Stand Firm In The True Grace Of God

Stand Firm In The True Grace Of God

By Silvanus, a faithful brother as I regard him, I have written briefly to you, exhorting and declaring that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. She who is at Babylon, who is likewise chosen, sends you greetings, and so does Mark, my son. Greet one another with the kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ.  1PETER 5:12-14

The most comfortable posture through which the body is most stable and able to exert the greatest effort is while standing. Apostle therefore concludes his letter, that he considers brief, by an exhortation to stand firm in the true grace of God. What exactly is he telling us to do? When you read this letter what are you to be left considering as your responsibility to do? Whenever you hear the Word of God, you have to always ask yourself, what the message means for you and what is it that you have to work on in view of the Word of God you have heard. In this case Peter expects his readers, not to relax but to take a specific position that will make them to be able to be firm. He wrote to exhort and encourage these scattered Christians since they were and will ever face fiery trials, but have to remain firm.

How do you stand firm in the true grace of God? This is view of the fact that we are still in a wicked world of sin, where Peter has just pointed out the great adversary, the devil who prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. He has already told us of those who are watching over our souls – the elders and the manner in which they are to do their pastoral work. He has explained the manner in which we are to relate with them as well as with each other in the church. The Christian’s clothing is humility and it is necessary for his character essential for the Christians to obtain God’s favor. A believer is expected to resist the devil and remain firm in faith, even after suffering. There is a assurance that God will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish those who have such an attitude of faith.

Peter is therefore concerned is concerned that his readers will hold on to the truth and remain immovable in faith. They have heard and so received the gospel of God’s grace and so he expects them to stand firm in it. The question vital for us here and now is, how can we stand firm in the true grace of God? We are to stand on the truths of the grace of God not on philosophy or vain morality or carnal reason or anything that seems the most attractive – we are to cling to God and His grace and nothing more or less.Clearly this is dependent on two factors – it is dependent on the grace of God and your own responsibility.

1.     God has to work this for you to stand

Since it is God’s grace no one can stand firm without God. The grace of God is not what you have done for God but what God has done for you in Christ.

·         Being chosen of God

God started His wonderful work of grace in you even before the foundation of the world (Eph. 1:3). This was before you had done anything good or bad and therefore it is totally dependent on God. How can stand in the grace of God when you do not deserve it? If anyone thinks that he is standing on the grace of God when he is trusting on his own merit or righteousness, he will be found to be false and will be told by God, “Go away for I never knew you!”

Peter had begun by pointing out that he was writing to the “… elect exiles… according to the foreknowledge of God the Father in the sanctification of the Spirit …”. He then praised God who, “… has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead” (1:2, 3). He stated that those who are in the salvation of grace are those who have been called

It is therefore wonderful to read here that there is ‘She who is in Babylon who is chosen (by God) together with you” (v.13). It first shows that this choosing is the work of God because He is the One who has done the choice. Both ‘she who is in Babylon’ and those described as being ‘together with you’ in this verse are passive in this work and without the choosing of God have no role to play. It does not matter the ethnicity or the background or race or color – God made a choice of His people from every tribe, language, and people and nation (Rev. 5:9). Imagine He has people even from Babylon – of all the places! God does not show partiality as Peter preached in Cornelius’ house in Acts 10:34.

Clearly this is the most basic in the outworking of the grace of God. And this shows how much we are indebted to God and His grace and mercy. This then demands that we are to praise the Lord for His rich mercy and grace out-poured on us in our salvation. We are to praise Him for His wonderful astounding benevolence on us. That we live a life of praise and honor to God is exemplified by a devout life of worship to God. Brethren, standing firm is a call for godliness and piety. We worship God because of who He is – He is worthy of all worship and honor as we have it in Revelation 4:8 but also we worship Him for what He has done –see Rev. 4:11. We worship Him by corporate worship and also by personal holiness because He chose us to His royal priests that we offer praises of Him who called us from darkness into His marvelous light (2:9. Are you chosen by God? Then you can’t help but honor Him in word and indeed.

