Grace Means…Humility

1 Peter 5:5-7

In today’s passage, we are instructed to clothe ourselves with humility. 

As we look at this passage, we will see first that the younger are to submit to the older, and second, we are to submit to one another. So we show humility by submission. Second, we will see that we are to submit to God. So we understand that we demonstrate humility by trust.

First, we will consider how submission shows humility.

A literal translation of 1 Peter 5:5 is:

1 Peter 5:5 (YLT) In like manner, ye younger, be subject to elders, and all to one another subjecting yourselves; with humble-mindedness clothe yourselves, because God the proud doth resist, but to the humble He doth give grace. 

“Younger,” in this case, does not refer to biological age. This scripture addresses those who are young in the faith. 

Years of life are not enough to qualify a person to lead in the Church. One must be mature in the faith. The Apostle Paul gives the following instruction about church leaders.

1 Timothy 3:6 (CSB) He must not be a new convert, or he might become conceited and incur the same condemnation as the devil.

A new convert, or a novice, does not have the knowledge or experience to lead.

A common mistake is to assume that since a person is successful in business, they will bring success to the Church. We need people with gifts for administration, managing money, and finance, and these gifts tend to make a person successful in business. However, a person must have other characteristics without which God cannot bless the Church. The Church operates on faith and trust in God, not on the cleverness of men. Jesus said:

John 15:4–5 (NKJV) ⁴Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. ⁵I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.

A person who has not learned to “abide in Christ” is what Peter is calling “young.” And, as Jesus says, unless we abide in Christ, we can do nothing. 

When we think of young, we think of physical age. However, many great Christian leaders have started at a young age. In 1 Timothy 4:12, we learn that Timothy was young, but we cannot put a number on it. Paul encouraged Timothy not to let people look down on him because of his youthfulness. King David was young when he started leading men. The British preacher C.H. Spurgeon was 21 when he became pastor of a large Baptist church in London. I found the following account online, and it is an account I have heard before from more than one source.

On one occasion, a lady who was shaking his hand at the door at the end of the service said, “Mr. Spurgeon, your ministry is so helpful, and it does my soul good to hear you preaching the gospel with such power, but, oh, you are so young!” Spurgeon listened carefully to the lady and then is reputed to have replied, “Well, madam, I suppose if you give me time, I will grow out of that!”

John Calvin published the first edition of the “Institutes of the Christian Religion” when he was 26. However, he revised it throughout his life, publishing the final update, greatly expanded and which he called a new work, just before his death at age 54. 

Young men may qualify as leaders, but they must continue to grow. If they do not continue to grow, they are likely to fall into temptation and the condemnation spoken of in 1 Timothy 3:6, which is pride. A successful church leader must be careful lest he becomes arrogant.

Just like any leader, young or old, young men must meet the qualifications that the Scriptures give. For example, 1 Timothy 3:2-4 says:

1 Timothy 3:2–4 (NLT) ²So a church leader must be a man whose life is above reproach. He must be faithful to his wife. He must exercise self-control, live wisely, and have a good reputation. He must enjoy having guests in his home, and he must be able to teach. ³He must not be a heavy drinker or be violent. He must be gentle, not quarrelsome, and not love money. ⁴He must manage his own family well, having children who respect and obey him.

(Just a quick note of clarification here. If he has children, they must be respectful, and a child is a little one who is fully dependent on the parent, i.e., not a grown child.) 

Being able to teach is crucial to the leader, which implies that the leader must be knowledgeable in both Scripture and doctrine. Since the elders are charged with shepherding the flock, including protecting them from false teaching, it follows that elders also must be knowledgeable in Scripture and doctrine.

It is possible to be a Christian for many years and yet have little knowledge of the Bible and be unable to distinguish good teaching from bad. So, neither years of life or years of being a Christian are what distinguishes between the older and younger. Instead, it is the anointing of the Holy Spirit and the evidence of a walk with the Lord that marks the difference.

1 Peter 5:5 says:

1 Peter 5:5 (NKJV) Likewise you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders.

Since we have spent some time considering who is younger, we need to understand what is meant by “likewise.” The plain meaning is “in the same manner,” but the question is “in the same manner as what?”

We find the answer in the preceding verses, where Peter says:

1 Peter 5:2 (NKJV) not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

These instructions for elders answer the “likewise” in verse 5. As believers, our attitude is crucial to our growth and our testimony. Hebrews 13:17 makes this clear when it says:

Hebrews 13:17 (NLT) Obey your spiritual leaders and do what they say. Their work is to watch over your souls, and they are accountable to God. Give them reason to do this with joy and not with sorrow. That would certainly not be for your benefit.

