Be Hopeful (5:10-14)

"THE FIRST EPISTLE OF PETER"
Be Hopeful! (5:10-14)

In an epistle written to Christians undergoing severe persecution, Peter chooses to close on a positive note - 1 Pe 5:10-14 “And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen. By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand ye fast therein. She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son. Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be unto you all that are in Christ.”

For no matter how terrible the "fiery trials" may become, Christians can always have "hope"! In these last few verses of this epistle, Peter offers a benediction in verse (10) “And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.” A doxology in verse (11) “To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” A summary in verse (12) “By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand ye fast therein.” A few words of greeting in verse (13) “She that is in Babylon, elect together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Mark my son.” And a final command to love one another (14a) “Salute one another with a kiss of love." Along with a final prayer for peace (14b) “Peace be unto you all that are in Christ.”

Throughout this "collage" of concluding remarks, we find several reasons why Christians can always "Be Hopeful", even in the midst of terrible trials. For example, we are reminded of the fact that we have God's grace. God is "the God of all grace", verse (10) “And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.” Indeed, His grace is "manifold" - 1 Pe 4:10 “according as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God;” Just as His gifts are varied, so He provides whatever we need in any circumstance - He 4:16 “Let us therefore draw near with boldness unto the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy, and may find grace to help us in time of need.”

We stand in "the true grace of God", verse (12) “By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written unto you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand ye fast therein.” Our salvation is because of His grace - 1 Pe 1:10 “Concerning which salvation the prophets sought and searched diligently, who prophesied of the grace that should come unto you:” Those who are saved have "tasted that the Lord is gracious" - 1 Pe 2:3. With the knowledge that by remaining faithful to Christ we "stand in the true grace of God", we can take comfort knowing that the "God of all grace" will be with us all the way.

Which leads to another comforting thought. We are going to glory! God has "called us to His eternal glory", verse (10) “And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.” This is the purpose of our calling, to receive the glory that awaits us. That glory involves the "inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in heaven for you" - 1 Pe 1:4

The road to glory may involve suffering, but it is no different than what Jesus experienced - Lk 24:26 “Behooved it not the Christ to suffer these things, and to enter into his glory?” And we can look forward to participating in His glory, if we are willing to suffer with Him - 1 Pe 4:13-14 “but insomuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings, rejoice; that at the revelation of his glory also ye may rejoice with exceeding joy. If ye are reproached for the name of Christ, blessed are ye; because the Spirit of glory and the Spirit of God resteth upon you.”

Knowing what lies ahead for those who persevere can help us remain steadfast in the faith. So can knowing that our suffering is temporary. It is only for "a while", verse (10). Earlier, Peter had said "a little while" - 1 Pe 1:6. By their very nature, physical sufferings cannot last forever.

Note the contrast between suffering and glory. Suffering is for "a while", glory is "eternal". Is not the "glory" worth the "suffering"? The apostle Paul thought so - 2 Co 4:16-18 “Wherefore we faint not; but though our outward man is decaying, yet our inward man is renewed day by day. For our light affliction, which is for the moment, worketh for us more and more exceedingly an eternal weight of glory; while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.”

But not only can we remain hopeful knowing that suffering is temporary to be replaced by glory that is eternal, in the meantime we can take consolation in knowing that with suffering comes blessings, verse (10) “And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, establish, strengthen you.”

God will "perfect". The word used by Peter means "to equip, to adjust, to fit together". God "perfects" His people using several tools. One is the Word of God - 2 Ti 3:16-17 “Every scripture inspired of God is also profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for instruction which is in righteousness. That the man of God may be complete, furnished completely unto every good work.” Gifts were given to the church toward the same end - Ep 4:11-16 “And he gave some to be apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; for the perfecting of the saints, unto the work of ministering, unto the building up of the body of Christ: till we all attain unto the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a fullgrown man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ: that we may be no longer children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, in craftiness, after the wiles of error; but speaking truth in love, we may grow up in all things into him, who is the head, even Christ; from whom all the body fitly framed and knit together through that which every joint supplieth, according to the working in due measure of each several part, maketh the increase of the body unto the building up of itself in love.” And suffering is certainly another tool - Ro 5:3-4 “And not only so, but we also rejoice in our tribulations: knowing that tribulation worketh stedfastness; and stedfastness, approvedness; and approvedness, hope:”; Ja 1:2-4 “Count it all joy, my brethren, when ye fall into manifold temptations; Knowing that the proving of your faith worketh patience. And let patience have its perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.”

God will "establish". This means "to fix firmly, to set fast". Christians need to be steadfast in the faith - 1 Pe 5:9 “whom withstand stedfast in your faith, knowing that the same sufferings are accomplished in your brethren who are in the world.”; 2 Pe 3:17 “Ye therefore, beloved, knowing these things beforehand, beware lest, being carried away with the error of the wicked, ye fall from your own stedfastness.”. Through persecution often comes steadfastness, for the one who has endured suffering for the cause of Christ is not likely to led away from the truth.

God will "strengthen"! Make one stronger. Which is a normal consequence of enduring trial. God will "settle"! That is, "to lay a foundation". The Lord would have us to be solid, like that house built on a rock as Jesus described in Mt 7:24-27.

Peter is confident that for those who remain faithful in suffering, God will bless them in the four ways listed in verse 10. We too can have confidence, knowing that we have God's grace, we are going to glory, our suffering is only temporary and with suffering comes blessing. It is with such confidence that Peter closes with a collection of greetings, from:
1) "Silvanus" - Silas, a traveling companion of Paul.
2) "She who is in Babylon, elect together with you" - likely a congregation either in literal Babylon, located in modern day Iraq, or in figurative Babylon, which could be a reference to either Rome or Jerusalem.
3) "Mark my son" - John Mark, nephew of Barnabas, and author of the gospel of Mark.
4) An exhortation to love: "Greet one another with a kiss of love"
5) And a prayer for peace: "Peace to all who are in Christ Jesus"

May the example of Peter's confidence and hope, as well as his actual teaching found throughout this epistle, serve to help us remain full of hope during our sojourn as pilgrims of God!

"To Him be the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen." -- 1 Pe 5:11