·         The peace of God

When we talk of the peace of God we are referring to the peace that comes from God who is Himself a peaceful God and also the peace that you need in order to be able to live in a world so full of upheaval and wickedness. When a person is saved or has been justified by faith in Christ, he is given a full measure of peace with God (Romans 5:1)

 Peter in his benediction wishes all of them ‘peace to all of you who are in Christ’. The form of greetings that the Hebrews had were to do with wishing others peace, while the Greeks wished others grace. But both of them did not now know the peace of God that is in Christ Jesus and so Peter here closes his letter to them by wishing them the true and gospel peace, that Christ left with His disciples. The basis for which this sort of faith is obtained is by being ‘in Christ’. Union with Christ is the most unique relationship that a person can enjoy when he puts his trust and confidence in Christ. Being ‘In Christ’ is the most important thing because then one no longer lives but his life is hidden in Christ. He becomes a completely new creature so that the old is gone and there is a total transformation.

The reason why God ‘foreknew’ and therefore chose us is so that He “predestined us to be conformed to the image of His Son” (Rom. 8:29).  But this union with Christ is not just being conformed to the image of Christ but to be in Christ so deeply that words fail to describe this relationship.

But what God requires of you in all these wonderful privileges are is that you may stand firm immovable in the grace that He has given you. The problem with many of you is that you are very unstable in your faith. Very much given to lack of a clear, firm and straight way of life. Many are so unstable in their words and have loose tongues. Many lack consistency and faithfulness. Many make their promises and vows but do not keep them. Do you think it is stability that so many Christians are Sunday morning Christians? They only time they give for worship is on a Sunday morning for 1 ½ hours… no time for Christian community who are the people of God the apple of His eye? Many treat even corporate with disgust by the fact that they may receive their calls, can do during the service etc.? Does it not show that we do not care about the true god but another god – money? If God has graciously chosen you and you do not regard Him and you do not regard His Son or the Spirit and so you grieve Him again and again, if you have no time for God’s word, not do you have time to commune with Him in prayer, what stability do you have? Many of you are constantly being reminded by the elders again and again that you are not going in the right direction but you know that you are not heeding the admonition – are you standing firm?

2.      You have to take the responsibility personally

Where the bible said that you work out your salvation with fear and trembling shows that you have to live a responsible life of faith in order to stand firm in your Christian life in order to stand firm in the grace of God failure to live as such shows that you are not in the grace of God. Or if you are not acting like that then you are not in the true grace of God but in something else that you think that it is the grace of God.

In this passage we find three things that fall within the responsibilities of believers to stand firm having obtained the grace of God:

·         Faithfulness

May I then seek to show your responsibility in as far at standing firm is concerned. We read here that Silvanus who was most likely the bearer of this letter or may be the secretary who wrote for Peter is described as “a faithful brother” Peter regarded Silvanus, also called Silas as a faithful to show that he was stable mature and dependable Christian. You would regard a person who is not standing firm as faithful. Faithfulness here is first of all to the Lord as Lydia told Paul and Silas in Philippi in Acts 16 for then they stayed in her house as she had requested them.

This is the recommendation for Silvanus who would then be the messenger delivering the letter to these brethren scatted all over the Asia, Bithynia, Cappadocia, Pontus and Galatia. For he was going to represent Peter faithfully and he had to recommend to be taken by the readers as they would take Peter himself. Silvanus was a close companion of Paul.

Why is it that people are unable to be faithful? Because it takes effort to be faithful. It does not take much effort to be careless and carefree. All you need is neglect of duty and responsibility and you would be unfaithful. This is why you find unfaithfulness among spouses because they become careless and do not love their spouses.