Humility is needed to recognize we are “younger,” and we need instruction. It takes a humble person to listen to correction, especially when the correction comes from one younger than oneself. The Bible says:

1 Timothy 5:1 (NKJV) Do not rebuke an older man, but exhort him as a father.

We cannot force someone else to be humble, nor should we show any disrespect, regardless of age or position. Humility is required for both the leader and the led.

Some, who are proud of their success in the world, do not recognize that they are but babes in Christ.

Humility is essential!

The Scriptures say:

Romans 12:3 (NKJV) For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith.

We all have places where we are “younger” and need to grow and learn. As 1Peter 5:5 says, we must submit to one another and be clothed with humility. Recognizing where we are younger is a necessity that requires humility.

So far, we have been speaking about humility in our relationships within the Body and have not addressed the necessity of humility in our relationship with God.

One would think that we would be humble in approaching the Almighty Creator of the Universe, but such is not the case. Mankind is full of pride by nature, and pride is the source of much of our sin. (I did not say all of our sin. Our desires and lusts are also a large factor in our sin.)

Peter addresses the need for humility before God, saying:

1 Peter 5:5–7 (NKJV) ⁵God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”

⁶Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

The end of verse 5, “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble,” is a quote from Proverbs 3:34 that is also quoted in James 4:6. Repeated three times and presented in other ways, this is a crucial concept. Several times God says:

Isaiah 57:15 (NKJV) For thus says the High and Lofty One Who inhabits eternity, whose name is Holy: “I dwell in the high and holy place, With him who has a contrite and humble spirit, To revive the spirit of the humble, And to revive the heart of the contrite ones.

The Scriptures are clear, “God values humility!”

However, mankind is far from being humble. Psalm 2 shows the arrogance with which men face their Creator. 

Psalm 2:2–3 (NKJV) ²The kings of the earth set themselves, And the rulers take counsel together, Against the Lord and against His Anointed, saying, ³“Let us break Their bonds in pieces And cast away Their cords from us.”

It is not just the kings of the earth who are too proud to acknowledge God. Psalm 14, along with other Scriptures, says:

Psalm 14:1 (NKJV) The fool has said in his heart, “There is no God.”

Before man sinned, we used to walk with God in the cool of the evening. But ever since sin entered the world, we have tried to live without God. We have tried to do it on our own. We have felt the need to be in control.

If someone is sick, we try to fix it. If someone is wrong, we try to correct them. No matter what the problem, we try to solve it. This is not bad in and of itself. However, as long as our self-sufficiency interferes with our trust in God, it is disastrous. Jeremiah says:

Jeremiah 2:13 (NKJV) For My people have committed two evils: They have forsaken Me, the fountain of living waters, And hewn themselves cisterns—broken cisterns that can hold no water.

God says that people choose to try to fill themselves and do not recognize that He is the source. 

We work hard every day for success, comfort, and happiness, not realizing that everything we want and need is found in God.

When life gives hardship, what is your first reaction?

Look at what 1 Peter 5:6-7 says:

1 Peter 5:6–7 (NKJV) ⁶Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, ⁷casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you.

Humility in these verses is pictured as “casting all our care upon Him.” Pride is what usually keeps us from seeking God and His help for every situation.

Since God is sovereign, He could stop every bad thing from ever happing. But, for His own reasons, He chooses not to. Many have rejected God because they cannot see the point of what He is doing. Questions like, “Why should a child die,” are plentiful. We learn from the book of Job that thinking we have a right to demand an answer from our creator is arrogant. Does He answer to us? NOT HARDLY!

Therefore, Peter says, “Humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God.”

This requires trust, and trust is what God asks of us. Faith is all that God asks of us. But believe it or not, before we can trust Him, we must humble ourselves before Him. We must acknowledge that He is God and we are not.

Deceiving us and getting us to think that we are more than we are is a trick of the devil. The grace of God saves us from such deception. Humility only comes by grace. To walk humbly with our God is to walk in victory. Without God’s grace in granting us humility, we can never know the joy of God exalting us.

Grace Means…Humility.

Grace Means…Shepherding

Grace Means…Shepherding

1 Peter 5:1-4

1 Peter 5:1 (NKJV) The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed.

In chapter five, Peter closes his letter to the Church. 

His letter offers encouragement for our faith and strength for our trials. We find the foundation for the encouragement and strength He provides in the suffering of Christ Jesus our Lord.

