Eternal
Glory
1 Peter 5:10 “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.
11 To him be glory and dominion for
ever and ever. Amen.”
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.
13 The church that is at Babylon,
elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth
Marcus my son.
14 Greet ye one
another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you
all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
1. Perfect
2. Stablish
3.
Strengthen
4. Settle
Verse ten: “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.”
Now, first note this: in our last verse [in verse fourteen] God’s word makes it very clear what is the most important issue in life.
It is this! It is whether or not a person is … IN Jesus Christ. This is the all important issue … according to God. It better be to us!
Now, if a person is in Jesus Christ, the goal for that person is shown right here in verse ten. The goal is “fourfold” for the true Christian. This goal is to perfect, to establish, to strengthen and to settle … the believer in Jesus Christ … after “a while”.
Let me dwell here for a moment. The believer is waiting! We are waiting, and while we are waiting, we are to suffer. This is the will of God for both you and me.
While we are waiting for this fourfold goal to be achieved in us … we will be suffering [“after that ye have suffered a while”].
1. Perfect
The first mention of the word “perfect” in the
Bible is found in Genesis chapter six, verse nine:
“These are the generations of Noah: Noah was a just
man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked
with God.” [Genesis 6:9] Noah, being “perfect,” is
related to the Noah … who is seeking the “perfect”
will of God.
The intent of the heart of a
man is revealed in precision every time to God, and
eventually [in time] for everyone else all around to
see [by the fruit] his desire to set every decision
in his life … at every “Y” in the road of life … to
the will and to the glory of the God of heaven and
earth.
For the true believer in this age … the bottom-line command from God is the instruction found in Romans twelve in verse two: “And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.” [Romans 12:2]
The Christian being “perfect” is totally in relation to the Christian “seeking” the perfect will of God.
2. Stablish
The first mention of the word “stablish” in the Bible is found in Second Samuel chapter seven, verse thirteen: “He shall build an house for my name, and I will stablish the throne of his kingdom for ever.” [2 Samuel 7:13]
To “stablish” someone, or something, is to relate to time not ending.
Time not ending … is forever! [1 Thessalonians 3:13] “To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.” [1 Thessalonians 3:13]
3. Strengthen
The first mention of the word “strengthen” in the Bible is found in Deuteronomy chapter three, verse twenty-eight: “But charge Joshua, and encourage him, and strengthen him: for he shall go over before this people, and he shall cause them to inherit the land which thou shalt see.” [Deuteronomy 3:28]
To strengthen is to nourish. To nourish someone, or something, it takes deliberate and focused effort applied consistently over a set period of time. To “strengthen” [in the Bible] is to give a charge [a setting to leadership] for a noble cause.
Where is this strengthening to occur? This strengthening is to occur in the heart and in the soul of the man, or the woman.
The BOOK shows us this very thing in Psalm thirty-one in verse twenty-four: “Be of good courage, and he shall strengthen your heart, all ye that hope in the Lord.” [Psalm 31:24]
What is more, the “strengthening” comes from being “nourished” in God’s word. “My soul melteth for heaviness: strengthen thou me according unto thy word.” [Psalm 119:28]
4. Settle
The first mention of the word “settle” in the Bible is found in First Chronicles chapter seventeen, verse fourteen: “But I will settle him in mine house and in my kingdom for ever: and his throne shall be established for evermore.” [1 Chronicles 17:14]
What is being said here? God is promising perpetuity [an endless duration] to the throne of David [through Solomon his son] through all time into eternity.
To “settle” is make final the destination. When Jesus Christ was here on this earth nearly two thousand years ago, HE used this word “settle”.
The disciples were told “settle” it in their hearts, that the Spirit of God would provide them the answer to give their enemies in the day it is required. “Settle it therefore in your hearts, not to meditate before what ye shall answer:” [Luke 21:14].
To “settle” something … is to give to it a final home. Never more will we roam again. To be settled means you will never more have to live in a tent and wander around this old earth. You will have arrived to be at your home forever more. “Settle it therefore in your hearts.”
The final settlement is in the new heavens and in the new earth that is coming [according to God’s word in Second Peter chapter three, verse thirteen]: “Nevertheless we, according to his promise, look for new heavens and a new earth, wherein dwelleth righteousness.” [2 Peter 3:13]
Not only is this settled, but God’s word itself, is settled in heaven. “For ever, O Lord, thy word is settled in heaven.” [Psalm 119:89] Amen!
Verse eleven: "To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”
Now, we are getting ready to close.
In verse eleven, we see again what has been the constant main theme found in the Bible.
The main theme in the Bible is “Kings and Kingdoms”, and especially in particular … one King and one Kingdom.
Verse twelve: “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.”
The elder Peter has dictated this epistle by the scribal hand of Silvanus “to the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia,” for the purpose to build up [by “exhorting, and testifying”] the saints in “the true grace of God.”
Verse thirteen: “The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.”
This shows us at the time of the writing of this epistle Peter is at Babylon. This shows us something else. Right to the end of his life Peter was busy building up the saints in Jesus Christ. “In whom all the building fitly framed together groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: In whom ye also are builded together for an habitation of God through the Spirit.” [Ephesians 2:21-22]
This is the church … the body of Christ.
Lastly, we have come to verse fourteen: “Greet ye one another with a kiss of charity. Peace be with you all that are in Christ Jesus. Amen.”
Thus, this epistle ends. It ends with a “kiss of charity”, which thing has been virtually lost at the end of this “church age”.
This is CHARITY.
This is where I will end this commentary. “And above all things have fervent charity among yourselves: for charity shall cover the multitude of sins.” [1 Peter 4:8]