·         Regarding exhortation from others

This passage shows Peter who is concerned about the believers in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Bithynia and Asia and he would like to profit them spiritually and takes time to profit them. He wanted to encourage them and to strengthen them in the light of the persecution and so many afflictions that they were going through. He wanted them to remain steadfast in the Lord for whom He is in their lives and for what He had done for them. They had reasons to remain steadfast as hard and difficulty as it was.

It is the responsibility of the believers to encourage others to remain faithful and firm in the grace of God especially when there are persecutions. Let them know that what they are going through is only what is common to a man. Peter had told them that the same kind of suffering were being experienced by other brethren all over the world. He encouraged that the suffering were only temporary and so they are to remain firm meanwhile as they waited upon the Lord.

Were supposed to not only exhort others but also listen to the exhortation from others. We would be foolish to suppose that we are an island – we do not need the help from others. We are meant to not only watch others backs but also let others watch ours. Many mistakes that we make is that we are good listeners. Do you listen to the counsel from others or you have even conceivable excuse why they are wrong and so you would not listen to them?

 Sincere love for others

Do we have warm and close love and affection for others? We are here told to “Greet one another with the kiss of love.” Notice that this is not just an handshake – it is more than that. It is not a hug – it is something close to that but more than that! We are to have brotherly love for one another as he has already said that although we are to honor everyone, we are to “love the brotherhood” (2:17). A Christian church has to be united in mind, sympathy, brotherly love (3:8).

The reason why brother love is so much emphasized in this letter and in all of the New Testament is because first of all, Christians have been made to be children of one Father, have been made to be the brothers of Christ, the Redeemed of the Lord and have so much in common that there can be no other way of thinking.

We are to live in sincere love for God and for others because this is what we shall experience for ever in heaven – the love of God to us and we will in return love everyone as we ourselves are loved! This why we are told the most excellent way to live as Christians is the the way of love. When all the spiritual gifts have been evaluated, three remain – faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love. It is love because it is needed in this life and in the one to come!

Therefore let us be those who give ourselves to others  sacrificially for the glory of God and for the profit of others.

CLOTHE YOURSELVES WITH HUMILITY

1Peter 5:5-7  

The freedom of Christians is found in their submission to Christ. Mutual submission is the key to the pattern of life for Christians. Mutual submission is only possible in a church where all the church members wear a uniform that is of a garment called humility. Where this garment is lacking or torn, there can never be godly and faithful disciples of Jesus Christ. Therefore, humility is to be cultivated and grown in large scale in any Christian church. It is then manifested in their willingness to submit to other believers for the sake of the Lord.

What are you expected to do by God to put on the mind of Christ? It is clothe yourselves with humility. Everyone who is a believer in Christ is expected to wear a particular garment – the garment of humility. Peter uses a metaphor of fastening on garments to speak of a humble attitude. Peter employs a wonderful figure of speech by saying that what clothing is to a person is what humility is to a believer – as basic as clothing.

There is no one who in his right mind who would walk without clothes. No healthy Christian should think of living proud, conceited and arrogant life. The Christian life is of a humble and a contrite spirit – something that the Lord will by no means cast out. Therefore this attitude is expected of every believer toward another – young to old and old to young, men to women and women to men – ‘all of you’. This clothing is not to be worn by a few or by many – it is by all of you. Whether mature Christians or those who have just come to the faith. Whether pastors to the members or members to their pastors or deacons – this is the attitude expected of  every believer.

What is humility? Wayne Grudem in his commentary on 1Peter provides a very helpful description of what it is: The term speaks of an attitude which puts others first, which thinks of the desires, needs and ideas of others as more worthy of attention than our own. All people are self-oriented in nature, naturally proud and given to lift themselves up above others – sometimes even above God. Therefore this is a passage to sober up believers to have humility toward one another so as to be able to cultivate a Christianity community mind that loves one another, bears with one another, and lives with another.

John Stott on the other hand explains that humility is not merely the absence of pride or the awareness of limitations. Christian humility is realism that recognizes grace because his humility springs from his total dependence on the grace of God.

