Standing Firm in God’s Grace

Standing Firm in God’s Grace

(1 Peter 5:12-14)

Series: Strength Through Adversity

Rev. Todd A. Linn, PhD

Henderson’s First Baptist Church, Henderson

• Take your Bibles and join me in 1 Peter, chapter 5 (page 817; YouVersion).

Today we are finishing our study of this small letter. It’s just five chapters, but we’ve

taken our time and preached about five messages per chapter as we preach verse-byverse

through books of the Bible. We could have spent longer in this book as it is so

rich and it is often beneficial to slow down and really soak in the Word of God.

I was reminded, however, of the approach of Martyn Lloyd-Jones in preaching through

Romans. Lloyd Jones spent 13 years preaching through the Book of Romans and died

before he had finished, making it only to chapter 14. He had preached 29 sermons on

chapter one alone.

It’s like the family taking a vacation by automobile and the little 4-year-old boy in the

back seat testing his mother’s patience. He’d keep saying, “Are we there yet, are we

there yet?” His mother finally said, “Look, stop asking. It’s going to be a long time

before we’re there.” A few minutes later, the little boy asked, “Mom, will I still be 4 when

we get there?”

So here we are now at the end of our journey through 1 Peter and we’re in chapter 5,

verses 12-14, reading what is something of a “P.S.,” a post-script at the end of Peter’s

letter.

• Please stand in honor of the reading of God’s Word.

12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly,

exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark

my son.

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus.

Amen.

• Pray.

Introduction:

Our message this morning is entitled, “Standing Firm in God’s Grace,” standing firm or

standing fast in God’s grace.

I remember hearing the late Adrian Rogers tell once about a boy who had a horse that

really wasn’t good for anything excepting eating up oats. A man walked by and asked

the boy if his horse could run fast, and the boy said, “No sir, he can’t run fast, but he

can sure stand fast!”

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And these last few verses in this short letter are Peter’s reminder to Christians to

“stand fast” in the grace of God. You’ll note that there in verse 12. Peter says, “I have

written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which

you stand,” standing fast and standing firm in the grace of God.

We’re going to talk about that this morning, standing firm in God’s grace, and before we

do, let’s just look a little more closely at verses 12-14 and then we’ll look specifically at

the ways in which we “Stand firm in God’s grace.” Look again at verse 12:

12 By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly,

exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God in which you stand.

Peter says he has delivered this letter, “by Silvanus.” Silvanus is the long name for

Silas. Silas is mentioned about a dozen times in the Book of Acts.

We noted this in our introductory message on the first chapter that most scholars

believe Silvanus carried Peter’s letter on a circular route to the churches in what is

today modern Turkey. These churches are mentioned back in chapter 1, verse 1, the

people of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia.

In verse 12 Peter also writes positively about Silvanus, describing him as a “faithful

brother.” We do well to build up others, calling attention to their positive character

qualities. Maybe there is someone today you can refer to as a “faithful brother” or a

“faithful sister.” And we ourselves should aspire to live in such a way that people would

think of us as being, “faithful.”

Peter also says in verse 12 that he has written, “briefly, exhorting and testifying that this

is the true grace of God in which you stand.”

What is the true grace of God in which we stand? Peter says, “This is.” What is the

“This?” When Peter says, “This”–and do you see that there in verse 12? This–he is

talking about the contents of the entire letter. The “this” refers to all Peter has been

teaching about salvation and the Christian life. This about which I have been writing–

this grace of salvation and everything that attaches to it–it is in this that you stand.”

All the Christian has comes through the grace of God. God gives the grace of salvation

and forgiveness, which then brings the grace of strength, help, and comfort. No

Christian deserves any of this. It is all owing to God’s grace. And it is this grace in

which the Christian stands.

The text is more literally, “in which grace take your stand.” Grammatically, the verb is an

imperative and should be translated this way. Stand firm in this grace God has given

you! Verse 13:

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13 She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark

my son.

When Peter mentions, “She who is in Babylon,” he is most likely referring to the church

in Rome. Babylon was code name for Rome (cf. Revelation 18:9-10) so Peter is

probably saying, “Hey, I’m writing from Rome here and the brothers and sisters here at

the church say hello.” The believers in Rome are the “elect together with you,” with you

Christians in the five Roman provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and

Bithynia.

Peter adds at the end of verse 13, “Also, Mark says hello.” He refers to Mark as, “Mary

my son.” Mark was Peter’s “spiritual son,” his son in the faith. Mark is the same guy

who wrote the Gospel of Mark and most believe, then, that Mark’s primary source for his

Gospel was Peter. So Peter writes in verse 13, “The church here says hello and Mark

says hello.” Then verse 14:

14 Greet one another with a kiss of love…

Wow, try that out in the church today! Turn to the person next to you and give them a

great big kiss of love! Get yourself slapped.