In chapter two, Peter addressed injustice and said, “Follow Jesus’ example by entrusting yourselves to God who judges righteously.” 

The suffering of Jesus brings us the grace of God, and Peter writes to help us understand how God’s grace helps us through our suffering, challenges, and trials. Not only has Jesus’ death paid the price for our sins, but His resurrection frees us from the power of sin. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we are reborn and have new life. Our faith and trust in God make us aliens and strangers in this world.

Now that we have reached chapter five, we see Peter giving parting instructions. He has instructed and encouraged through his writing. And now, in closing, he exhorts us as believers. His exhortation focuses on the function of the Church as a body. 

We can each, individually, be encouraged by Peter’s exhortations in chapter five, but even a quick look at this chapter reveals that there is no hint of any of us living the Christian life as a loner. In Peter’s language, we are a flock. We are all under the Chief Shepherd (1 Peter 5:4), and He has entrusted us to the care of “overseers.”

In our time today, I intend to look at what Peter says to the “overseers.” In short, he says to shepherd the flock. 

The picture of a shepherd and his sheep frequently appears in the Bible. God chose Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. These men were shepherds. Jesus said, 

John 10:11 (NKJV) “I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd gives His life for the sheep.

The Psalmist says,

Psalm 100:3 (NKJV) Know that the Lord, He is God;

It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

God the Son calls Himself “shepherd,” and the Scriptures say we are “the sheep of His pasture.” This metaphor is a picture of God’s care for His people.

If a shepherd ignores his sheep, the sheep will not survive. They are vulnerable to predators, having little to no natural defenses. They must be kept where food and water are available - a task that is best handled by a shepherd since sheep are not good problem solvers. A shepherd must keep track of many things if he is going to have healthy sheep.

The Lord is our shepherd. In 1 Peter 5:4, Peter calls Jesus the “Cheif Shepherd.” 

Peter begins by addressing the “elders.” He says,

1 Peter 5:1–2 (NKJV) ¹The elders who are among you I exhort, I who am a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed: ²Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly;

Peter is an Apostle. He is writing under the influence of the Holy Spirit. Because of these two factors, he has the authority to command us. 1 Peter 5:1 could have said, “I command you.” But, Our Lord is gentle and would have us willingly follow. So, 1 Peter 5:1 says, “I exhort you.” To exhort means to appeal to, and the word Peter uses means to plead. Therefore, this verse could be translated, “I beg you.”

Our Lord is a gentle shepherd and does not beat His sheep into submission.

Looking carefully at 1 Peter 5:1-2, I would like to draw your attention to two things. First, Peter is addressing elders, and, second, he uses the phrase “serving as overseers.” If we look briefly at 1 Peter 5:3, we see that he says, “…nor as being lords over those entrusted to you.” So, we see that “serving as overseers” does not mean that “elders” should be rulers with absolute power.

We must understand what Peter means by “overseers.”

In the Church, no one is given absolute authority over another. Only Jesus holds that position. However, Peter does tell us how elders are to use their position. 1 Peter, 5:3 also says, “…being examples to the flock.”

We understand from this that elders are to lead by example. 

If leading by example does not cause fear, then that person has not understood the responsibility of the position. The critical thing to remember is that any person in the office of the elder is only worth following as far as they are following Christ.

For example, I am terrified at the number and nature of the teachers I see on the internet, terrified that if some of you are listening to these people, you will follow them. Please, please, please base your thinking on the Word of God, the Bible.

There are many good teachers on the internet. However, the bad teachers, the wolves, outnumber the good.

Protecting the flock from bad teaching is part of the idea behind denominations, ordination councils, and doctrinal statements. These things are built into the Church so that a person can at least have an idea of what is being taught by any given teacher. The system is not perfect, but it helps.

For example, if you go to an Evangelical Free Church, you can be reasonably confident that you will encounter a rather cerebral approach to studying the Word of God. Our “intellectual” approach to the faith is probably what is behind our seminary being the largest evangelical seminary in the world. But, as with every other denomination that has gone before, there is “theological drift,” that is, changing doctrine and focus that comes with time.

Returning to our discussion of the overseer elder - if an overseer is not to be the big boss and to lead by example, what then is an overseer? 

Because of the way businesses are run, we tend to think of overseers as being in control. This is not the case in the Church. Elders are to set the direction, but the main idea behind the word overseer is to “watch over.” (Hence, “OVER” “SEE”) The idea of an overseer fits very well with the concept of a shepherd. The elder (overseer) is to keep careful watch over the flock. (Full of “care” for the flock) This watching is to protect, feed, correct, and lead the flock.

