Be Sober and Alert (Pt.2)

8 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. 9 But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world. 10 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen. 12 Through Silvanus, our faithful brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! 13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. 14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace be to you all who are in Christ.

There are some “forty different titles referring to Satan” (Dickason)

Some of them are:

Satan - “adversary or opposer” (Mat.4:10)

Devil - “slanderer” (Mat.4:1)

Evil one - “intrinsically evil” (John 17:5)

Great red dragon - (Rev.12:3, 7, 9)

Serpent of old - “deceiver in Eden” (Rev.12:9)

Abaddon - “destruction” (Rev.9:11)

Apollyon - “destroyer” (Rev.9:11)

Beelzebul - “Lord of the fly” (Mat.12:24)

Belial - “worthless” (2 Cor.6:15)

God of this world (2 Cor.4:4)

Ruler of this world (Jn.12:31)

Prince of the power of the air (Eph.2:2)

Enemy (Mat.13:28)

Tempter (Mat.4:3)

Murderer (Jn.8:44)

Liar (Jn.8:44)

Accuser (Rev.12:10)

Peter gives one title in verse 8 when he refers to him as our “adversary”

This refers to his “role of opposing believers in Christ” (MacArthur)

As we already said, he is Satan, which means “adversary” or “opposer”

As Peter gives these final words, he wants them to understand their enemy and the enemy of God

He also wants them to understand that the roar he has made in their lives was in the form of persecution

Jesus said in John 15:19, “If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you.”

You do not belong to the world

You are not their own

You are not of this world

You have been chosen for salvation by Christ from those in the world

Because of this, Jesus says, “the world hates you.”

And where does this hate come from?

It comes from Satan!

So they must accept their humble circumstances that came from being persecuted and they must be active in their fight against sin and Satan

So Peter says in verse 8 they first needed to...

LESSON

I. Be Sober (v.8a)

E.M. Bounds, says, “The existence and work of the devil is a serious matter. It is to be considered and dealt with from the most serious standpoint, and only serious people can deal with it. For this reason, the New Testament gives the repeated note of warning, ‘be sober’ (Winning the Invisible War, p.108).

The words “be sober” in Classical Greek originally meant “one who was completely unaffected by wine, i.e., one who avoided intoxication

Later it came to refer to “a sober manner of living demonstrated by self-control” (LFB)

This was a call for “a balance in [their] disposition, [a balance in their] thoughts, and [a balance their] actions” (Lenski)

Ephesians 4:1, “Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called”

So this then is referring to having “steadfastness, clarity of mind, and moral decisiveness” (MacArthur), being “serious” and “self-controlled”

But this is not the only thing they needed. They also needed to...

II. Be Alert (v.8b)

We said last time...

This is a command to “wake up” (gregoreo, aor.act.imp.)

It indicates “spiritual alertness, with…an emphasis on one’s focus of attention” (Grudem)

What’s are you focused on? (‘watching’ for sin, for attacks of evil’) (Grudem)

This is a call to be “alert” “against the assaults of sin and Satan” (Hiebert)

They needed to be alert because of your adversary the devil who wanted to devour them

They also needed to be alert because our adversary is like a roaring lion

Because of this, they also needed to...

III. Be Firm (v.9)

“But resist him”

Resist the Devil (v.9a)

This means to “oppose, withstand” or “stand up against” the devil

You do that by doing what James said in James 4:7, “Submit therefore to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you.”

Trust God (v.9b)

“firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.”

You resist the devil by being “deeply rooted in the content of the Christian faith” (Sproul)

You also resist the devil by understanding that Satan tempts and attacks all believers - 1 Corinthians 10:13, “No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it.”

So they needed to be sober, alert, firm and last, they needed to...

IV. Be Patient (vv.10-11)

“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. 11 To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

Suffering is “for a little while” (v.10a)

Peter returns to the theme of the letter (suffering)

He reminds them...

Suffering is temporary

“a little while” (oligon, adj) refers “to either the duration or degree of suffering” (Hiebert). It most likely includes both

1 Peter 1:6, “In this you greatly rejoice, even though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been distressed by various trials,”

Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”

2 Corinthians 4:17, “For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison”

The suffering…stands in strong contrast to the eternal glory that will follow” (Hiebert)

Our comfort in our suffering comes from God who is the...

God is “the God of all grace” (v.10b)

This title only appears here in the NT

He is also called “the God of all comfort” in 2 Corinthians 1:3.