That’s an Eastern, Oriental custom. Folks greeted one another this way. They put their

hands on the shoulders of the other person and kissed them on the cheek. You’ll

remember that’s how Judas approached Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. When

he greeted Jesus he kissed him (Mark 14).

So we dare not impose upon a 21st century Western church a culturally-bound greeting

of the first-century Eastern church. Okay? But the implication is still there, the

application today includes the kind of warm greetings we extend to one another as we

gather together, a warm handshake and a loving embrace in Christ, “holy hugs,” if you

like, void of any romantic notions, but rather genuine expressions of Christian love for

one another. That’s the idea. And then ten finally greeting at the end of verse 14:

…Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen.

Peace comes to those who are “in Christ Jesus,” to those who are united with Christ,

whose sins are covered by Christ, those who also receive the imputation of Christ’s

righteousness. Those two things: sins forgiven and receiving the credit of Christ’s

righteousness, this is what brings peace to the Christian–peace with God and then, a

peace with others.

And the main thrust in this postscript of Peter’s, in these three verses, is the imperative

given in verse 12. Again, Peter says, “This is the true grace of God in which you stand.”

It’s better translated, “Stand firm in this grace!”

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The question remains, “In what way do we stand firm in God’s grace?” In at least three

ways we stand firm in Believing, Teaching, and Suffering. First:

I. Stand Firm in Your Believing in Christ

When Peter talks about standing firm in God’s grace it is a call first to stand firm in the

grace of the Gospel. We stand firm in the grace of our salvation.

Peter mentions the grace of our salvation the opening verses of the letter. He says

back in chapter 1 and verse 10:

1 Peter 1:10, “Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who

prophesied of the grace (the grace of salvation) that would come to you.”

Remember how Peter began discussing the grace of the Christian’s salvation? Back in

chapter 1 and verses 3 and following:

1 Peter 1:3-5:

3 Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who according to His

abundant mercy has begotten us again to a living hope through the resurrection of

Jesus Christ from the dead,

4 to an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and that does not fade away, reserved in

heaven for you,

5 who are kept by the power of God through faith for salvation ready to be revealed in

the last time.

And Peter mentions the grace of our salvation again in chapter 2, verses 22 and

following:

1 Peter 2:22-24, “Christ also suffered for us…[He] Himself bore our sins in His own body

on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose

(beatings) you were healed.”

And chapter 3, and verse 18:

1 Peter 3:18, “ For Christ also suffered once for sins, the just for the unjust, that He

might bring us to God…”

So as Peter concludes his letter in this little “P.S” at the end of chapter 5, he does so by

reminding Christians of the grace of their salvation. He says, “Stand firm in God’s

grace,” standing fast in your believing in Christ.

Never forget, Christian, that you are accepted by God on the basis of your faith and

trust in Jesus Christ. If you are “in Christ,” God will never love you any less than He

loved you at the moment you placed your faith in Jesus. You will likely disappoint God

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again and again as you live the Christian life. You and I still struggle with sin, but God

still loves us just the same. We sang it earlier with the praise team: “You see the depths

of my heart and you love me the same.” That’s true only for the Christian.

Christians are accepted by God not on the basis of their performance. Christians are

accepted by God on the basis of the infinitely perfect righteousness of Jesus Christ.

“Stand firm in God’s grace,” standing fast in your believing in Christ. Secondly:

II. Stand Firm in Your Teaching about Christ

And when I say “teaching” here I’m talking about your teaching others about Christ,

teaching them through evangelism and missions, sharing the Gospel.

Peter says in verse 12, “I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is

the true grace of God in which you stand.”

We must be sure we are sharing the “true grace of God.” We must be sure we are

evangelizing and making disciples of others, teaching the true grace of God, the true

Gospel, true salvation.

Peter will expand upon this concern in his second letter. You may just turn to 2 Peter 2

and verses 1 and 2:

2 Peter 2:1-2:

1 “But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false

teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the

Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction.

2 And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be

blasphemed.”

Peter is very much concerned for the true grace of God, the truth of salvation, the truth

of the Gospel. Stand firm in your teaching about Christ.

We must have the same concern for truth in our day that Peter had in his day. Whether

you are a Sunday school teacher, or a mom or dad or grandparent teaching your

children or grandchildren about Christ, whether you are a middle schooler or high

schooler sharing your faith with a friend, you and I must take care to share the “true

grace of God.”

There is no other way to enter into heaven other than the way of the cross. Jesus

Christ is the way, the truth, and the life. He says in John 14:6, “No one comes to the

Father except by Me.” That is the truth about Christ. It is “the true grace of God in

which you stand.”

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So stand firm in your teaching about Christ. Don’t succumb to the temptation to believe

that there are many other ways to God–the way of the Buddhist, the way of the Muslim,

the way of the humanist, the way of the moralist–no! There is only one “true grace of

God in which you stand,” so stand! Stand firm in your believing in Christ and stand firm

in your teaching about Christ. Thirdly:

III. Stand Firm in Your Suffering for Christ

In the Gospels, you will remember that Jesus talked with Peter about Peter’s future

denial of Christ and later restoration to Christ. And in that conversation Jesus said, “I

have prayed for you, that you faith should not fail; and when you have returned to Me,

strengthen your brethren (Luke 22:32).”

