I've been reading the two books that Peter wrote.  He writes so very different from Paul.  Paul was a theologian with an extensive education.  Peter was a fisherman.  His hands were probably gnarled and calloused from dragging in nets and from rowing boats.  He didn't have the vocabulary that Paul did.

When Peter writes, he doesn't go into a lot of explanations.  He just speaks.  And it is always to the point.  I am a huge fan of Peter's writing.  When I find an important verse (to me) in the Bible, I underline it.  I have more verses underlined in Peter than almost any other book.  I am going to go through 1st Peter with you, so read it yourself.  It shouldn't take two or three minutes.  It's short.

He begins by identifying himself as an apostle, and then addresses all of the strangers, Christians that had scattered due to the persecution of the Jews in Jerusalem.  Getting a letter from Peter would have meant a lot to these people.  They were frightened, and for the most part, alone.  Christianity hadn't spread.  But because of these people it was about to.  My daughter Becky says, "God's word is spread through his people.  But his church is spread through persecution."  They were definitely persecuted.

I Peter 1:2-3  Peter calls them elect.  "…through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience (and through) sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ…Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which according to his abundant mercy has begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,"

Life after death in a good place called heaven.  That's a pretty lively hope.  It is what we are counting on because this life is short and eternity is long.  So.  Sanctification (growing into Christlike people) produces obedience.  It's a good thing God is merciful or we wouldn't have lively hope.  We wouldn't have any hope at all.  He has begotten us again.  Born again.  That's what we are.  New creatures.