Standing Firm in True Grace - 1 Peter 5:12-14

1:00Well, Peter's letter touches some of the deepest parts of our humanity. It touches upon some of the biggest perplexities and the deepest parts of our soul. What do we do when life becomes difficult? What do we do when, because we name the name of Christ, life becomes difficult? Peter touches upon that. At the end, he says, peace, peace. And the question is: how do you have peace in the midst of a world that's turned upside down?

1:41How could you tell me to have peace when so many things are going wrong around me? Well, that was this body of believers, these many churches in Asia Minor who were struggling with this issue. They had named the name of Christ, and it brought them a lot of persecution. They no doubt suffered a lot of loss, loss of property, loss of loved ones, right in the middle of Nero's persecution. And so, many questions. Why? God, do you really care for me? God, are you really in this? God, where are you? Are you truly God? A lot of questions like that, no doubt, were circulating in the minds of many believers.

2:29But how? How can we have peace at a time such as this? Well, this is the ultimate question that Peter gives the answer to throughout his book. Before we dive into some of the main exhortation in this final greeting, final part of his letter, there are a couple of peripheral issues I just want to make sure we recognize. First of all, look at Jesus. Verse 12, through Silvanus, that is probably Silas, our faithful brother, that is, for so I regard him, I have written to you briefly. The process of inscripturation or inspiration of the scriptures certainly allows for the dictation that Peter could dictate this letter to Silvanus, who would write it down with his pen and carry that letter. Another peripheral issue deals with Christian unity. She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you greetings. Babylon. There's code for Rome. Spent some time talking about that previously. There is no likelihood at all that Peter and Mark and others would be in such an obscure place, such as Nebuchadnezzar's Babylon at this time. Now they're writing from Rome, the epicenter, if you will, of persecution.

4:08This is the difficult place. And we have a picture of unity. They are at ground zero of antagonism, animosity, and persecution against the church. This time, this is that center. Babylon is a fitting name, though it certainly is a code. Chosen together, elect with you. We're chosen together with you. And this is the basis of their unity: that they are chosen in Christ. And this is the whole basis together that they have to share. They are in Christ together with these. Now, it's interesting to note, this is a picture of Christian unity, that we've got people writing from Rome, a church in Rome, that's very concerned about churches in Asia Minor. Now, if you put yourself in that historic context, Asia Minor has been conquered by Rome. And so you've got people in the city of the conqueror writing to encourage those churches that were conquered. And no doubt, there's very different races, very different ideologies, and yet there is a beautiful Christian unity that we see as persecution arises. There is a, you'll find brothers and sisters that you are sympathetic with that you may not actually get along with otherwise. But this is the beautiful picture of Christian unity. And what's also beautiful about this picture is here is Peter writing to these churches that Paul had established on his missionary journeys. And here is Peter concerned about these churches. A beautiful picture of Christian unity.

6:01Also, there is a commandment at the end: greet one another with a kiss of love. Express love to one another. It's actually the, there's two imperative commands in this whole thing. This is the second one, though it's a minor command in relation to the other, it still says something about how the body of Christ is to conduct themselves. We are to greet one another. Now, don't get hung up on the fact that, okay, in our Stoic place in the world, we don't go around kissing everybody on the cheek.

6:38But let's not, just because we may think, okay, that's a custom that we don't really do around here, nothing says we shouldn't do it, number one. But number two, understand the spirit behind this. Greet one another. What is involved in giving another person a kiss? If you've ever been in a place where a bunch of brothers and sisters in Christ take the time to greet one another, and each person in the room has to kiss every other person in the room, it takes a little while. In other words, when you first get together, it takes a while to work the room.

