1 Peter 5:13 – Back to the Future – 12.20.11

“She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.  (14) Greet one another with a kiss of love.  Peace to all of you who are in Christ.”

Peter was writing a letter to strengthen and encourage the church in the face of coming persecution.  His goal was to help the early church focus on Christ instead of the troubles to come.  And you know, that is good advice for us as well.  In case you haven’t noticed, our world that holds tolerance as the ultimate goal is growing less tolerant of Christians these days. 

-          In North Korea, owning a bible can get you imprisoned, sent to a labor camp, or killed.

-          In Afghanistan, the Deputy Secretary of Parliament called for the execution of Christian converts after the baptism of several Christians was shown on TV.

-          In Saudi Arabia, public, non-Muslim worship is against the law and conversion to Christianity is punishable by death.

If you think the persecution is just in far away countries:

-          In Canada, a hate-speech law was recently passed that prohibits pastors from teaching the biblical truth that homosexuality is a sin. 

-          In Houston, a woman was ordered by police to stop handing out gospel tracts when children came to her house to trick or treat.  She was told this was illegal (it isn’t) and that she would be arrested if she continued. 

-          Local governments are under pressure to remove the bible, scripture, or “In God we Trust” from public buildings.

-          Some of you have endured persecution from professors or classmates for your Christian beliefs.

As followers of Christ, we should expect persecution.  Jesus said in John 15:18, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.” The world’s attitude toward Christians is only going to get worse.  I am not a prophet of doom or a person who worries about “the state of the world” because I know God is in charge and these things don’t surprise Him in the least.  But, we need to walk this world with open eyes; persecution will increase in the world and in the United States. 

As I contemplate this idea, I have two disparate feelings.  On one hand, I don’t want to be persecuted.  On the other hand, the church grows and people come to Christ and God does amazing things in the midst of persecution.  I have to reconcile which hand is most important: God’s glory or my comfort.  The persecution is coming whether we want it or not.  Am I willing walk away from my comfortable life to share God’s love with those who desperately need to hear it?  Are you?

Peter wrote this book to a group of believers two thousand years ago, but he wrote it to us as well.  We need to hold fast to Christ, live obedient lives, love those around us, and share God’s grace to all we encounter.  The world will hate us, but Jesus has overcome the world!

Peace to all of you who are in Christ.

“Seek the Lord while he may be found; call on him while he is near.” – Isaiah 55:6

1 Peter 5:12 - Stand in It

“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.”

I often wonder what the side characters of the bible were like.  People like Caleb, Joab, Luke, Barnabas, Timothy, and especially, Silas.  He was a companion of Paul for many years, preaching alongside him, delivering messages back and forth to churches, being persecuted, and going to prison with him.  I hope to visit with him in heaven one day – I bet he has some stories!

Scholars often attempt to discredit the bible by questioning the authorship of books.  In the case of 1 Peter, scholars claim that it couldn’t have been written by Peter because the writing is high quality Greek and Peter was an uneducated fisherman from Galilee.  And that would make perfect sense if not for this verse.

Peter openly admits that Silas, a well-educated Jew who was also a Roman citizen, helped him. Whether Peter dictated it, or wrote it in Aramaic and Silas translated it – it is an argument easy to defend.  And who knows, maybe Peter was a gifted writer in spite of being a fisherman.  Maybe he took writing classes on the side.  Just because we don’t know exactly how 1 Peter was so well written doesn’t mean that Peter didn’t write it with assistance – just like the bible says.

“Stand fast in it” is an interesting phrase.  It conjures a picture of standing in a shower, or in a downpour, or even better, under a waterfall being immersed and soaked in God’s grace.  To be saturated by God’s love; to be flooded by God’s grace; to walk through life drenched and dripping because I stand fast in the true grace of God.  That is exactly what I need today – how about you? 

In this Christmas season that is often far too busy and pulls us in so many different directions – I encourage you to slow down, reacquaint yourself with the grace of God, and stand fast in it.  God gave us the ultimate gift by sending His Son to live and die for our sins, why not unpack that gift and explore the grace God so freely gave us?

1 Peter 5:10-11 – Grace

“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.  (11) To him be the power forever and ever. Amen.”

If you will remember back to the introduction to 1 Peter, it was only 3 years ago; surely you recall every word...  Peter wrote this letter as the church was beginning to face persecution.  He knew that dark days were coming and wrote to encourage and prepare the church to endure the persecution in God’s grace.

 As I read the passage above, I am struck by the contrast that Peter draws between God and suffering.  Look at the phrases he uses:

-          God of all grace

-          Who called you

-          Eternal glory in Christ

-          Will restore you

-          Make you strong

-          Make you firm

-          Make you steadfast

That is an encouraging list!  Now compare that to his discussion of persecution:

-          Suffered a little while

If you are cynical, you might be tempted to think that Peter oversells God (if that were possible) and undersells the persecution that is coming.  “Suffered a little while” sounds like a trip to the dentist or a sprained ankle.  “This isn’t going to hurt at all; it’ll be over before you know it!”  But there is one little fact that argues against that point: Peter knew exactly what was coming. 

Peter was not blind to the Christians being beheaded and burned alive, wrapped in animal skins and thrown to wild dogs and other animals, and used as human torches as a source of light in the evenings.  Peter himself was crucified upside down after watching his wife get executed.  He was not naïve about the level of persecution that was coming. 

Peter knew the horrific suffering that was coming…but he also knew God.  And to Peter, the grace of God was so amazingly powerful that it made even the most terrible suffering seem like “suffering for a little while”.  The grace of Jesus was so real to Peter that it didn’t really matter what happens on earth because we are safely in the arms of Christ. 

It reminds me of a story about an old seminary professor who was terminally ill, but continued teaching.  One of his students asked him if he was afraid of dying.  The old professor paused a moment and said something to the effect of, “God has given me the grace to live every day…I expect He’ll give me the grace to die on my dying day.”

Whether it is a living day, or a dying day – God will give you the grace to face it.  You cannot lose when you are on God’s side.  Live confidently knowing that God walks with us.  To Him be the power and glory forever!