1 Peter 5:12-14
Summing It Up

  1. The Messenger: Silvanus will carry on Peter's message
    1. The letter is written through Silvanus, a "faithful brother"
      1. This is the same Silvanus who was, with Timothy, a co-author of Paul's 1st and 2nd letters to the Thessalonians
      2. This is the Silvanus — called Silas by Luke — who travelled from the Jerusalem Council to announce the decision of the council, thus encouraging the Church
      3. This is the Silvanus/Silas who traveled with Paul and was thrown into prison with him in Philippi
      4. In other words, Silvanus was not himself an eyewitness of Christ, but he was an early convert who was now carrying on the apostolic mission of establishing the churches of the Lord Jesus
      5. Peter testifies that this Silvanus has functioned as a secretary, writing down this letter
        1. He has written the letter "through" Silvanus
        2. The technical term is "amanuensis"
          1. Silvanus didn't just take dictation
          2. The style of this letter and the word choices are Silvanus' (with Peter's inspired approval)
      6. And now, Silvanus is delivering this letter to the churches that they may be encouraged
      7. For this reason it is necessary that Peter let these churches know that Silvanus has his utmost confidence and can be trusted to preach the true grace of God to them.
    2. Thus, God has not left his church without workers
      1. Peter has not sent a dead letter
        1. Just as God does not send out a dead word, but sends his Spirit with the word to minister it to his people
        2. So Peter has sent out his faithful brother Silvanus to preach the word that has been written and to ensure that its testimony is heard to the profit of the churches of Asia Minor
        3. So still today, the word is sent out in the mouths of preachers who expound it deeply or simply according to the capacity of the congregation so that the same word ministers to God's people over and over again.
      2. How many times has 1 Peter been preached since it was written?
        1. Silvanus, apparently preached it 5 times, to the churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (1.1)
        2. How many have followed after him?
        3. Am I the 100 thousandth? The millionth? The ten millionth?
        4. What a privilege for me to follow in this tradition, ministering this same word to the growth and peace of the church!
        5. What a privelege for you that God has not left himself without witness but brings this word to you alive and spoken!
      3. And that's the point.
        1. Peter's audience was worried that the apostleship was dying out just when the persecution of the church was getting bad
        2. Who would encourage them and declare the word of God to them and exhort them to stand in God's grace?
        3. Silvanus and his successors.
        4. Peter's been preparing them for this by pointing to the two enduring categories of gifts in the church: ministry of the word and service (4.10,11)
        5. He's directed their attention to the regular eldership of the church as God's plan for guarding their souls
        6. They don't need the magic show of healings and speaking in tongues and inspired prophetic words anymore
          1. Those things established the church on the foundation of Christ and disappear once the foundation is laid
          2. They need the word of God, written by inspired men, preached until Christ appears by men called and ordained to that task.
  2. The Message: God's grace is true; stand in it
    1. Peter writes to encourage and testify
      1. He writes to "encourage"
        1. That is to counsel them on the basis of the gospel
        2. What is true of them and what they are empowered to do
          1. They are chosen by God (1.1)
          2. They are born again to the resurrection hope (1.3ff)
          3. Christ will soon appear and complete their salvation
          4. Therefore they ought to set all their hope on the coming grace (1.13)
          5. They have been redeemed by the blood of Christ (1.18)
          6. Therefore they ought to be holy and live in the fear of God
          7. They have been born again by his word
          8. Therefore lay aside all malice, deceit, hypocrisy, envy, evil speaking and desire the pure milk of the word
          9. etc.
        3. Most of all, he writes to encourage them that their present suffering unites them with Christ and they will be united with him as well in his glory
      2. And he writes to "testify"
        1. To assure them as one whom God has appointed as a witness of Christ
        2. That the promises of God are yes and amen in Christ
        3. He takes, in effect, a solemn oath to this effect
    2. "This is the true grace of God."
      1. This?
        1. Doesn't refer to anything in particular he's just said, but to everything
        2. another translation: This grace of God (of which I have spoken throughout this letter) is true
      2. This is the grace of God that saved them, the grace of God that is coming when Christ is revealed, and — most central for the present purpose — the grace that comes to those who humble themselves under his mighty hand, not attempting to pursue salvation by their own means but accepting the way of suffering that God provides.
      3. Suffering does not seem like grace from God
        1. Why doesn't he rise up and smite their enemies?
        2. Why do their masters beat and their husbands ridicule and their governments oppress?
        3. These things come to refine their faith and thus God uses them for the purposes of his grace
    3. "Stand fast in it"
      1. NKJV is wrong. This is a command.
      2. Do not let appearances deceive you, God has not lost control
        1. He is perfecting and purifying his church
        2. And all those who ridicule and persecute are merely his tools for fatherly discipline (as of one who loves us) and for the refinement of our faith
        3. Do not doubt and do not fear! Though the world align itself against you, God is for you.
        4. Therefore cling to his grace and care nothing for the mockers who say "If God loved you, wouldn't he treat you better?"
      3. Do not rely on your own strength or understanding.
        1. How the slaves wanted to run away, the wives to divorce, the citizens to revolt!
        2. But Peter says, even this suffering is the true grace of God
      4. Let nothing cheat you of it. Not the lure of this world nor its whisper that your faith is all for nothing.
      5. And stand you will for the Lord is able to make you stand
  3. The Fellowship: Greetings from fellow-suffers, fellow-elect, family
    1. Fellow-sufferers
      1. He writes from "Babylon", not literally but figuratively
      2. Literally, he probably writes from Rome
      3. And "She" refers to the church there
      4. But figuratively he writes from the Biblical city that has always symbolized man's rebellion against God
        1. From the moment they built a tower in Babel to ascend into heaven and be like God
        2. To the time when they invaded the promised land and subjugated the people of God and took them captive
        3. Thus Babylon in the book of revelation becomes the symbol for the city of Man, the city of this world, the community of those who hate God and organize themselves against him
      5. Thus Peter reminds his audience that he suffers with them.
        1. He writes from the very heart of darkness, the capitol of Christian persecution in the entire world
        2. He, like they, sees the harassment of the church, the ridicule, the suffering inflicted
      6. If God is at work at the church in "Babylon", enabling Peter to compose this letter, surely he is at work in there churches as well
      7. And surely today...
    2. Fellow-elect
      1. They have all been chosen by the same God and Father
      2. And they have all been chosen for the same purpose, to endure the tribulation of this present life and thus enter the Kingdom together
      3. There is no partiality with God, but infinite joy and reward are held out as an inheritance to all his people.
    3. Family
      1. Mark "my son" sets it up
        1. Not a literal son
        2. But his son in the faith
      2. "Kiss of love"
        1. They are to behave as family toward one another
        2. With genuine affection
      3. This was probably something done in the context of the worship service as an expression of the brotherhood of all believers and their deep affection for each other.
      4. This is not a formalized, ritualistic, meaningless gesture
        1. Peter is telling them one more time, love one another deeply from the heart
        2. And he is encouraging the expression of that love they have for each other that they may not feel alone when the devil attacks
        3. The devil's plan is divide and conquer
        4. Christ's invitation is united in Me and I will conquer
  4. The Blessing: Peace to everyone in Christ
    1. Peter pronounces the blessing of "peace"
    2. He reminds them that this peace is only "in Christ"

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