7:13But the point of it is, they take time. And I think this is something that we need to pay attention to. Take time to greet one another with a kiss of love. Make sure, whatever that expression is, that it's a kindly. It's an expression of love of one person to another that I see you, I acknowledge you, and I love you, and I am going to make this expression. Very important that we learn to greet one another and express love towards one another, however that expression may be. It needs to be genuine, and it's an imperative. This you must do. It's important. But all these are peripheral issues. Certainly, we can take many lessons from life, but the main issue is when Peter restates his main purpose for writing this letter to the persecuted churches. Look at verse 12. I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it. That's your main imperative. The whole book, Peter has been testifying and exhorting, encouraging, this is the true grace. Let me tell you what true grace is. This whole book tells you what true grace is. Now, I want you to stand firm in it. The way you're going to overcome the difficulties, difficulties, and the perplexities of life that you're going to face is to understand what true grace is and stand firm in it.

8:50So the question comes up: what is true grace? And how does one stand firm in it? Very simple, honest questions. Okay, what is true grace? How does one stand firm in it? And so, this morning I want you to come away with an understanding of what true grace is and how you are to stand firm in it so that you will do so. So, first, what is true grace? What is true grace? Well, first, I want to talk to you about the nature of true grace. And then, I'm going to talk to you about the objects of true grace and how one enters into that. The nature of true grace. The origin of true grace is the heart of God. Look, 1 Peter 5:10, just a couple verses before that, God is referred to as the God of all grace. Grace originates from God. That's the fountainhead, all grace.

9:46And in 1 Peter 1:1, and this, what we're doing is we're at the last mountain peak of 1 Peter, and we're looking back over all the territory that we have surveyed. And so, you'll hear echoes of 1 Peter as we walk through this. But in 1 Peter 1:1, Peter says this: Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens scattered throughout Pontus, Galatius, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, that would all be modern-day Turkey, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God. The word for chosen, choice stone. When you're going through difficult times, especially as these churches were, one of the first things that you want to know. Is, God, what's my relationship with you? And the very first thing is the nature of grace is that God has set his love upon you. If you are in Christ, in fact, the word for foreknowledge speaks of a relational love. The fountainhead of grace is the a priori love of the Father. It comes out of the love of the Father. Don't think of this word foreknowledge as he knows what you're going to do in the future, and so because he knows what you're going to do, that he puts his faith or he puts his love upon you. That's not what that's saying. This is a relational love that God, if you are in Christ, have been, God has set his love upon you. He has chosen you to be an object of his grace. And listen, don't run off and get stuck in the quagmire right now about God's justice, man's free will. Listen, those who are outside don't want to be on the inside. But don't get stuck in that quagmire. What Peter is saying is that if you are in Christ, understand that that started in the mind of God long before you ever came on the scene. And this is the anchor for your soul. This is the anchor for these churches. And he starts out with their elect status, their choice status. It's the very word that he uses for Christ. In chapter 2 and verse 4, he refers to Christ as a choice stone. And he's saying to these scattered believers, you, no matter what, What's going on around you? The first thing I want you to know is you are choice. In Christ, you are choice. You are precious to him.

12:08And that is the foundation. It comes out of the loving heart of God. And this word grace is translated as favor in Peter 2:19. For this finds favor. And again, in verse 2:20, but when you do what is right and suffer for it, you patiently endure it. This finds favor with God. This finds grace. In other words, if we stopped right now and just came up with a definition of grace, it would be this. Grace is God's favor upon an individual. That's what grace is. God's favor upon an individual.

12:51But there's more. Let's look at the objects of true grace. Look at the nature. It comes from God, from his heart. It's favor upon an individual. I want to talk to you about the objects of true grace. And the one thing that 1 Peter makes clear is the objects are a people that needed to be redeemed. The objects of grace are those who need to be redeemed. In verse 18, they had to be redeemed, and they were redeemed not with perishable things like silver or gold from your feudal way of life, but with a.

13:30Had to pay a costly redemption price, a precious blood of a spotless and innocent person, a high price tag. These are the objects of grace are those who need to be redeemed from a feudal way of life by a huge price. 1 Peter 2:10 speaks about a people who were once not a people, people who had not received mercy, but people who needed mercy. That the objects of grace are people who need mercy. 1 Peter 4:3 speaks about these people, for the time has already passed for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lust, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties, and abominable idolatries. You look at the objects of grace, one comes away with a pretty solid conclusion: the objects of grace are a completely undeserving people.