When Peter says, “Shepherd the flock,” he defines this job as “serving as overseers.” Both shepherding and overseeing imply taking care of the flock. Two concerns are most evident. First, the devil, the roaring lion that Peter speaks of later in the chapter, is a concern. Second, his minions, the wolves, the false teachers the Apostles warn of are a great danger. Immorality and brothers being caught in sin are also crucial issues, but these things are secondary to teaching because sound teaching serves to correct bad behavior. The job of the elder then is, among other things, to make sure that sound doctrine is being taught.

We have looked at what the job of an elder is, but we have not defined who we are talking about when we say “elder.” Who is Peter referring to when he says, “The elders among you….”

The primary meaning of the word that Peter uses is “an aged man.” (There is an equivalent for an aged woman that is used in 1 Timothy 5:2.) The idea is that the aged men in the Jewish, Roman, and Greek cultures were the leaders of the community. Thus, the word “elder” came to be used to mean “leader.” 

In the Church, elders are those who lead. 

The elder is different from the pastor. Timothy was a pastor and was instructed to appoint elders and not let anyone despise his youthfulness. The same can be said of Titus. This distinction can be most clearly seen in 1 Timothy 3:1. 1 Timothy 3:1 says:

1 Timothy 3:1 (NKJV) This is a faithful saying: If a man desires the position of a bishop, he desires a good work.

The English word “bishop” means a senior member of the clergy, but in the New Testament, it was used to distinguish the pastor from the rest of the flock. The New Testament word for “bishop” is “overseer,” the same root word used in 1 Peter 5:2 in defining the work of the elders. However, it is a different word and is used in the New Testament of the Apostles and pastors. The “bishops” of the New Testament appointed elders in each church they served. 

The chief meaning of the word “overseer” is watchful care, but coming from the idea of watchfulness, this word is also used to say “visit.” So, part of the responsibilities of elders and pastors is to visit the members of the flock to make sure of their well-being. Consider Mark 9:35, which says, 

Mark 9:35 (NKJV) If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all.

This shepherding and care of the flock is part of the grace of God. The Apostle Paul wrote of the gifts that God gave to the Church, and the elders are one of those gifts.

While the elders serve the church freely of their own free will, they do not do it without reward. Peter says:

1 Peter 5:2–3 (NKJV) ²Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; ³nor as being lords over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock;

Some minister out of greed or for dishonest gain; thus, the warning. Some want to be in control or have power; hence, the warning. However, we must not think that serving the Lord comes without a reward. Peter says of himself:

1 Peter 5:1 (NKJV) and…a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:

After speaking of the glory he will partake in, Peter tells the elders:

1 Peter 5:4 (NKJV), and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.

The elder who serves well will receive the crown of glory. Paul also speaks this way, saying:

1 Corinthians 9:24–25 (NKJV) ²⁴Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. ²⁵And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown.

God’s grace is so great! Not only does He give us the privilege of participating in what He is doing, but He rewards us for our work.

For the unbeliever, there is a warning and an invitation here. If you do not accept Jesus as Savior, you remain lost. But, if you receive Him, He will be your Shepherd and will keep you from ever being lost.

John 10:27–28 (NKJV) ²⁷My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. ²⁸And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 

Grace Means…Glory

1 Peter 4:12-19

Let’s begin by going back in the context of our passage where, in 1 Peter 4:7, Peter says,

1 Peter 4:7 (NKJV) But the end of all things is at hand…

Because we live in the last days, Peter, by the Holy Spirit, reminds us to be sound-minded and sober. We must live our lives for things that matter and not waste them on things that do not.

However, another issue confronts us in these last days. More and more, the world does not tolerate sound thinking. 2 Timothy 3:13 tells us,

2 Timothy 3:13 (NKJV) But evil men and impostors will grow worse and worse, deceiving and being deceived.

This “deceiving and being deceived” describes our world. The thought of this deception reminds me of Isaiah 44:20, where the folly of our world is described.

Isaiah 44:20 (NKJV) A deceived heart has turned him aside; And he cannot deliver his soul, Nor say, “Is there not a lie in my right hand?”

The world is so lost that they cannot even recognize lies. Into this darkness, we are sent as salt and light. Jesus said, “You are the light of the world.” (Matthew 5:14) And, He also said, “You are the salt of the earth.” (Matthew 5:13) Light reveals things. Light can show the truth and expose what is hidden by the dark. Salt is a preservative. Salt keeps meat and vegetables from spoiling. As salt, we slow down the inevitable corruption of the world. As light, we expose the evil deeds of the world. And, the world does not like salt and light.