1 Peter is a discipleship manual for Christians, a letter written to Peter’s “brethren,”

brothers and sisters like you and I, that we may be strengthened especially when facing

times of adversity, persecution, and suffering.

Persecution is a common theme in 1 Peter because persecution is a common theme in

Christian life. Recall some of these earlier statements of Peters. Here them again:

1 Peter 1:6-7, “…you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your

faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may

be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”

1 Peter 4:12-13, “12 Beloved, do not think it strange concerning the fiery trial which is to

try you, as though some strange thing happened to you; 13 but rejoice to the extent that

you partake of Christ’s sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad

with exceeding joy.”

1 Peter 4:16, “if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him

glorify God in this matter.”

Remember, Christians, who you are in this temporary world. Peter opened his letter in

1 Peter 1:1, addressing Christians as, “Pilgrims,” sojourners, temporary residents. This

world is not our final home.

As we journey through this temporary, fallen world we will suffer for our faith.

Peter wrote this letter a few years before the horrible reign of the Roman Emperor Nero

and the severe persecution he unleashed upon the Christians. And Christians have

faced persecution for their faith throughout history. It really is the norm.

I will not tire of telling you this. Some of you will be persecuted for your faith in some

form or another perhaps this week. And if we were to live where the majority of the

world lives, places like Asia, the Middle East, and Northern Africa, we would likely be

persecuted nearly every day for our faith. Let’s please remember that persecution is the

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norm of Christian experience. Some of you will follow God’s call to go to the unengaged

or unreached peoples of India, Pakistan, and Somalia. You will suffer for your faith.

Remember it is the norm of Christian experience. We live in a fallen world and our

adversary, the devil, roams about like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour

(1Peter 5:8).

I’ve been reading recently about a missionary who had the opportunity to interview a

number of Christians suffering in Russia over the past few decades. He writes of his

meeting with several pastors, evangelists, and church planters in Russia. He says:

I listened in wonder as these believers almost casually recounted being sent to prison

for “five years,” “three years,” or “seven years” and being “beaten,” “forced to sleep

naked in a cold, damp cell” or “having nothing but moldy bread and boiled cabbage to

eat for months.” These same men shared joyful memories of “the time when my wife

and son visited me in prison,” “when I was placed in a cell with another believer who

could encourage me as I encouraged him,” and “how the (local church) cared for the

needs of my family while I was in prison.”

The missionary writer, Nik Ripken, said:

When we stopped to eat lunch, I (said), “Your stories are amazing. Why haven’t they

been written down? Your stories sound like Bible stories come to life! I can’t believe

that you haven’t collected them in a book, or recorded them in some video form. Other

followers of Jesus around the world could hear your stories and be encouraged by

what God is doing here among those who are persecuted.” They seemed confused by

what I was saying. Clearly, we were not understanding each other. Then one of older

pastors stood and motioned for me to follow him. He led me over to a large window in

the front room of the home. As we stood together in front of the window, the old

gentleman (said), “I understand that you have some sons, Nik. Is that true?”

I told him that it was true. He nodded and then asked me, “Tell me, Nik. How many

times have you awakened your sons before dawn and brought them to a window like

this one, one that faces east, and said to them, ‘Boys, watch carefully. This morning

you’re going to see the sun coming up (this time) in the East! It’s going to happen in

just a few more minutes. Get ready now, boys. How many times have you done that

with your sons?” “Well,” I chuckled, “I’ve never done that. If I ever did that, my boys

would think I was crazy. The sun always comes up in the East. It happens every

morning!” The old man nodded and smiled…and (said), “Nik, that’s why we haven’t

made books and movies out of these stories that you have been hearing. For us,

persecution is like the sun coming up in the East. It happens all the time. It’s the way

things are. There is nothing unusual or unexpected about it. Persecution for our faith

has always been— and probably always will be— a normal part of life.”

Nik added:

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…I had always assumed that persecution was abnormal, exceptional, unusual, out of

the ordinary. In my mind, persecution was something to avoid. It was a problem, a

setback, a barrier. I was captivated by the thought: what if persecution is the normal,

expected situation for a believer? And what if the persecution is, in fact, soil in which

faith can grow?

[Ripken, Nik; Lewis, Gregg (2012-12-17). The Insanity of God: A True Story of Faith

Resurrected (Kindle Locations 2529-2531). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition]

And, indeed, persecution is just that–soil in which faith can grow, soil in which the

church can grow.

So stand firm in God’s grace, standing firm in your suffering for Christ.

• Let’s pray and I invite you to stand for prayer now.

Peter concludes his letter with the words, “Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus.”

Peace comes only by being in Christ…

 

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