Today we are going to wrap up our study of 1 Peter
Peter has encouraged Christians who are facing contempt and hostility from society
He has urged them to live in line with their true identity regardless of pushback from family, friends, and neighbors
He has emphasized that if you are in Christ you are:
An outsider in your society
Chosen by God (to have a relationship with him through his grace & mercy)
Born into a living hope (that you have a glorious eternity in store)
A bearer of Good News (that this living hope is available to all who trust in Jesus)
Called & empowered to be holy (reflecting God’s righteous, loving character)
Part of God’s work in the world (living stones, holy priests, gifted to serve, etc.)
Blessed in the midst of suffering (just as Jesus suffered…a repeated thought)
Peter closes his letter with final exhortations to stand firm in this faith
Includes maintaining love & unity as we serve God together in the church
We are outsiders to society but part of a “chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, and God’s special possession” (2:9) united by our faith in Jesus Christ
Faith-in-action should make us a community rather than a “circular firing squad”
This calls for humility
Includes faithfully enduring trials, suffering, and temptations experienced in the world
Because we know that we have an enemy who wants to destroy us
This calls for steadfastness
(1-7) Humility
(1-4) Peter addresses the church leadership first
(1) He identifies himself as a “fellow elder” (He is including himself in his instruction)
These instructions are directed primarily to the office of “elder” (those officially appointed to the pastoral and ministry oversight positions in the local church)
Many of the general principles apply to any sort of leadership/teaching/public ministry role in the church
(2a) God has commanded church leaders to guide and care for a part of God’s flock that has been entrusted to them as a shepherd guides and cares for his sheep (pastor=shepherd)
This is a heavy responsibility…and one that tempts some elders to pride
He follows the command with three qualifications that emphasize the proper manner & motivations of this leadership – it’s not about personal power, prestige, or advancement
(2b) Not under compulsion, but willingly
As with any service to God, he does not want a person to serve as a leader in the church because they feel forced into it by what other people might think if they don’t
cf. Matthew 6:1-18 where works done to please people have no value before God, 2 Corinthians 9:6-7 where God loves a cheerful giver
This doesn’t mean that any feeling of discomfort or reluctance on our part is a good excuse to not serve God in a particular way (remember Moses)
It does mean that a person who takes up a leadership position in a church should do so because they believe it is God’s will for them
There will probably be other factors like encouragement from others, recognition of spiritual gifts, or a desperate need for someone to fill the role
…but the primary reason had better be because I believe this is an opportunity that God has given me to serve him in love and obedience
This same motivation applies to any service within the church
(2c) Not for shameful gain, but eagerly
If a person’s reason for serving in church leadership is what they can get out of it, they have no business being in church leadership
cf. 1 Timothy 6:8-10 on the destructiveness of wanting to be rich and the evil that grows from the love of money
While the emphasis is on greed for money, this warning stands equally against a lust for praise or fame or anything else that the world values
Instead there is simply an eagerness to do this for its own sake: because it is an opportunity to show love to God and to people
(3) not domineering over those in your charge, but being examples to the flock
Biblical leadership (whether as elders in charge of a congregation or some other role) is not about bending other people to your will or treating them as your inferiors
If a person uses their position of leadership to stoke their ego so that they feel respected, admired, or powerful they are in it for the wrong reason
They are going to end up becoming angry and disillusioned when not everyone does things exactly their way or shows them perfect respect all the time…
…and/or they are going to hurt and discourage the people in their charge by crushing their spirits rather than showing them the love of God
Biblical leaders lead by example, not by domination
cf. John 13:1-17 where Jesus, the Creator and Lord of all, washed his disciples’ feet… including Judas Iscariot who was about to betray him
Biblical leaders act as servants, looking out for the good of others rather than expecting others to cater to them
The truths and guidance of God’s Word must be both boldly proclaimed and humbly lived
(4) Peter encourages church leaders by reminding them that when Jesus, the chief shepherd, returns he will reward those who served him faithfully
Serving in the church (whether as an elder or some other capacity) can be frustrating at times because we’re all still sinful human beings living in a broken world
…but it is worth it
Right now, we get to be part of what God is doing in the world to draw people to himself
When Jesus returns, we can hear from the lips of our Lord and Savior “Well done good and faithful servant.”
(5-7) Now Peter turns to instructing everyone in the church, not just the leaders
(5a) He instructs those who are not elders to submit to the elders’ leadership
Doesn’t mean that those who aren’t elders have no input in the church or blindly accept everything an elder says without reference to the Word of God (be like the Bereans)
It does mean that there is a level of trust in their teaching and following their leadership
Theoretically, they were appointed by the congregation because they are trusted as wise, mature Christians
cf. Ephesians 4:11-13 – Church leaders and teachers are a gift from Jesus to the church to help everyone grow in spiritual maturity and unity
The church member who makes it their job to constantly challenge, criticize, and undermine the church leadership is probably (unless there is serious biblical error involved) hindering what God wants to do in their life and in their church
(5b) Everyone in the church is commanded to interact with each other in a spirit of humility
To do otherwise is to put yourself in opposition to God…not a safe place to be
“Humility [prevents] domineering elders and contemptuous ‘youngers’”
Humility recognizes our complete dependence on God: we recognize that anything good in us is a gift of God’s grace
That recognition should kill any sense of arrogant entitlement that tries to make church all about what I can get out of it
It allows us to serve others in love rather than self-interest
It allows us to be part of a vibrant community that experiences and shares the grace of God, growing together, firm in our faith and clear in our witness
(6-7) Not only does humility foster faith, love, and unity in the church, but it combats anxiety when we face hostility, difficulties, or suffering in the world
We accept that everything that happens is part of God’s plan for our life
We know that he is all powerful
We know that he loves us with a perfect love and has our best interest at heart
We choose to humbly trust him to ultimately use this for our good and his glory
rather than going over and over in our mind how helpless we feel
rather than raging at him for abandoning us
rather than worrying that he has lost control of the situation
Easier said than done…how do I practically do this?