The world and the devil oppose our function as salt and light. Those who do not want the truth revealed fight against us. This opposition is persecution. The more sound thinking confronts the evil of the age, the more the Church is persecuted.

Persecution is not new. Since the time of the Apostles, the world has opposed the Church. All the Apostles except for John were killed for their faith. The twentieth century saw more Christians martyred than any previous century. The world and the devil are still persecuting the Church.

Because the end of all things is at hand, we must be aware of where this world is heading. Persecution is only going to get worse. This world is not our home. As Peter continues to teach us how to live at the end of all things, he shows us that we are here for glory. We are here to glorify God, and, in turn, we will be glorified.

Grace means glory.

1 Peter 4:12-13 says,

1 Peter 4:12–13 (NKJV) ¹²Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; ¹³but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

The word “strange” in “Do not think it strange” means foreign. From the idea of something being “foreign” or “strange,” the word also means “astonishing.” So we could say, “Do not think it astonishing…as though some astonishing thing happened to you.”

Let’s consider the idea of something being foreign. Picture with me a field of snowy white sheep with one black sheep in the middle. 

The one black sheep is different, and as such, it is “foreign.” Sesame Street used to have a song, “One of these things is not like the others.”

As a tall, white person, I stood out in Japan, like this lone black sheep. When I was out and about, it was not unusual for children to stop and point, saying, “foreigner, foreigner!” To them, I was “astonishing” or “strange.”

That is what Peter means by strange, something foreign, unexpected, astonishing!

Fiery trials do not fall in this category. Suffering is not strange or astonishing. Fiery trials are to be expected. They are “normal,” white sheep among white sheep.

If we did not experience trials, that would be astonishing (strange). 

Peter says these trials come to test us, and then he says they are cause for rejoicing. 

We should rejoice when we encounter various trials. James 1:2 tells us to consider it pure joy when trials come, and Peter also speaks the same way about trials. In chapter one, he says,

1 Peter 1:6–7 (NKJV) ⁶In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, ⁷that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.

According to this, we are grieved by trials but rejoice in the benefits to our faith. 

Peter says, “…you have been grieved by various trials.” We all experience many different trials. Persecution is one kind of trial, but it is not the only kind. All trials test our faith and refine us, but persecution is unique. Not only does it refine our faith, but suffering for the name of Christ allows us to partake in Christ’s sufferings. Peter says,

1 Peter 4:13 (NKJV) but rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy.

Peter says to rejoice to the extent that we partake in Christ’s sufferings, because when Christ is glorified, we also will experience “exceeding joy.” So far in his letter, Peter has pointed to Christ’s sufferings as our example (chapter 2), our salvation (chapter 3), and our deliverance (chapter 4). Now, he adds that Christ’s sufferings are our glory. Since we partake in Christ’s sufferings, when He is glorified, we too will partake in His glory. The Apostle Paul says this when he says,

Romans 8:17 (NKJV) …if indeed we suffer with Him, that we may also be glorified together.

 Not only do our sufferings purify our faith and result in glory, but they also fill up what is lacking in Christ’s afflictions. The Apostle Paul said,

Colossians 1:24 (NKJV) I now rejoice in my sufferings for you, and fill up in my flesh what is lacking in the afflictions of Christ, for the sake of His body, which is the church…

Do not get the wrong idea! Christ’s afflictions are more than enough to save us. In this sense, to say something is lacking in Christ’s afflictions is heresy. However, there is still a need (a lack) for our faith to be refined. There is still a need for our generation to be reached with the gospel. Our sufferings fill this need (lack). Our sufferings are necessary because our faith is lacking, and our generation is lost. These sufferings are lacking in Christ’s suffering because we must experience them.

So, we are told to rejoice because when we partake in His suffering, we also know we will partake in His glory.

Peter makes the point that our suffering also brings God glory. 1 Peter 4:14 says,

1 Peter 4:14 (NKJV) If you are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are you, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. On their part He is blasphemed, but on your part, He is glorified.

“On their part He is blasphemed.” The world and the devil hate God because their deeds are evil. In their hatred, they speak evil of God, His Son, and His children. This is how the world justifies the killing of Christians.

However, although the intention is to dismay or stop God’s work, the opposite occurs, Believers are strengthened, the work gets stronger, and God is glorified. 