“the God of peace” in Hebrews 13:20.

And “the God of hope” in Romans 15:13.

Peter says...

God is the source and giver of all grace

We see all the way back in Genesis 3 when God didn’t give Adam and Eve what they deserved when they disobeyed Him and took of the forbidden fruit

Just hearing His tender voice in Genesis 3:9, revealed His grace to them when it says, “Then the Lord God called to the man, and said to him, “Where are you?””

God didn’t blast them He banished them from the Garden He created for them and made their provisions something they would spend the rest of their lives toiling for but even in this, He provided for them---that’s grace!

He provided them with children (Gen.4:1-2, 25)

He provided them with food by giving them “flocks” (Gen.4:2) and the fruit of the ground (Gen.4:3)

But most importantly He gave them Christ and applied the future work of Christ to them - Genesis 3:15, “And I will put enmity Between you and the woman, And between your seed and her seed; He shall bruise you on the head, And you shall bruise him on the heel.””

There were consequences for their sin (banishment from the garden, pain in child bearing, pain in working the ground) but He did not cause them to die for 930 years (Gen.5:5). That is grace!

Think about your life. We should have never been born because we have been sinners from the womb - Psalm 58:3, “The wicked are estranged from the womb; These who speak lies go astray from birth.”

“All the underserved favor bestowed upon us in our unworthiness” (Hiebert)

Peter says that God is the giver of “all grace”

“all grace” points “to the great variety of His gracious help for every need and occasion” (Hiebert). There is grace for every need we have

Paul came to understand this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-11, “7 Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me—to keep me from exalting myself! 8 Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. 9 And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong. 11 I have become foolish; you yourselves compelled me. Actually I should have been commended by you, for in no respect was I inferior to the most eminent apostles, even though I am a nobody.”

You especially God’s grace when Peter says...

God has “called you to His eternal glory in Christ” (v.10c)

Salvation is a gracious call from God

The Christian’s holy calling is described in some detail in Ephesians 1-3, especially Ephesians 1:3-14 where we see the truths that saints are chosen (Ephesians 1:4), predestined (Ephesians 1:5), adopted as sons (Ephesians 1:5), accepted in the Beloved (Ephesians 1:6), redeemed through His blood (Ephesians 1:7), forgiven (Ephesians 1:7), sealed with the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 1:13) and given the earnest of our inheritance (Ephesians 1:14). In addition to a holy calling, saints also have a high ("upward") calling (Philippians 3:14) and a heavenly calling (Hebrews 3:1).

It is a call “to His eternal glory in Christ”

This indicates His ultimate purpose of His call—that we might “share in the eternal glory that is His” (Mounce)

“His eternal glory” “is the last of repeated references to God’s glory in the epistle (cf. 1:7, 11, 21; 4:11; 5:1) and brings the theme to its glorious eschatological climax (Hiebert)

“The expression here summarizes all that God still has in store for His saints” (Hiebert)

Peter’s final words give us the purpose of our suffering

He says, “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

First God “Himself” (personally involved) will do 4 things: All 4 are future tense verbs stated in the active and as a fact (indicative)

First, God will...

Perfect (v.10d)

katartizo (fut.act.ind.) means “to fit or join together and so to mend or repair (PA)

It “has in it the idea of equipping something or preparing it for future use” (Wuest)

“When this word is applied to that which is weak and defective, it denotes setting right what has gone wrong, to restore to a former condition, whether mending broken nets or setting broken bones” (PA)

Peter is saying “God promises to repair the damage that sin and suffering have wrought” (PA)

“Like a doctor setting a broken bone, God will mend our broken lives and make us whole” (Barclay)

Confirm (v.10e)

sterizo (fut.act.ind.) means “to make firm or solid, to set fast, to fix firmly in a place, to establish (make firm or stable), to cause to be inwardly firm or committed, to strengthen. The basic idea is that of stabilizing something by providing a support” (PA)

In the present verse, stērízō refers to a divine promise that amid their sufferings, God will give the believers the needed fixity and immobility, and thus the inner strength and resolve to continue to resist the onslaughts of their adversary, the devil, and stand fast in their faith. (PA)

In other words, God will "confirm" you. He will make you as solid as granite and enable you to stand against the fiery ordeal and the storms of life. (Ritchie)

Strengthen (v.10f)

sthenoo (fut.act.ind.) means “to fill with strength” (PA)

Psalm 138:7, “Though I walk in the midst of trouble, You will revive me; You will stretch forth Your hand against the wrath of my enemies, And Your right hand will save me.”

