To God’s elect, according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, in the sanctification of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and for sprinkling with his blood: May grace and peace be multiplied to you. We have seen yesterday that God has elected us. What does it mean by being elected? What qualified me to be elected?

As we have understood the meaning of election and purpose, let’s get back to the verse 2.
Four things Peter says here 1) We are elected by the foreknowledge of God the father or we are known by God 2) Elected one’s are sanctified by the spirit 3) Elected one’s are washed/sprinkled by the blood of Jesus Christ 4) We are Elected  for the obedience of Jesus Christ. 

Fore Knowledge: - Our God is an all knowing God. God's eyes go to and fro throughout the whole earth (2 Chronicles 16:9), and are every place beholding the evil and the good (Proverbs 15:3). Even Sheol is naked and open to God's sight (Proverbs 15:11; Job 26:6). The night and darkness are light to Him, and darkness and light for God are both alike (Psalms 139:12). All animals and fowls are His, and so are known by Him (Psalms 50:11), and as their Creator God knows all the hosts of the heavenly bodies (Psalms 147:4; Isaiah 40:26). He knows also the heart of man and its thoughts (1 Samuel 16:7; 1 Kings 8:39; Psalms 7:9; Psalms 94:11; 139:2; Jeremiah 11:20; 17:9,10; 20:12; Ezekiel 11:5). Furthermore, God knows man entirely in all his ways (Psalms 139:1-5; Proverbs 5:21). He looks from heaven and sees all men (Psalms 11:4; 14:2; 33:13,14,15). Evil and sin are also known to God (Genesis 3:11; 6:5,9,13; 2 Samuel 7:20; Psalms 69:5); Jeremiah 16:17; 18:23). In a word, God knows with absolute accuracy all about man (Job 11:11; 34:21; Psalms 33:15; Proverbs 5:21; Hosea 5:3; Jeremiah 11:20; 12:3; 17:9; 18:23). This perfect knowledge finds its classic expression in Psalms 139.

Sanctified by the Spirit: In Romans 15:16 the Greek word used for santification that translated is (“hagiasmos”) means “holiness”. To sanctify means “to make holy”. In one sense only God is holy. No human being or thing shares the holiness of essential nature. But God’s word commands us to be holy- holy as he 1 peter 1:15-16 says be holy as our God is. why was sanctification needed? Sanctification is necessary because we have inherited the sin nature of Adam and eve. Positionally we are children of God but practically we are growing to be like Jesus. Sanctification is applied justification. By its very nature justification does not have a progressive character. It is God's declaration of righteousness. The focus of justification is the removal of the guilt of sin. The focus of sanctification is the healing of the dysfunctionality of sin. God uses many methods of purification. Bible says The Father sanctifies ( 1 Cor 1:30 ) by the Spirit ( 2 Thess 2:13 ; 1 Peter 1:2 ) and in the name of Christ ( 1 Cor 6:11 ).

Is it comforting to know that God is an all-knowing God? Or are we intimidated by this?

Thoughts are the most private parts of our human experience. But there is one Person who always knows what we are thinking; God knows everything about us, and He also knows our thoughts. Psalm 139 verses 1–2 says “O LORD, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar”.

It can be intimidating to realize that God knows our thoughts. He knows the angry thoughts, lustful thoughts, vengeful ideas, secret greed, and hidden coveting. Let’s not cover those hidden sin, but let’s confess to the Lord because he forgives and empowers us to live a victorious life.

If we have given our lives to Christ, then we should find comfort in remembering that our loving Father knows us better than we know ourselves. God knows all our situations he could reach to us in any chaotic, confused moments. Nothing is hidden before him My past, present or future. So lets continue to surrender our past, present and future thoughts at his feet because He cares for us.