 

We must clarify. Some suffering is of our own making and not a result of our faith in God. And, not all suffering glorifies God. Peter points this out when he says that suffering as a criminal does not glorify God. 1 Peter 4:15 says,

1 Peter 4:15 (NKJV) But let none of you suffer as a murderer, a thief, an evildoer, or as a busybody in other people’s matters.

Suffering as an evildoer may cause a person to change his ways, but it is not done to the glory of God. Such suffering is shameful. This is why Peter tells us not to be ashamed if we suffer for the sake of Christ. 1 Peter 4:16 says,

1 Peter 4:16 (NKJV) Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in this matter.

“Glorify God in this matter” means “praise God that you bear that name.” (Taken from the NIV) The world may call us “Christian” with scorn, but we are to count it a privilege to bear that name.

However, since we bear the name of Christ (Christian), we must live in a manner that brings honor to that name. Criminal behavior is shameful, and if we as Christians suffer as criminals, we disgrace the name of Christ.

This brings us to the necessity of purification. Not only is our faith made stronger by trials, but our trials also purify us.  This process of purification brings honor and glory to the name of Christ. In chapter 1, Peter compared this purification to the fire that purifies gold. Fire burns out the impurities in the gold. In the case of the Christian, the fire is aimed at specific impurities. Look at what Peter says.

1 Peter 4:17–18 (NKJV) ¹⁷For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God? ¹⁸Now “If the righteous one is scarcely saved, Where will the ungodly and the sinner appear?”

God loves us and does not treat us as our sins deserve. However, He does deal with our sin. Peter tells us that judgment begins with us. When we are dominated by sin, God does not ignore us. Hebrews 12 tells us that God disciplines the child He loves.

Hebrews 12:6 (NKJV) For whom the Lord loves He chastens, And scourges every son whom He receives.

The love of God does not mean life is pain-free. God’s love means God will not leave us alone. We are His children and are far too important to be neglected.  For example, Hebrews 12 also says,

Hebrews 12:8 (NKJV) But if you are without chastening, of which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.

If God does not correct us, then we are not His children. This is harsh, but I see no other way to understand this passage. Peter implies as much when he says, “For the time has come for judgment to begin at the house of God.”

In speaking of judgment, Peter directs our thoughts to the unsaved. He says,

1 Peter 4:17 (NKJV) if it begins with us first, what will be the end of those who do not obey the gospel of God?

If the unbeliever is suffering and asks, “What does God have against me?” The answer is “your sin.”

“Which sin?”

“Rejecting His Son.”

You see, Jesus died for our sins. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins. (1 John 1:9) But, if we refuse His offer of salvation if for any reason we do not ask Him to save us, all our sin remains. Actually, this is not technically true. Jesus died for the sins of the whole world. What God holds against us is the rejection of His son. John 3:18-19 tells us:

John 3:18–19 (NKJV) ¹⁸He who believes in Him is not condemned; but he who does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God. ¹⁹And this is the condemnation, that the light has come into the world, and men loved darkness rather than light, because their deeds were evil.

Condemned means judged. The person who does not believe in Jesus is condemned because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.

All the suffering in the world is a result of sin. Every disease, every hospital bed, every war, and every death remind us of the horrible reality of sin and judgment. 1 Peter 4:19 tells us what our response needs to be. 

1 Peter 4:19 (NKJV) Therefore let those who suffer according to the will of God commit their souls to Him in doing good, as to a faithful Creator.

We must commit our souls to God. 

If we, as believers and children of God suffer, it is according to the will of God, and we must commit our souls to Him. This is what Jesus did, and He is our example. (1 Peter 2:23) We can trust Him, as our Father, to do what is best for us.

If you are an unbeliever, please commit your soul to God, who can save you. He wants to save you. He gave His only begotten Son to save you. Rejecting His Son is the only thing that you have done that He holds against you. Solve this problem by asking Jesus to save you. He promises not to reject anyone who calls on His name.

Grace Means…Preparation

 

1 Peter 4:7-11

The end of all things is at hand, so:

1. Pray
2. Love
3. Serve

1 Peter 4:7 (NKJV) But the end of all things is at hand; therefore be serious and watchful in your prayers.

With this verse, Peter begins the close of his letter.

From the opening words of his letter through 1 Peter 4:6, Peter tells about the very great (tremendous) grace of God that blesses us and enriches every aspect of our lives.

Believers are aliens and strangers. We are pilgrims of the dispersion, spread throughout the nations of the earth. As foreigners, this world is not our home, and we suffer under a hostile system. However, we are blessed beyond measure by the grace of God. 