Pray and ask him to give you wisdom and peace (two things he promises to give Philippians 4:6-7, James 1:5)
Deliberately focus your thoughts on who he is rather than on how your situation is making you feel (Scripture, music)
Take any opportunities that he has given you to humbly serve others (“humility is not thinking less of myself but thinking of myself less” – Rick Warren?)
This humble submission to God’s will enables us to be steadfast, which is what Peter turns to next:
(8-14) Steadfastness
(8-11) Resist the devil
We have a powerful enemy who hates us
Satan is not the party king of hell who just wants people to have a good time
He is a liar and a murderer who seeks to destroy what God loves (John 8:44)
He has thousands of years of practice at tempting people to destroy their lives, their fellowship with God, their witness, and the lives and relationships of others
Sometimes he uses the promise of immediate pleasure and self-gratification
…the lie he first used in Eden that God is holding back something that will make your life better
…the lie that says your life will be more pleasant and fulfilled if you just follow your heart and do what you want instead of what God commands
Sometimes (as this passage emphasizes) he uses suffering, hostility, and/or intimidation
…to convince people that their suffering means God is uncaring or sadistic or has abandoned them
…to get professing Christians to deny their faith or compromise their beliefs in an attempt to gain the approval and acceptance of society
…to rob Christians of their joy and effectiveness through anxiety that focuses on their fear rather than their loving heavenly Father
…to goad Christians into vengeful retaliation that destroys their witness by their hypocrisy
We must be on the alert against these destructive tricks
We must not impair our judgment or lower our inhibitions through the misuse of alcohol or drugs
We cannot just “go with the flow” of whatever feels right because we know that we are not yet wholly free from the sinful desires of the flesh
When we are tempted to sinful behavior, to compromised beliefs, or to self-destructive attitudes of vengeance, fear, or despair we must resist
We must have the humility and faith to commit to living God’s way over the inclination of our flesh and expectations of society
We must have the self-control (a fruit of the Spirit) to follow through on that commitment rather than allowing ourselves a “just this once” lapse into sin
Peter reminds us that in this we are not experiencing something uniquely horrible and difficult
This is part of the Christian life, experience by all your fellow Believers
…because it was experienced first by our Lord and Savior with whom we identify
(11)…and we know how this part of the story ends
Any suffering of this life is temporary and a drop in the bucket compared to the eternal glory that is coming
One day we will be not only protected and empowered in the midst of sin and suffering, but eternally delivered from the presence of sin and suffering
Imagine a single day in which your life is in no way affected by temptation, sinful mistreatment, sickness, pain, grief, or death
A day in which joy, creativity, and the enjoyment of God’s gifts can be exercised and experience without hindrance or shame to his glory and in his presence
That day is coming…an infinite number of those days are coming
At the right time our God & Savior will establish his kingdom in all its fullness… the kingdom prepared for us since the creation of the world (Matthew 25:34)
Stand firm and hold on…that day is coming with eternal rewards for all who serve him in humility and faithfulness
(12-14) Stand with your brothers & sisters
The last little paragraph wraps up with personal greetings and final exhortations to stand firm by the grace of God as a loving community of Believers
Silvanus (probably the same person as Silas from the book of Acts) is delivering the letter (and may have served as Peter’s secretary in writing it)
“She who is chosen in Babylon”
Probable refers to the local church in Rome
Even at the very heart of the wicked society that is mistreating Christians, there is a body of faithful believers
“Mark my son” probably refers to John Mark
Started out as a bit of failure, abandoning the first missionary journey
Would later go on, empowered by the Spirit, to write Peter’s memories of his time with Jesus… otherwise known as the Gospel of Mark
Besides being a typical “sign off” for a letter, this is a final reminder to these persecuted believers that they are not alone in this
They (and we) have faithful brothers and sisters throughout the world standing firm in the faith (including in places where it is far more dangerous to be a Christian than here)
We can thank God for them, pray for them, and treat one another as family (“the kiss of love”) as we serve our Lord together in humility and steadfast faith
Applications:
Serve God in humility
Starts with humbly recognizing Jesus as your Lord and Savior…recognizing that without him you are lost, asking him to forgive you, and trusting him to transform your life
Continues with loving/serving others without regard for “what I’m going to get out of it” (whether in terms of power, recognition, respect, or monetary gain)
Living as a community of faith and love rather than strife, resentment, & offense
Song recommendations: Self Less by Josh Wilson & Oh How Good It Is (Getty’s)
Stand firm against temptation: ask the Holy Spirit to help you exercise the fruit of self-control
Don’t fall for the lie that God is holding back something that would make your life better
Any pleasure or ease that you think sin will bring you is just the bait to lure you to destruction
Song recommendation: Sirens by The Gray Havens
Don’t fall for the lie that the difficulties of life mean that obeying God is not worth it
Difficulties in this lifetime (hostility from society, undeserved suffering, etc.) are part of following Jesus who himself faced undeserved hostility and suffering
But we can have confidence that his mighty hand is at work rather than living in fear, anxiety, vengeance, or compromise
Song Recommendation: True North by Rend Collective
Hold on to your living hope
In his grace God has chosen you and loves you with a perfect love
Don’t wallow in guilt over past sins that have been forgiven
Song Recommendation: Dare You to Trust My Love by Ryan Stevenson
Remember where your true home is
We are foreigners and exiles on this earth so we can expect a certain amount of suspicion and hostility from society
The suffering of this life pales in comparison to the eternal glory that is coming
Song Recommendation: Heaven Is the Hope by Matthew West
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