THIS IS THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on April 10, 2019 under AM Bible Study |
AM Bible Study Group: April 10, 2019 from 1 Peter 5:12-14
Theme: Peter’s closing words tell us how we’re to stand together in the true grace of God.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
It’s always important—when studying the epistles of the New Testament—to pay careful attention to the introductions and the conclusions. Often, you see the message of the epistle itself summarized in them. This is especially true in the closing words of Peter’s first epistle. It might seem at first to be nothing more than a closing. But really, it is much more. In 1 Peter 5:12-14, the apostle Peter wrote;
By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand. She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen (1 Peter 5:12-14).
Even though he says that he wrote briefly, the intention of his letter is clearly expressed in these words: “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand …” (v. 12). The Christians to whom he wrote had suffered much for their faith in the gospel of Jesus Christ. He wanted to make it very clear to them that all the things that they suffered were very much worth it. This gospel is the true grace of God! As hard as it may have been to stand for Christ in the dark times in which they lived, they were standing in the absolute truth—the true and only provision of God for the sinner to be made right with Himself. They were standing firm in the right thing.
In fact, in the original language of the letter, Peter’s words could even be taken as an imperative (that is, as a command); as if to say; “I am exhorting you and testifying to you that this really is the true grace of God. It may not seem so because of all the things you are suffering for it. But remember that the Lord Jesus also suffered—setting an example for us. Just remember that the temporary times of suffering for your faith in Jesus Christ will soon give way to the glory that will be revealed at His coming! And I give you the command: Don’t you dare give up! This is indeed the true grace of God—and I exhort you to stand firm in it!”
How then are we to faithfully ‘stand’ in this ‘true grace of God’? In his closing words, Peter suggests five things that should characterize that stand.
* * * * * * * * * *
First, our stand together should be characterized by …
1. A MUTUAL ENCOURAGEMENT AND EXHORTATION (v. 12).
In verse 12, he wrote, “By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.” Peter did not write this letter alone. He was, after all, a fisherman—and probably somewhat unskilled in good writing. And so, he was aided by a remarkable man named Silvanus. This same man also helped the apostle Paul co-write 1 and 2 Thessalonians; and so, he was a man who aided the ministry of two great New Testament writing apostles. (There was, by the way, no conflict between Peter and Paul—as some have suggested. Sylvanus’ mutual ministry to both is evidence of their unity in the cause of Christ.) This man Sylvanus is also known to us by the shortened name Silas; and he was a missionary partner to Paul in much of his ministry.
Not only did Silvanus help write down Peter’s words, but it’s very probable that he personally delivered this letter to those to whom it was sent—that is, to “the pilgrims of the Dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bythinia” (1 Peter 1:1). Sylvanus may have even done more than just deliver the letter. You’ll notice that Peter made a point of stressing that he was a “faithful brother as I consider him …” It may be that because Peter only wrote “briefly” on these important matters, he trusted Silvanus to meet with those various gatherings of suffering believers to whom the letter was written, and expand on what Peter wanted them to know personally as Peter’s approved representative—carefully exhorting them and teaching them how to stand faithful for the Lord Jesus. Sylvanus was already well-known for this sort of thing. In Acts 15, the leaders of the church decided to tell the Gentile believers that they did not need to observe the Jewish ceremonial laws. And they decided to send out a letter—and a couple of faithful and trustworthy men out to accompany the letter and declare its contents to the believers in the various cities. One of them was this man Silvanus (see Acts 15:32). Perhaps that’s what Sylvanus also did with this letter from Peter. Peter trusted Silvanus to do that much-needed ‘exhorting’ and ‘testifying’ work to his brothers and sisters on his behalf.
This sort of mutual care is to also characterize our ministry to one another in the body of Christ. We’re not meant to be ‘independent’ in our stand in the gospel. God has given us His sure word; and we’re to help each other stand strong in the faith that it declares to us—especially during tough times. We do great good to one another when we exhort one another and teach each other God’s word. As Paul once wrote in Colossians 3:16;
Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord (Colossians 3:16).
Another way that our stand in this true grace is to be characterized is …
2. AS PARTNERS TOGETHER AS THE ‘CO-ELECT’ (v. 13a).
Peter goes on to write, “She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you …” Who exactly is the “she” that Peter speaks of? The best interpretation seems to be that Peter is talking about a local church—or a collection of local churches. This would be like what we find in 2 John; where the apostle writes of the recipient of his letter as “the elect lady and her children” (2 John 1). Peter, in other words, was passing on greetings from another church family.
But why “in Babylon”? Some have said that he was speaking of a literal place called “Babylon”. But instead, it makes most sense to think of Peter speaking of a place that is figuratively being called “Babylon”—a place in which Christians had gathered into a church. And among the different options, the most likely interpretation of that would be that Peter is speaking of Rome—the center of imperial power, and the place from which much of the official persecution of the early church originated. (Remember that Rome destroyed the Jewish temple in 70 A.D.—just like ancient Babylon destroyed the older temple in 586 B. C.) Peter may have chosen to speak of Rome in a symbolic way—calling it “Babylon”—in order to avoid causing these believers any further trouble if the Roman officials had confiscated the letter.