We are sprinkled with the blood of Jesus Christ, partakers in His great salvation. We have an inheritance in heaven that will not age, spoil, or change. The power of God keeps us for our residence with Him.

Now, as he begins to bring his letter to a close, Peter gives urgent instructions.

Because “the end of all things is at hand,” Peter calls on us to be serious and watchful. Given the end of all things, he tells us to pray, love, and serve.

What does Peter mean by “the end of all things is at hand.”

Many in the first century Church looked for Jesus to return in their lifetime. In 1st and 2nd Thessalonians, Paul, by the Holy Spirit, gives us information so that we know what to look for that will signal the return of Christ. Some false teachers were saying that Christ had already returned.

2 Thessalonians 2:7–8 (NKJV) ⁷For the mystery of lawlessness is already at work; only He who now restrains will do so until He is taken out of the way. ⁸And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the Lord will consume with the breath of His mouth and destroy with the brightness of His coming.

To reassure them that Christ had not yet returned, 2 Thessalonians 2 tells us that the “man of lawlessness” must be revealed first. And, the “man of lawlessness” cannot be revealed until “He who restrains” is removed. 

There is still confusion over what we mean by “the return of Christ.” Do we mean the end of all things or the beginning of the end?  Before the end of all things, where fire burns everything, Jesus will reign on this earth for one thousand years. And before He establishes this kingdom, the tribulation and salvation of all Israel will take place. 

1 Thessalonians 4:17 (NKJV) Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord.

1 Thessalonians 4:17 tells us that those who have died as believers and those who are alive will be “caught up” to meet Jesus in the air. This event is the removal of the restrainer, and it signals the beginning of the Tribulation. After the Tribulation, Jesus will return to the earth and sit on the throne of David for one thousand years. 

After these one thousand years, this world and all it contains will burn, and God will establish a new heaven and a new earth.

The prophecies of the Old and New Testaments clearly teach these events. However, throughout history, the untaught and mistaken have been pointing to natural disasters, plagues (pandemics), and wars saying, “Jesus is about to return, and everything is going to burn!”  They seem to think that the scorpions and judgments of the book of Revelation are about to be unleashed.

We must be clear! Tribulation and persecution are not the signals we are looking for. Natural disasters, fires, earthquakes, and tidal waves are not indications that the end has come. These events have been happening throughout history and will continue to occur.

Peter did not expect the immediate destruction of the world in his lifetime. Look at what he says in 2 Peter 3. He says:

2 Peter 3:3–4 (NKJV) ³knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts, ⁴and saying, “Where is the promise of His coming? For since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.”

He also says:

2 Peter 3:8–9 (NKJV) ⁸But, beloved, do not forget this one thing, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. ⁹The Lord is not slack concerning His promise, as some count slackness, but is longsuffering toward us, not willing that any should perish but that all should come to repentance.

Put these two statements together, and, among many other things, it becomes clear that Peter is expecting some delay. He says that scoffers will come in the last days and that the Lord is delaying because of His patience.

Given these facts, we must assume that Peter’s reference to the end of all things being near does not mean the “immediate” destruction of the world.

However, Christ’s ascension to heaven started the countdown to the end. We are waiting for Him to return. Since we do not know the time of His return, we must assume it is going to be soon.

Even though during Peter’s time He did not expect the end to be immediate, we can learn some things from his statement, “the end of all things is at hand.” 

Three aspects of “nearness” stand out. 

First, the time is near for each of us. We have a limited time, and we do not know how long we have.

Second, all material things are temporary at best.

Third, we will all be judged.

Put these three together, and we realize that, for any of us, the end can come without a moment's notice, and then we will face judgment. No matter how short or long a time we have until the end when we get there, the time will seem to have passed in a moment. Whether we have two days or two thousand years, the end of all things is at hand. Not one of us has a lot of time. The end could be today. We cannot afford to think that things are going to continue as they always have.

The devil works hard to get us to think in terms of “ever since the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of creation.” This thought is the foundation of the theory of evolution. We must not think we have time and forget to be serious and watchful. 

This world must stop thinking we have plenty of time. We don’t.

Peter reminds us of the shortness of time and says, “be serious and watchful.”

The words used mean “safe-minded and sober.” “Safe-minded” is the Greek equivalent of “being of sound mind.” “Safe-minded” expresses the idea of thinking clearly, as in, it is not “safe” to be delusional. The word sober means just what it sounds like. Sober means “not drunk.” 

Proverbs says it best.

