“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” 1 Peter 5:10 It is only by the grace of God that we have been saved through believing in God’s only begotten Son Jesus Christ and obeying His commandments. Let us always remember Jesus Christ and what He has done for us. Remember that He died for each one of us so that we might have the forgiveness of our sins and the gift of eternal life. It is vital that we both, remember what Jesus Christ has done for us and live according to His commandments, to ensure that we are able to resist the devil. In, 1 Peter 5:8-14, Peter, a servant and an apostle of Jesus Christ, admonished “the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” who were the “Elect according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through sanctification of the Spirit, unto obedience and sprinkling of the blood of Jesus Christ:” 1Peter 1:1-2, to be steadfast in their faith, and his admonishment is for us as well, i.e., to be steadfast in our faith. For what Peter wrote to the “Elect” of his time is meant for Christians of all ages. Peter’s message is from God as the Holy Ghost brought to Peter’s remembrance, all of what Jesus said and taught, concerning how His followers would live. John 14:26 “26 ‘But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you.’ ” John 14:26 Let us now consider 1 Peter 5:8-14. 1 Peter 5:8 - Peter said to resist the devil. “8 Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour: 9 Whom resist stedfast in the faith, knowing that the same afflictions are accomplished in your brethren that are in the world.” Peter told the Elect, i.e., Christians, that they were to be sober, i.e., “to be calm and collected in spirit, “ Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of he New Testament To be “sober” means that you exercise good judgment in matters, as it relates to the word of God. “Vigilant” means “to watch, i.e., give strict attention to, be cautious, active.” Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament Why were they to be “calm and collected in spirit” and “give strict attention to spiritual matters?” The answer is in verse 8, it was because their adversary the devil, is always on the prowl and is seeking whom he may devour. It meant that they would have to be constantly on guard, i.e., watch, to make sure they were obeying the commandments of Jesus Christ, which was their defense against the devil. It is also our defense against the devil. How were they to resit the devil? By being stedfast in the faith of Jesus Christ. “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,” wrote “to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad,” and said, “Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” Submission to God is done by keeping the commandments of His only begotten Son Jesus Christ. John 14:15 As they were to keep “calm and collected in spirit” and watchful, i.e., knowing and keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ, so are we also, to do what Peter said, because “All scripture is given by inspiration of God.” 2 Timothy 3:16-17 “16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: 17 That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works.” Continuing in 1 Peter 5:10, Peter told the “Elect” that suffering “a little while” would make them perfect, i.e., “complete”. 1 Peter 5:10 - Peter’s blessing for the “Elect”. “10 But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” Peter wanted what was best for the “Elect”. He reminded them that it was “the God of all grace, who hath called” them “unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that” they had “suffered a while, would make them perfect, i.e., completing suffering without losing their faith in Jesus Christ. Their suffering would establish and strengthen them in their faith in Jesus Christ and it would “settle”. “Settle” means “ ‘to lay a foundation’ “ which is in Jesus Christ. “For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 3:11 Since all Scripture is given by inspiration of God, 2 Timothy 3:16-17, Peter’s blessing is for all the “Elect’ i.e., Christians, then and now. His blessing was by keeping the commandments of Jesus Christ will, indeed, make us perfect, establish us in our faith, strengthen our resolve to serve Jesus, and settle, i.e., “lay a foundation,” which is in Jesus Christ.“ Let us hear the Peter’s concluding remarks, starting in, 1 Peter 5:11. 1 Peter 5:11 “11 To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Peter closed his first Epistle with the blessing found in Verse 11, “To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.” Peter addressed God and stated, to God “be the glory and His dominion will last “for ever and ever, Amen.” Peter continued his closing remarks by saying his Epistle, i.e., Letter was sent by “Sylvanus, a faithful brother.” 1 Peter 5:12 “12 By Silvanus, a faithful brother unto you, as I suppose, I have written briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace of God wherein ye stand.” 1 Peter 5:13 - The church at Babylon, and Marcus, Peter’s son, saluted those scattered in the various regions of the world in 1 Peter 1:1. “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.” 1 Peter 5:14 - Peter’s benediction to the Elect. 14 Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.” They were greet one another with a kiss of love. And Peter wanted peace to be with them that were in Christ Jesus. In conclusion, we are in a spiritual battle that goes on everyday of our lives. There are many temptations that we face that need to be overcome. The best way to defeat temptations is by knowing and living the commandments of Jesus Christ. Let us be faithful to Jesus Christ and we will receive “the crown of life.” “Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.” James 1:12 And finally, brethren, hear Peter once more, “But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.” References: King James Version Bible Gateway - Thank you for public access to Bible verses. By Public Domain Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words - Published by Thomas Nelson Publishers - Copyright 1985 - Thank your for help with with 1 Peter 5:8-14, for the definitions of the Biblical Greek words, “perfect and “settle. Novum Testamentum Graece - Published by Hendrickson Publishers - 27th revised edition - Printed in the United States of America - Thank you for identifying the Greek word for “perfect and “settle”, in 1 Peter 5:10. Thayer’s Greek-English Lexicon of the New Testament - Published by Hendrickson Publishers -Tenth Printing - February 2012 - Printed in the United States of America -Thank you for the definitions of the Greek words for watch, “settle,” “sober,” and “vigilant. The Interlinear Bible Hebrew-Greek-English - Published by Hendrickson Publishers - Printed in the United States of America - Printed in December 2011 - Thank you for help with “watch” in 1 Peter 5:8. The Free Dictionary Online by Farlex - Thank you for the definitions of resolve, dispassionate, prudent, circumspect. J. B. Phillips, The New Testament in Modern English, 1962 edition by HarperCollins - Thank you for your Modern English version of 1 Peter 5:12.
Posted on: Fri, 07 Mar 2014 01:41:44 +0000
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