Our faith and hope are not in men, but God. Faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen (Heb. 11:1). Faith stands under our hope. If our hope is weak, it is because our faith is weak. If our hope (desire and expectation) is strong, then it is because our faith is strong. Hope is the divine thread which runs throughout this epistle. The elect strangers were under persecution. They needed to hold on. They needed to endure. They need motivation for continuing in the faith. Hope gave them that motivation.
These same truths can help us in living the Christian life.