Proverbs 23:29–32 (NKJV) ²⁹Who has woe? Who has sorrow? Who has contentions? Who has complaints? Who has wounds without cause? Who has redness of eyes? ³⁰Those who linger long at the wine, Those who go in search of mixed wine. ³¹Do not look on the wine when it is red, When it sparkles in the cup, When it swirls around smoothly; ³²At the last it bites like a serpent, And stings like a viper.

The shortness of our time demands that we be serious and sober. We cannot overstate the importance of our minds. Peter talks several times throughout his letters of using our minds. In 1 Peter 1:13, he says:

1 Peter 1:13 (NKJV) Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober…

And, in 1 Peter 5:8, he says:

1 Peter 5:8 (NKJV) Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour.

The Apostle Paul, in his letters, also speaks of the importance of our minds, telling us to put on the helmet of salvation. We are in a spiritual battle, which Peter emphasizes when he tells us to be serious and watchful. 

We must take care to notice the purpose of our sound thinking and sobriety. 1 Peter 4:7 ends with the words that should be translated with “for the purpose of prayer.” The best translation of this verse is the NASB which says:

1 Peter 4:7 (NASB) The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer.

Prayer is essential. To be a child of God is to pray. There is no such thing as a Christian who does not pray. Even being angry enough to try to give God the silent treatment is a form of prayer for the child of God. (Consider Jonah who threw a fit before the Lord.) 

The reason for our serious soberness is prayer. The first and most important thing for us to do in view of the end of all things is to pray. This is not the only place that we are told to pray. 1 Thessalonians 5:17 says:

1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) Pray without ceasing.

When Jesus taught us, He said:

John 16:24 (NKJV) Until now you have asked nothing in My name. Ask, and you will receive, that your joy may be full.

Jesus did not put limits on what we are to pray for or about. But James 4:3 does tell us what will keep us from getting what we pray for.

James 4:3 (NKJV) You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss, that you may spend it on your pleasures.

Praying for our pleasure is never the goal. Praying to know the mind of God and see the will of God accomplished is a good place to start. Praying for God to deliver us from evil is also a good idea. But, what is evil?  What we call evil may be something that God intends for our good. Death is evil, but it is also a move into a much better place for the believer.

We must keep our thinking sound and our judgment sober in order to pray with wisdom and insight. Events are happening faster than anyone can track, and the world needs our prayers. 

Because of the end of all things, we are to pray, and above all things, fervently love each other.

1 Peter 4:8–9 (NKJV) And above all things have fervent love for one another, for “love will cover a multitude of sins.” ⁹Be hospitable to one another without grumbling.

Peter gives three essential things we must do in preparation for the end of all things. We must pray, we must love, and we must serve.

We do not have a long list of rules. The commands of the Lord are simple. First, we are to love God. (Prayer) And, second, we are to love our neighbor. Moses commanded love for God and others. Jesus repeated Moses’ commands, and the Apostles emphasized the importance of love.

What more can we say about love than has already been said?

1 John 4:8 (NKJV) He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.

When the end comes, what will become of all our possessions?

When the end comes, what will become of people?

If we invest our short time in possessions, our time will be wasted. However, there is no waste of time invested in people. If we are to prepare for the end, we must love people.

Finally, we show our love for God and people by serving. But notice, it is not just any service. Consider what Peter says.

1 Peter 4:10–11 (NKJV) As each one has received a gift, minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. ¹¹If anyone speaks, let him speak as the oracles of God. If anyone ministers, let him do it as with the ability which God supplies, that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belong the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

In grace, God gives each believer a gift. This gift is for the building up of the Body of Christ.

The devil works to get us to think that we have nothing to contribute. He tells us that we are untalented; he tells us that our efforts and minor mistakes are embarrassing. He points to others and says, “See how much better they are!” Please don’t listen to him. Think about how much you appreciate the things others do. Do you think that we will not be blessed in the same way by you?

The key to this is to serve in the ability which God provides. 

You know what you enjoy doing. Is there any way that can be used to build up the Body of Christ?

Do you enjoy hunting? Could you take a younger believer under your wing and teach him to follow Christ while teaching him to hunt? 

Do you enjoy interior decorating? Could you find a way to make the church building look better? (Be careful; criticism is not helpful. Gracious, loving action is needed.)

Even small things like picking up the trash you see in the parking lot can make a difference.

What Peter is saying can be summarized like this. Everything is coming to an end. We need to apply our heads, our hearts, and our hands to be ready. God’s grace has given us our heads, hearts, and hands so that we can prepare.