Paul in Philippians 2:3-4 very well defines it, “Do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. (Php 2:3-4) ESV translation gives a better rendering of how in humility we are to count others – not better than yourselves but more important or significant than yourselves. This means we are to seek to look after the interests of others not our own interests. You notice that the passage goes on to explain that Christ is our great example and encouragement in this area. It means that in clothing yourselves with humility, you are having a mind which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. (Php 2:5-7)

Notice that no one will come to clothe you with this humility – you are to do it yourself. Just like no healthy grown is worn clothes – so does God expects all believers to put on this wonderful garment of humility. Christ will clothe you with the garment of righteousness – but you are to clothe yourself with the garment of humility like an apron, tightly tied, in readiness to service to others for the sake of Christ. In suffering, God’s people are to give themselves to Him, submitting to His wise ordering of their lives.

Why are we to wear this particular garment? What are the reasons given as to why we are to humble ourselves? The reasons for putting on humility are given here as three:

1.     God opposes the proud

This is a quotation from Proverbs 3:34. James also has a parallel to this passage in James 4:6-10, where he also quotes the same proverb. James like Peter speaks of the care that God shows to those who humbly cast themselves on His mercy. He then describes the repentant mourning that casts away all pride to draw closer to God in order to obtain His mercy. Both are possibly drawing from the parable that Jesus gave about the prayer of the Pharisee and the tax collector. The former lifted himself before the Lord showcasing his piety but the latter came with humility and was repentant and sought the mercy of God. The conclusion of the Lord was astounding one, heavily drawn from this same Proverb, “I tell you, this man went down to his house justified, rather than the other. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." (Luke 18:14). God will have nothing to do with a person of proud and conceited sprit – He will humble such a person. This is what He did with the nation of Israel and any other that exalted itself above Him. This is what He did with king Nebuchadnezzar.

The humility that Peter is speaking of is like that of the tax collector – it is a penitent humility, despairing of self-confidence, completely relying on God. Those who are haughty and arrogant think of themselves as more important than everyone else, trust in themselves. They bask in their own glory and do not give glory to the Lord, yet all glory belongs to the Lord and He will never share with another.

God singles out the proud as his great enemy, and sets himself in battle against them. The declarations of Scripture on this subject are very explicit, "Pride and arrogance I hate (Prov. 8:13). The Lord knows the proud afar off. The lofty looks of men shall be humbled, and the haughtiness of men shall be bowed down; and the Lord alone shall be exalted. For the day of the Lord of hosts shall be upon every one that is proud and lofty, and upon every one that is lifted up, and he shall be brought low. Who wants to go to the battle with the almighty? Would you want the mighty hand of God to fall on you?

When we remember that mighty hand of God – the same He routed the Egyptians, we are to be moved to humility. God’s mighty hand humbled the Israelites – purging out the rebels like Korah and bringing people to repentance. It is this same hand that silenced Miriam and Aaron when they rose against Moses.

God opposes the proud … and are we to be in opposition with the Living God? When we are opinionated to think that we are better than the others, say in preaching Peter knew of pride at some point he had boasted that he will not deny the Lord though everyone else did and he was humbled from the apex of pride to the abyss of denial. Peter had been humbled chastised and restored. Let us be careful not to be proud because God will oppose us.

2.     God gives grace to the humble

The humility that serves others is found at the throne of God’s grace. Grace is God’s undeserved favour toward sinners (who deserve His wrath). Grace is what we need not only to escape judgment and condemnation but also in order to live a godly Christian life.  Pride rebels against God and so dishonors Him because it sets a person against God. The manifestation of this is a deficiency in humility and so despising our fellow Christians. May we know that the Lord has called us to live a life of humility and self-sacrifice for the sake of the Lord in order to show that we have received grace without measure?

