This Is the True Grace of God

1 Peter 5

Because You Are Willing (5:1-7)

Peter begins this final section with an address to the “elders” of the church or churches in his audience. As it is used in the New Testament, the term “elder” is a general title used for the leaders of the church. It was the custom of Paul and Barnabas to appoint elders in the churches they established (Acts 14:21-23). The elders in Jerusalem were present when Paul met with James to discuss his ministry to the Gentiles (Acts 21:18-19). James directs parishioners to the elders for healing (James 5:14). And when Paul gave his final address to the elders of Ephesus (whom he also called “overseers”) he implored them, as Peter does here, to be shepherds of the flock (Acts 20:28).

Even though he has established his credentials an apostle (1:1) Peter meets these elders on common ground as a “fellow elder” and charges them to undertake their calling, not as a requirement or an opportunity for gain, but as something they truly desire to do, just as Paul could net help but preach the Gospel (1 Corinthians 9:16) and Jeremiah felt the word of God like a fire in his bones (Jeremiah 20:9).

Peter knew well the call to shepherd the sheep, as the Good Shepherd himself called him, not once, but three times, to feed the sheep (John 21:15-18). How often has the Lord called me to care for some lamb, and I have not heard?

Your Enemy the Devil (5:8-9)

Peter tells us again to be “sober” (presbuteros 1:13, 4:7) and encourages us to resist our adversary, the devil. For “devil”, Peter uses the word diabolos, which means “false accuser”. This is the same word that Jesus used when he spoke of the fate of the goats he would separate from the sheep (Matthew 25:41). It is very similar in definition to the word satan, a Hebrew word that means “adversary” or “opponent”. This word is used, for example, in the story of the temptations of Christ (Matthew 4:8-11). But we should also note that when Peter stood in his way, the Lord called him “Satan!” (Matthew 16:21-23). We may imagine a red man with a beard and a pointed tail, but Satan could be you or I, if we have in mind the things of men, instead of the things of God.

After You Have Suffered a Little While (5:10-11)

In this passage, Peter tells us we must suffer “for a little while.” The idea that this life is only a temporary passage is one that Peter has stressed from the beginning of the letter, in which he tells us that our inheritance is kept for us in heaven, to be revealed in the last time (1:3-7). In later passages, he calls us aliens (2:11) and stresses the carnal nature of this life (4:1-2).

We are aliens now, but in that later day, Christ himself will restore (katartizo) us, or make us complete. He will strengthen (sthenoo) us, make us firm (stērizo) that is, establish and confirm us. And he will make us steadfast (themelioo) that is, he will provide us a final and lasting foundation. Our home is not in this world; there is a place prepared for us in heaven (John 14:1-3).

Stand Fast in It (5:12-14)

There are a number of tantalizing references in this final passage. First, Peter refers to Silvanus. Just as one man may be referred to both as “Richard” and as “Rick”, this Silvanus is the same name man we know as Silas (Acts 15:36-40) . There is also the oblique reference to someone referred to only as “she”. This may refer to a church, or perhaps to Peter’s wife (1 Corinthians 9:5). This “she” is said to be in Babylon, but there is no indication that Peter was ever in, or associated with, that city, and so it may be a symbolic reference to Rome. And finally, there is the reference to Mark, who may have literally been Peter’s son, or may have been the Mark who was also called John (Acts 12:11-12).

These gentlemen, Silas and Mark, are traditionally associated with Peter. First, as Peter mentions that this letter is “through Silvanus” and as the Greek of the letter is considered too fine to have been written by a Hebrew fisherman, it is argued that the letter may be the message of Peter recorded by Silas, who was a Roman citizen and may have had a Greek education. Second, there is a very early tradition that the Gospel of Mark was written by John, also called Mark, but is his record of the Gospel as told to him by Peter.

But amid these personal greetings, Peter includes a brief statement that summarizes the letter. This, he says, is the true grace of God. The writer of Hebrews uses the idea of duality, prevalent in his day as well as in ours, to explain the relationship between the things of this world and the things of the next. For example, he says that the temple of this world is only a copy of the true temple in heaven, and that Christ has gone for us through the Holy of Holies to intercede for us in the very presence of God (Hebrews 9:24).