And notice that Peter refers to “she who is in Babylon” as “elect together” with the suffering believers to whom he wrote. At the very beginning of the letter, Peter wrote to the scattered believers as “elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father …” (1 Peter 1:2); and here, he lets those same believers know that there were other believers—equally ‘elect’ of God—in the imperial city. They, along with Peter, sent their greetings—and with their greetings, their solidarity, and support, and prayers.
Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 12:26 that “if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it”. That should be our attitude toward one other in the body of Christ. And so, here is another way that we are to stand together in this grace—that is, as co-elect in our sufferings for Christ. As the writer of Hebrews put it in Hebrews 13:3,
Remember the prisoners as if chained with them—those who are mistreated—since you yourselves are in the body also (Hebrews 13:3).
A third way that our stand is to be characterized is …
3. WITH GRACE TOWARD ONE ANOTHER’S FAULTS (v. 13a).
The way that Peter shows us this is by saying that the elect in Babylon send their greetings, “and so does Mark my son.” The person that he is speaking of is John Mark, through whom the Holy Spirit gave us the Gospel of Mark. He was a man that God used greatly. But you’ll remember that his story, at first, was the story of a failure. In Paul’s first missionary journey with Barnabas, they took Mark along as an apprentice. But young Mark got fearful, and quit, and returned home. (Peter may have had a real heart for Mark; because Peter—as we remember—had been a ‘failure’ in the Lord’s work too.)
Near the end of his life, however, Paul could write that Mark was ‘useful’ to him for ministry (2 Timothy 4:11). Mark also proved useful to Peter. According to ancient church history, Mark wrote the gospel that bore his name on the basis of the gospel testimony as Peter preached it. Mark and Peter had become close ministry associates. In fact, Peter even goes so far as to call him, “Mark my son.” When Peter wrote that Mark sent his greetings, people who suffered—and who sometimes failed—would have remembered that Mark had failed too; but that he had proven faithful in the end.
Our stand together in “the true grace” should truly be characterized by ‘grace’. It should include a willingness to forgive one another when we fail to stand as we should, and help one another stand more faithfully in the future. This is especially true in times of hardship and persecution for our faith. We need to support one another even more, and forgive one another even more, and restore one another even more. Like Paul wrote to the church in Colossae;
Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do (Colossians 3:12-13).
Our stand should also be characterized by …
4. HAVING AFFECTION FOR ONE ANOTHER (v. 14a).
We should genuinely love each other. Peter writes; “Greet one another with a kiss of love.” This was the standard way for people to affectionately greet one another in those days. Today we do so with a warm hug or a hearty handshake or a gentle squeeze on the arm. It’s a way that we show that we truly love one another and express our affection for one another as brothers and sisters in Christ.
It’s a sad thing when people come and go from church and hardly have any contact with each other. It’s a sad thing too that good, believing church families do not exchange greetings from one to another more often. But it’s a truly wonderful thing when it happens regularly and in the power of the Holy Spirit. It’s a way to show that we stand together in the same cause, and love the same Lord Jesus. We’re all going to be standing next to each other very soon in glory as we behold the majesty of the Lord Jesus together. We are the elect of God together. And so we ought to show love and affection for each other now! Our Lord said that it’s a part of how the world knows that we belong to Him:
“A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another” (John 13:34-35).
And finally, Peter says that our stand together should be characterized by …
5. ENJOYING PEACE TOGETHER IN CHRIST (v. 14b).
Peter’s closing words are, “Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.” Those are not merely formal words of closure. In the context of this letter, he is speaking of something that was much-needed—a peace that this world cannot give or understand—a peace that can come only through a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.
When the people of this world see that we suffer for our devotion for Jesus Christ, and yet, that we have an inexplicable peace that is not of this world, it testifies of a work of God. They see a peace in us that can come only from our relationship with God, because we really are at peace with God in Christ. They see that we have an inward peace that remains untroubled by the things that we suffer. They see that we even live together in, and sacrificially pursue, peace with one another. This all helps testify to the unbelieving world—and proves to us also—that this is ‘the true grace of God in which we stand’. Jesus said;
“Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid” (John 14:27).
* * * * * * * * * *
So; the theme of this whole letter is—in a sense—clearly set before us in these concluding words. It is that the gospel of Jesus Christ that we believe and proclaim is the true grace of God. We should give our all to it, and never let anything or anyone sway us from it.
But we should take our stand in it together in the ways that prove demonstrably to the world that it is the true grace of God: and that is with faithful mutual exhortation and encouragement—as those who are elect together and who therefore suffer together—as those who are characterized by gentleness and grace toward one another’s faults and failings—as those who display genuine affection for one another—as those who enjoy the peace of Christ together.
May God help us prove to the world what we ourselves are also to be convinced of—that this is the true grace of God in which we stand.
EA