“While God resists the proud, "He gives grace" – that is, he shows favour “to the humble." Humility is the object of his praise, and he shows this by his con­duct to those who are characterized by it. A humble state of mind in accordance with truth, is calculated to promote true happiness both of the individual who cherishes it and his neighbors. The more deeply a man realizes his insignificance as a creature, his lack of merit as a sinner, his guilt and depravity, his utter helplessness, the more readily does he embrace the gospel of God's grace.  In this gospel he obtains possession of all heavenly and spiritual blessings. It is the man who knows and believes that he is a fool, that is made wise; the man who has no hope in himself, that obtains good hope through grace; the man who sees and feels that he is nothing but sin, who is made the righteousness of God in Christ; the man who loathes himself, that is sancti­fied wholly in the whole man's soul, body, and spirit.” John Brown, 1Peter, Vol. 2, p.507, BOT.

If you want the grace of God, you have to go before Him in humility like the tax collector, accusing yourself of being a sinner who has done nothing to deserve any of God’s grace. But you should not just accuse yourself of being a sinner, but you must also, with the same breath, ask for God to be merciful to you. Humility is the willingness to accuse youself of wrongdoing instead of accusing others. You need grace upon grace if you will be a faithful disciple of Jesus. If you will be able to fight sin and resist the devil and the world, then all you need is grace. You need a lot of grace to live a godly life, which is well pleasing to the Lord.

Thankfully God gives this grace… the simple condition to receive this condition is to be humble. The passage says that God gives grace. If you will be able to disciple others then you need grace without measure. If you will be a faithful disciple who will profit the church of Christ then you need grace – and the way to receive this grace is to clothe yourself with humble. Humility is not simply being able to say, “may I” or “thank you” or “I am sorry”. It is the attitude of the heart, springing from a heart to please the Lord. This is an attitude to serve others in order to express the love of Christ – it is the love of Christ that constrains us. Therefore humility is a heart for service to Christ by serving His people. This is what the Lord demonstrated by washing His disciples’ feet. This is what He demonstrated by dying on the cross.

3.     God exalts the humble at the proper time

The humility that we are talking about is both before others as in verse 5 and before God in verses 6. We are to humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. This verse compared with the manner in which verse 5 ends, shows that you will be wise to humble yourself before Him so that the promise contained here may be true of you. The promise in this text for those who humble themselves is that “at the proper time God will exalt you”. This is a good reason to cultivate humility – and if you will, God promises to exalt you.

What is required of us here is among other things to accept the will of God in our lives. We are to be those who submit to God’s authority in His Word. We are also to bow in His providences in our lives so that whether we live or die we submit. Submitting to God’s will and purposes in your lives, sometimes means putting yourself in some ‘disadvantages’. This is why verse 7 explains that you are to humble ourselves by “casting ALL your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you”. Humility before God means that God is your overall; God is the sovereign over your life – whatever happens, you know that God ordained it for your good. If you fail in you exams (as long as you did you part) it is for your good; if your dad dies and you have no way of paying fees – it is for your good. If you are able to pray sincerely, “May your will be done” in all situations without a reservation, then you are submissive to the will of God.

I know of so many women who have refused to submit to the will of God that God does not permit a woman to preach in all the churches of Christ and yet they think that they are serving the Lord. I know of men who are not playing their God-given role in their families and yet think that they are submissive to the will of the Lord. there are many who are not faithful in their jobs and expect God to promote them… it does not work like that. There are many even now who the Lord is giving them some specific guidance for their lives and are still waiting for more of God’s confirmation! We are to be willing to submit to the Lord’s mighty hand through what He gave us some specific gifts and talents. Let us bow to the Lord and He is the one to lift us up.

Carefully, consider your God-given role to exaltation – humble yourself. Then rejoice in the promise of the Lord when you play your role - at the proper time he may exalt you. You notice that He cares for you. He has your welfare at heart. However, the time of exaltation is not specified – again it is when He deems it fit to lift you up – not when you tell Him. It is when it will be the best for Him.

