1 PETER PART SEVENTEEN

By Michael K. Farrar, O.D.

© God’s Breath Publications

 

In this series so far we have learned that Peter wrote this letter to followers of Christ who were scattered in the area of Asia Minor, what is now modern-day Turkey. His main emphasis in this letter was to remind Christians of the hope they have in God because of the gracious salvation provided for them in Jesus Christ as well as how the gift of the Holy Spirit within them works to lead them in sanctification. Christians were facing trials and they needed their hope in God encouraged. We continue now to learn even more about this wonderful salvation that God blesses His children with and how we are to live as Christ and love one another. Part of living as Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior is to seeking to think good and do good. We have learned about the holy spiritual attributes that a follower of Christ will exhibit as they obey the Word, keep in step with the Spirit and model their lives after Jesus Christ.

 

Peter repeatedly instructs in this letter how followers of Christ are to live. He calls the Christians in the Roman provinces of what is now Asia to walk as Jesus walked. This has a three-fold purpose. We have a witness before men that needs to be godly and righteous. We are called by our Heavenly Father to live honorably in the midst of suffering because our Lord and Master Jesus Christ did so. We need to remember that one of the main purposes of suffering is to develop our righteousness and spiritual maturity. Peter now turns back again to speaking about how we are to think, act and respond to trials, suffering and persecution in our lives. Our response to such difficult situations should be grounded in the fact that God is in complete control. He seeks to conform us to the image of His Son, through the ministry of the Holy Spirit who lives within us. His motive is always based in love, compassion and grace towards His spiritual children.

 

Peter in the next few verses gives us three commands for properly living as a follower of Christ, especially in perilous times. Peter addresses those men who are younger in the faith and not yet qualified to be elders. He covers several qualities that they must pursue in response to those who are elders.

 

1 Peter 5:5-7

“Young men, in the same way be submissive to those who are older. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”

 

The first command is one of submission to those in spiritual leadership in the church. The phrase “Young men” in the Greek here is “neoteros” and can mean “new” or “young” and most commentators view this as describing those who are young in the faith and not mature yet to be elders, so therefore they are to submit to those who are overseers or elders. When Peter instructs these “young men” with the words “in the same way” he is stating that just as the overseers and elders are to submit to God as they serve as shepherds, these “young men” are to submit to their leadership much like sheep do with their shepherd. This is not to imply they are of lesser value as a person, but simply that they are to respect and follow the instructions of those elders who have responsibility for their spiritual well-being and growth.

 

Peter continues with the words, “All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another.” Here he is addressing the entire congregation as to how they are to treat one another. Much like Jesus, who clothed Himself with a simple towel before he washed the disciples feet (John 13:4-7), Peter is instructing followers of Christ to cloth themselves with humility. Much discord and conflicts within the local churches in America result from people failing to clothe themselves with humility towards one another. Selfishness can be found even among many Christians when they take their eyes off the Word, quench the Spirit within them and fall into the trap of serving self. These words are very appropriate for us to hear today. Peter states as the foundation for his commandment to be humble towards others, the fact that “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” Many scriptures attest to the fact that God does not care for arrogant, haughty, prideful people who treat others as if they were below them (Psalms 138:6, Proverbs 29:23, Matthew 23:12).

 

The second command is one of submission to our Heavenly Father. When we humble ourselves and serve others we are not only placing ourselves in a position to love them more effectively, we are also bowing before the mighty, yet loving hand of our all-powerful Heavenly Father. God’s hand can represent discipline (Exodus 3:20, Job 30:21, Psalms 32:4) and deliverance (Deuteronomy 9:26, Ezekiel 20:34). When we realize that God is the only one really in control of all things and not ourselves, we don’t manipulate situations and people or attempt to orchestrate events according to our own preferences. This doesn’t mean we just lie around and let God do everything for us, because He won’t. It means we act responsibly and maturely fulfilling our commitments to others and God as well. It means in those situations and events that are really beyond our control we trust God to work in our best interest. Often we strive for things, positions or outcomes according to our own understanding rather than trusting God’s Word and His will. Peter here tells us that we must humble ourselves in patient obedience waiting for the hand of God to work in our situation. We are to do this even if our first inclination is that we think we know best. Often what we wish for ourselves is the worst thing we should have or is not the wisest course of action. Trusting in God takes faith. Faith develops and grows as we respond to situations of trial and hardship with trust in our Heavenly Father. Placing ourselves in such a situation of surrender to God can give us feelings of powerlessness and panic, but as we see God work His will in our life, it builds our understanding that He not only knows best, He can bring about the best for us in all areas of our life. This submission and surrender brings us to Peter’s third command.