Peter has another approach to the relationship of this world and the next. Why do we suffer? In addition to religious persecution, why is there sickness, loss, and death? Peter does not attempt to explain. But in spite of these things, even through these things, Peter assures us that we may experience the grace of God. This is the world God made (Genesis 1:31). This is the world God loves (John 3:16). This is the true grace of God, stand fast in it!

Participate in the Suffering of Christ

1 Peter 4:7-19

The End of all Things Is near (4:7-11)

 

 

There can be little doubt that Peter anticipated the imminent Second Coming of Christ. We must consider this carefully, as some two thousand years have passed since he wrote of his expectation and the entire earth continues, as Paul says, to groan in waiting (Romans 8:22-23).

As we consider Peter’s expectation, we should first note that it was commonly shared by the New Testament writers: Paul tells us that the night is nearly over (Romans 13:12); this same idea is expressed by the writer of Hebrews (Hebrews 10:24-25); James says plainly that the coming of the Lord is near (James 5:8); the idea is strongly emphasized in the Revelation of John (Revelation 22:7, 12, 20). Indeed, even the words of Christ have been understood in this manner (Luke 21:29-32) though it is not certain what scope our Lord intended with the phrase “this generation” and the implication of a fairly-fixed timetable (within the lifespan of His audience) would seem in contradiction of His statement that only the Father knows when the day will be (Matthew 24:36).

What, then, are we to make of this scripture? Peter himself has given us a clue, as he has said that the prophets of old were not only speaking to the people of their time, but were speaking to us of our salvation through Christ (1:10-12). Whatever Peter may have thought about the imminence of the return of Christ as an immediacy in time, he was not wrong in his eager anticipation – an anticipation that we may have lost in the passing of time.

Despite the passage of time, there are several ways in which the coming of our Lord remains imminent. First, as Peter suggests, the coming is inevitable, as all of salvation is an act that is already complete (1:18-20). Second, there is the immediacy of death. It may not come today or tomorrow or for many years, but if we depend upon our earthly lives, then we put our trust in this world, and such trust is always misplaced (Luke 12:16-21). Finally, though thousand of years have passed since Peter lived in eager expectation, we could see our Lord come in glory this very day. He must find us watching (Luke 12:35-40).

How may we be ready? The answer is we must love and show love, so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. The end is indeed coming, and many that the Lord loves do not know of that love (Luke 10:2; Romans 10:13-15).

Participate in the Suffering of Christ (4:12-16)

In his excellent book Prayer: Finding the Heart’s True Home, Richard J. Foster offers a beautiful, if mystical, idea regarding intercessory prayer. He reasons that, because the power of our God is not limited even by time, we may in this day pray for our Lord as He suffered on the cross. Peter presents an idea that is similar in its mysticism: as we live our lives as Christians, we participate in the suffering of Christ.

What an honor to be able to pray for our Lord as he suffers! What an honor to be persecuted for the sake of righteousness (Matthew 5:10-12)! What an honor to participate in the suffering of Christ (Philippians 1:29)!

But as much as I find Foster’s idea challenging philosophically, so do I find the idea from Peter challenging in a very practical way. Though it seems at times that I take arms against a sea of troubles, the anguish and strife I have suffered in this world arises almost entirely from my effort to live in this world. Spiritually, I lead an easy life, sheltered from the challenge to take up my cross daily (Luke 9:23-25) and to love others as my Lord has loved me (John 13:34-35; 20:21).

Time for Judgment to Begin (4:17-19)

The Day of the Lord is at hand, and with that day, the day of judgment. Nothing on this earth is hidden from that judgment, to the remotest corners and the inmost parts (Hebrews 4:13; Psalm 139:1-6). It will begin with those who call upon the name of the Lord (Ezekiel 9:1-6; Matthew 7:21-23). If it is hard for the righteous to be saved, who then can be saved? I am thankful that all things are possible with God (Mark 10:23-27)

The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me; because the LORD hath anointed me to preach good tidings unto the meek; he hath sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to them that are bound; To proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all that mourn;

I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall be joyful in my God; for he hath clothed me with the garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decketh himself with ornaments, and as a bride adorneth herself with her jewels. For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

(Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 KJV)