Imagine what the Lord Jesus had to pay in order to secure your salvation – He had to die, even death on the cross. And so we are told to clothe ourselves with the same mind. And God will exalt us just as He exalted Jesus. Listen to this in Philippians 2:8-11:

And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

BEWARE OF THE DEVIL

Fighting the Spiritual Battle

1 Peter 5:8-11

Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for some one to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same kinds of suffering are being experienced by your brotherhood throughout the world. And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to eternal glory in Christ, will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be the dominion forever and ever. Amen.

Christian suffering and persecution because of their faith is normal, going by the many encouragements in the book of first Peter. Suffering is to be expected looking at the church history. The time was approaching when Ignatius would anticipate his death in the Roman Collosseum. Listen to what He said:

Let me be given to the wild beasts, for through them I can attain unto God. I am God’s wheat, and I am ground by the teeth of wild beasts that I may be found pure bread … come fire and cross and grapplings with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, hacking of limbs, crushing of my whole body, come cruel tortures of the devil to assail me. Only be it mine to attain unto Jesus Christ.

Three very clear instruction are being given here to Christians:

1.       To be sober-minded and watchful (v.8)

2.       To resist Him with a firm faith (v.9)

3.       God will restore you after you have suffered (10-11)

1. Be sober-minded - watchful

Christians are urged in the word of God to be sober-minded or watchful for as long as they are in this world. The need for watchfulness is very important because of the enemies who are against us. We have a terrible enemy called the devil. The term means ‘slanderer’ or ‘false accuser’ as in 1 Tim 3:11; 2 Tim 3:3; Tit. 2:3 and it is the same word that is applied to Haman when he had false accusations against the Jews in Est. 8:1 and it is translated n ESV as ‘enemy’.

Who is the devil? The devil is a spiritual being who is in active rebellion against God. He also leads many devils like himself who are opposed to God and to his people.

How exactly does he look like? This enemy is like a lion, a ferocious animal that can very easily devour anyone by attacking suddenly, viciously and often when you are not suspecting that that it is lurking around. The greatest reason for sober-mindedness and watchfulness is that the danger of being devoured by this enemy is real. This clearly shows that the devil is not a myth or anything like that. God saying here that the devil is as real as a lion. It is not to be played around with because just like lion it can attack and kill you!

Go through the Bible and particularly in the New Testament and you will find real influences of the devil. The Psalmist often describes his enemies as lions, lying in ambush and waiting to pounce on him. There are bizarre and violently demonic attacks on people that caused them to be so opposed to Christ, His apostles and to the message of the gospel (Mark 1:24; 5:2-5; 9:18; Acts 16-18; Rev. 2:10). This manifests in malicious slander and falsehood in speech (John 8:44; 1 John 4:1-3) and sometimes-stubborn propagation of false teaching (1John 4:1-6) there was a tendency to harm themselves (Mark 5:5; 9:20). Some other times there were sudden and unexplained emotions such, fear hatred, anger, violence etc.

The point is that there is terrible evil in the world we live in and most of  it is brought by the devil who is the author of sin. And we are called to approach these onslaughts against us soberly knowing that there are devils efforts behind it. We are to beware of the devil and therefore be watchful in prayer. We are not to yield into sin as a result of the pressure from the devil or his army of demons. We know that our Lord triumphed over the devil and his schemes when He cried the cry of victory on the cross that it is finished. He disarmed the rulers and authorities (demonic) and put them to public shame by triumphing over them (Col. 2:15). We should not fear the devil, because he is defeated. Instead we are to remain sober-minded and watchful. The book of revelation shows that he is defeated now by Christ by His blood and ultimately he will be defeated when he will be thrown in the lake of fire forever.  We are therefore to rejoice praising the Lord who has bought us by His blood from the bondage of the enemy.

Sobriety means that we listen to God rather than the devil. Do not listen to the falsehood of the devil. Do not accept everything you hear as the truth but make sure that it is from God. Sobriety means that you are not taken form granted.

2. Resist Him with a firm faith (v.9)