 

Peter now shares the last command for coping in perilous times. He states we are to, “Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you.” The original meaning of “cast” is literally “to throw upon.” This is not a passive action but an intentional and decisive one. You recognize in stressful times that you are not in control and the only one you can rely upon is the Lord God Almighty. Even in trials that require us to act in some way, we are the foot soldier on the ground that must make decisions in a wise and godly fashion, but we still cast our concerns and worries upon the Lord so we can move forward. When we cast our anxieties and fears upon the Lord, rather than being frozen in fear, we can move forward with courage and decisiveness with His Word guiding us, His Spirit empowering us and our fellow believers supporting us. Remember Psalms 55:22;

“Cast your burden upon the Lord and He will sustain you; He will never allow the righteous to be shaken.”

Charles Swindoll has a formula he sees enclosed within 1 Peter 5:5-7;

Submission to Others plus Humility before God

Minus the Worries of the World

Equals Genuine Relief

 

Peter now makes some final statements to followers of Christ who in a sense are soldiers for the Cross in a daily battle. In 1 Peter 4:12-19 he had told them that that the trials they face in life will test and strengthen their faith. In 5:1-4 he addressed the commanders of the church, the elders, and gave instructions on how to lead in a godly fashion. In 5:5-7 he addressed those who were younger in the faith and that they should submit to those who were in authority over them. Now Peter sounds a battle cry for readiness.

1 Peter 5:8-9

“Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

 

Peter shares the most important characteristics of a soldier ready for battle, self-control and alertness. Some translations substitute “sober-minded” for “self-controlled” because they are so similar. A soldier that is not self-controlled will panic in the heat of battle and turn and run. A soldier that is not alert will be killed in an instant because they did not see the enemy approaching. Peter describes the wicked enemy we face and his dastardly technique of being sneaky and tricky in how he does battle. He prowls around seeking his prey. Like a roaring lion who is ravenous for fresh meat, Satan seeks to do us harm. I read once in a book written by a wise old pastor that he felt that Satan would just wait, and wait, and wait, sometimes forty years for the right opportunity to lunge upon a follower of Christ. He has a lot of patience to wait for the right conditions to pounce upon a believer to ruin his life and reputation. We must be both alert and soberly self-controlled to avoid Satan’s attacks and our falling into sin. We resist Satan’s attacks and temptations by standing firm in our faith. We do this with the guidance of God’s Word and the power of the Spirit. Peter tells us here that many other Christians face the exact same trials and temptations we face and they are standing firm in victory because our hope and strength are in Jesus Christ.

 

After Peter has given this strong commandment to be on our guard, he describes our hope in our God whom we praise. He reminds us of three great truths. First, that God is the source of all wonderful loving grace. Secondly that He has called us to His eternal glory which is established in Christ. Thirdly, after we have suffered on this earth briefly, he shares that God will restore us and make us strong, firm and steadfast. What a hope we have in God. What a tremendous eternal salvation we have in Jesus Christ.

 

1 Peter 5:10-11

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever.

Amen.”

 

Peter ends this epistle by recognizing Silas who has been writing it down for him, but now Peter takes the pen and writes an ending note.

1 Peter 5:12-14

“With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

 

Silas was a prominent member of the church in Jerusalem. He accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey and was both a Hebrew and a Roman citizen. The “She who is in Babylon” could be Paul’s wife, but it is more likely the church in Rome, Babylon being a code word for Rome to avoid drawing persecution upon Christians there. Mark could be Paul’s actual son, but more likely is John Mark, Acts 12.