THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ELDERSHIP (1 PETER 5:1).
‘The elders among you I exhort, who am a fellow-elder, and a witness
of the sufferings of Christ, who am also a partaker of the glory that
shall be revealed,'
Peter now calls on the church leaders, in the light of coming
anticipated suffering, t... [ Continue Reading ]
THE GRAND FINALE (1 PETER 5:1).
As Peter comes to the close of his letter the thought of suffering
followed by glory continues:
· In 1 Peter 3:18 He had spoken of the sufferings of Christ which had
led on to His exaltation at the right hand of God, and the submission
of all things to Him.
· In 1 P... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Tend the flock of God which is among you, exercising the oversight,
not of constraint, but willingly, according to the will of God; nor
yet for base gain, but of a ready mind, neither as lording it over the
charge allotted to you, but making yourselves examples to the flock.
So just as Jesus had ca... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And when the chief Shepherd shall be revealed (in all His glory),
you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade not away.'
And their reward for being faithful under-shepherds will be that when
the Chief Shepherd is revealed in His glory they will receive an
unfading crown of glory. An unfa... [ Continue Reading ]
‘In the same way, you younger ones, be subject to those who are
older. Yes, all of you, gird yourselves with humility, to serve one
another, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.'
In the same way as the elders are to be ‘models' of genuine humble
service, so are the younger men... [ Continue Reading ]
THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE WHOLE CHURCH (1 PETER 5:5).
Having spoken to the under-shepherds Peter now speaks to the sheep. In
the light of the coming onslaught on the flock they are to walk in
readiness so that when the lion at some stage comes among them
(compare Hebrews 11:3), as come he will, th... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he
may exalt you in due time, casting all your anxiety on him, because he
cares for you.'
So all are to allow themselves to be humbled under the mighty hand of
God, and to give themselves to the humble task, rather than seeking
status a... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Be sober, be watchful. Your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion,
walks about, seeking whom he may devour,'
And this is especially so because of the one who is rampaging around
with his eye on the flock. The likening of the Devil to a lion waiting
to attack the sheep may well have arisen from the... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Whom withstand steadfast in your faith, knowing that the same
sufferings are accomplished in your brothers who are in the world.'
Resisting the Devil is a concept also found in Ephesians 6:11; James
4:6. In the former case it is by faith in God through His word, and in
the latter case it is by humi... [ Continue Reading ]
‘And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in
Christ, after that you have suffered a little while, will himself make
whole, establish, strengthen you.'
But Peter assures them that they have nothing to fear from such
persecution, for it is the God of all grace Who will be their
s... [ Continue Reading ]
‘To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen.'
And the certainty of this promise is guaranteed by God's eternal
dominion (1 Peter 3:22; 1 Peter 4:11; Psalms 22:28; Psalms 93:1;
Psalms 97:1; Psalms 99:1). With God sovereign over all, what have His
people to fear? Amen.
The similarity of this vers... [ Continue Reading ]
CONCLUSION.
‘By Silvanus, our faithful brother, as I account him, I have written
to you briefly, exhorting, and testifying that this is the true grace
of God. Stand you fast in it.'
This probably means more than that Silas (Silvanus) simply delivered
the letter. It was quite regular for someone not... [ Continue Reading ]
‘She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, salutes you; and so
does Mark my son.'
‘She who is in Babylon' is almost certainly referring to the church
from which he writes (ekklesia is feminine, and if he had meant his
wife he would probably have said ‘she who is with me' or some such
personal... [ Continue Reading ]
‘Salute one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are
in Christ.'
This is not a call for formalities, but a plea for oneness. They are
to reveal their chaste love for one another by a meaningful symbol of
love rather than with a pretence that has no meaning. ‘By this will
all men kno... [ Continue Reading ]