As Peter’s letter draws to a close, the Holy Spirit guided him to think back over some of what he wrote and to highlight several facts about our great God. He did not want his readers to be discouraged by suffering for Christ. He wanted them to stay focussed and to keep looking up to their great God.

Transition

In these verses, Peter reminds us of several facts about God that ought to encourage us to keep looking up when persecution threatens to get us down.

The first fact about God that ought to encourage us during persecution is that

He is the God of all grace

  1. Grace is often misunderstood.
    1. Grace is divine enablement.
    2. Grace is a gift that is undeserved.
    3. In a sense, grace is the opposite of mercy. Mercy is withholding judgment we deserve. Grace is giving us something that we do not deserve. Christ mercifully forgives our judgment in hell when we repent and trust Him. He then graciously gives us eternal life in heaven.
  2. God is God of ALL grace
    1. Grace comes from our God.
      1. As humans, grace is not part of our sinful nature. We do not usually give to those who do not deserve it.
      2. Grace is part of the loving nature of God.
    2. The Christians to whom Peter wrote had already received God’s saving grace. They also needed God’s grace (divine help) for their suffering, their family conflicts, their duty to submit to leadership, and their service for the Lord.
    3. God is the God of ALL kinds of grace. His grace is sufficient for every one of our needs. He can give divine enabling to help us through any situation.
      1. God does not lack the ability to help us. (Jeremiah 32:17) Ah Lord GOD! behold, thou hast made the heaven and the earth by thy great power and stretched out arm, and there is nothing too hard for thee:
      2. Sometimes God gives grace instead of removing a trial. Note what God told Paul when he prayed about a trial he called his “thorn in the flesh.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
      3. God can give us grace to resist temptation. (1 Corinthians 10:13) There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.
        The second fact about God that ought to encourage us during persecution is that

He called us unto His eternal glory by Jesus Christ

  1. The word “called” means to invite or to name.
    1. Peter used this word six times in this book (1 Peter 1:15; 2:9; 2:21; 3:6; 3:9; 5:10).
    2. In this verse, it obviously means to invite, and it assumes we have answered the invitation positively.
    3. God calls people to Himself through the gospel. (2 Thessalonians 2:14) Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.
    4. In Jesus’ “Parable of the Great Supper”, a man hosting the feast (representing God) bade (called) many, but some made excuses and did not answer his call. This reminds us that not everyone answers God’s call positively.
  2. God has called us unto His eternal glory.
    1. The word “glory” is used in several ways in Scripture.
      1. It has a broad definition including honour, splendour, brightness, majesty, personal excellency, a most glorious condition, and a most exalted state.
      2. Here, as in other verses, it speaks of heaven or the eternal dwelling place of God. Other verses include:
      3. (Romans 3:23) For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
      4. (Romans 5:2) By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
    2. God has called believers unto His eternal glory. God calls sinners, not only to be saved from judgment they deserve in hell, but to receive the grace of His eternal glory provided by Jesus Christ.
      The third fact about God that ought to encourage us during persecution is that

He is aware that we are suffering a little

  1. It is normal for Christians to suffer
    1. Whether we suffer from the oppression of the devil or from the persecution of unbelievers, neither is new.
    2. New Testament Christians expected to suffer for Christ, but they focussed on eternity.
      1. (2 Timothy 3:12) Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.
      2. (2 Corinthians 4:17) For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
      3. (Romans 8:18) For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
  2. God allows us to suffer a while for our good.
    1. All of our suffering is brief compared to eternity.
    2. God wants to perfect us (i.e., complete, fully equipped) through suffering. This word is used of how God “framed” or fully equipped the world at creation. (Hebrews 11:3) Through faith we understand that the worlds were framed by the word of God, so that things which are seen were not made of things which do appear. Paul also said he wanted to “perfect” the believers in Thessalonica by his ministry. (1 Thessalonians 3:10) Night and day praying exceedingly that we might see your face, and might perfect that which is lacking in your faith?
    3. God wants to establish us (i.e., place firmly, make stable, confirm) through suffering. God does not want us to waver. Trials ought to force us to dig in the Bible. This will confirm our faith. The word is also used in (2 Thessalonians 3:3) But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.
    4. God wants to strengthen us through suffering. Times of suffering ought to cause us to depend more fully on the Lord for strength.
    5. God wants to settle us through suffering. This word has the idea of laying a foundation or grounding us. (Hebrews 1:10) And, Thou, Lord, in the beginning hast laid the foundation of the earth; and the heavens are the works of thine hands: As a tree blown by the wind pushes its roots deeper for stability, so hardships can give us a solid foundation if we will learn to depend on the Lord through them.
      The fourth fact about God that ought to encourage us during persecution is that

He has the glory and dominion forever.

  1. Let me explain the words glory and dominion
    1. God’s glory refers to His kingly majesty, personal excellency, or exalted position.
    2. God dominion refers to His powerful might or legal authority.
  2. God is able to meet our needs
    1. He has the exalted position and the powerful might to use suffering in our lives to perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us. As Creator of all things, He has unlimited power. He can turn our trials into stepping stones rather than stumbling blocks.
    2. He has the ability to do this for ever and ever (lit. unto the ages of the ages).

Conclusion

It ought to encourage us that our God is the God of all grace. He has called us unto His eternal glory. He is aware of our sufferings and is using them for our good. He has the exalted position and power to help us in every situation.

When you face a trial, do not let it make you bitter. Instead, allow God to use them to make you better.

If you are not 100% positive you are on your way to heaven, I would like to show you from the Bible how you can be saved.

Song: Burdens Are Lifted – 218
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Keep Looking Up!
25 October 2015 AM – 1 Peter 5:10-11 – 1Pe15 – Scott Childs