“Persecution is intended by Satan to weaken and wear out believers, but it has the opposite effect. It strengthens them to endure” (MacDonald)

Establish (v.10g)

themelioo (fut.act.ind.) means “to lay a foundation or provide with a foundation, to place on a firm, secure foundation” (PA)

Vincent says, “The radical notion of (themelioo) is, therefore, to ground securely”

Christ is our firm foundation - “On Christ the solid Rock I stand, all other ground is sinking sand”

A Living Hope: A Commentary on 1 and 2 Peter Some Final Exhortations (5:1–11)

The net effect of these four positive verbs is that God intends to restore and establish securely those who are now suffering on his behalf.

Wayne Grudem writes...

1 Peter: An Introduction and Commentary 3. God Will Restore You after You Have Suffered (5:10–11)

the God of all grace will restore them or ‘make them fully prepared and complete’ with respect to any resource or ability which they have lost through this suffering. He will establish them firmly in any position, rightful privilege, or responsibility which this suffering has taken from them. He will strengthen them for any weakness they have been made to suffer, any inadequacy for overcoming evil which they may have known. And we should add (with RSV MG., SIMILARLY NIV, NASB) that he will settle (or: found, establish, firmly place) them in any rightful place from which the suffering has wrongfully removed them. In sum: all loss will soon be made right, and that for eternity.

Notice...

The praise that comes from suffering (v.11)

“To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.”

This is a confession and acknowledgment

It is, indeed, His “dominion”

He is the “God of all grace” who has “called you” who “Himself” will “perfect, confirm, strengthen, and establish you”

The word “dominion” (kratos) signifies strength. Here it “denotes God’s ability to dominate, to have everything in the universe under His sovereign and unassailable control” (MacArthur)

Psalm 103:19, “The Lord has established His throne in the heavens, And His sovereignty rules over all.”

Jeremiah 23:24, “Can a man hide himself in hiding places So I do not see him?” declares the Lord. “Do I not fill the heavens and the earth?” declares the Lord.”

Peter mentions “the glory and dominion” of Christ in 1 Peter 4:11 putting Him equal with God the Father. It too ends with “Amen”

So let it be with God and with Christ!

CONCLUSION

The letter ends with several things:

Peter affirms the veracity of his letter in verse 12 by “exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!”

He also reminds them that “she who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark” (v.13)

Many believe the name Babylon is used here figuratively and was a “cryptic designation for the city of Rome” (Hiebert)

“That was the earliest known view in church history. It is favored by the majority of scholars today” (Hiebert)

Peter was careful not to endanger the Roman Christians

“Having written this letter from Rome, Peter did not want his manuscript discovered and the church to be persecuted even more. Therefore he made no mention of Rome, leaving any curious and hostile authorities ignorant that this letter originated in their imperial capital” (MacArthur) (“wise as serpents, harmless as doves” - Mat.10:16)

He also encourages them to “Greet one another with a kiss of love” (v.14) which was a form or greeting like that of a handshake

His final words are for “Peace be to you all who are in Christ” (v.14)

The letter begins with grace (1:2) and ends with grace (5:10) and peace (5:14)

Suffering and persecution are hard to endure at times but it doesn’t compare to being persecuted and suffering alone

The worst kind of suffering is being without Christ for all eternity while being punished in hell for your sin

Those two realities are forever

But for the follower of Jesus Christ it is much different

God is with you in your suffering

You are not alone

Hebrews 13:5-6, “5 Make sure that your character is free from the love of money, being content with what you have; for He Himself has said, “I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,” 6 so that we confidently say, “The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What will man do to me?””

Jesus fully knows what it is like to be persecuted and suffer

Hebrews 2:17-18, “17 Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people. 18 For since He Himself was tempted in that which He has suffered, He is able to come to the aid of those who are tempted.”

Are you being persecuted for your faith in Christ?

If so, rejoice! You are sharing “in the sufferings of Christ” (1 Pet.4:14)

If you’re not in Christ, the suffering you are experiencing in this world will not compare to the suffering that is to come

To escape it is to come to Christ!

Repent and turn to Christ for the forgiveness of your sins

The Bible says in Romans 3:23, “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,”

Because all have sinned everyone is under the fear of the second death, which is hell - Romans 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

Come to Christ and have all your sins washed away

Let’s pray

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