14:36So, if we revise our definition right now, grace is the favor of God towards a person who is unworthy. Grace is the favor of God towards a person who is unworthy. And we can even tighten that up a little bit and say, grace is the unmerited favor of God. You've probably heard that definition. Grace is the unmerited favor of God. One commentator, and I like what he said, said, favor is love and action. That's what, how do we understand favor? Favor is love and action. So, if we put that together, we can come up with a definition like this: Grace is love in exercise towards inferior and sinful creatures who deserve something else. McLaren said that. Grace is love in exercise towards inferior and sinful creatures who deserve something else. This is why we cannot show grace to God, because God doesn't need grace from us. He is good, he is good to us all the time. He has blessed us, he has given so much of himself to us. And the response to that is honor, respect, gratitude.

15:52You cannot give God grace, but he can give grace to you. Grace can only happen in those environments where somebody is totally undeserving. That's where grace occurs, and God wants to be known as the God of all grace. So, are you undeserving of his grace? Isn't that a beautiful picture of how God wants to reveal himself? See, we can't show grace to God, but we can show grace to others. And grace happens in that environment when somebody wrongs you, when somebody doesn't deserve it, not necessarily wrongs you, somebody can wrong you. Somebody can be completely undeserving. That and that only is the place where you can show grace.

16:36Don't waste your opportunities to show grace. God certainly didn't waste His opportunities, and He's going to be known through eternity as the God of all grace, and it can only be showed upon a completely undeserving people. Have you been touched by true grace? Maybe that's an important question to be asking. So, we've looked at the nature of true grace, we've looked at the objects. I want to talk to you about: okay, this is grace, it comes from the heart of God, it is upon those who are totally unworthy. Now, how do I enter into this true grace? Good question, right?

17:19I'm unworthy. So, how do I enter into this true grace? Well, it comes by faith. Look at 1 Peter 1:9. The outcome of your faith is the salvation of your souls. Faith comes by faith. Grace comes as prophesied. Look at verse 10. As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you made careful searches and inquiries, seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was in. Indicating, as he predicted, the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow. It is by faith, the entrance into this grace is by faith. Do you believe this about God? Do you believe he's the God of all grace? Do you believe that you stand in need of grace?

18:17Well, it was prophesied that grace would come. It would come. And so these prophets made careful inquiries. And it is centered around Christ, that Jesus, the one perfect human being, would come, would be, would suffer his death, his taking upon your sin. That would be the mechanism in Christ that this grace would come to you. You know what true grace is? True grace is the grace that's been prophesied. And it involves suffering, suffering of our King, and the glory would come out of it. And that glory speaks of His resurrection. It speaks of His reign, current reign. It speaks of His future return and the redemption and the eternal salvation that His suffering brought.

19:20So, this grace was by faith as prophesied, but it was also preached. Looking at verse 12, it was. Revealed to them, the prophets, as they looked into this, that they were not serving themselves, but you in these things, which have now been announced to you through those who preach the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven, things into which angels long to look. This is by faith. It is prophesied. It is preached. It's not just that it was prophesied, but it was prophesied and then it was proclaimed to you. Have you heard the good news of Christ? Has it been preached to you? That is the entrance. If you don't have it preached to you, we're not going to be entering.

20:12But it is also for the humble. It's by faith, as prophesied, as preached, but it is for the humble. As Peter said in 5:5, that God is opposed to the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. If you don't need the grace, it's not for you. You will not be admitted. And then the expression of this faith, if we keep going in verse 13, therefore, the expression of faith is a fixed hope. Therefore, prepare your minds for action. Keep sober in spirit. Fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. A fixed hope, like that of the paralytic of Mark II, like the unclean woman of Mark V, like Bartimaeus of Mark III. 10, a fixed hope that Christ will receive, that you stand in need, and he who wants to be known as the God of all grace will indeed admit you. And he promises, he who comes to him, he will not cast out. He is the God of all grace. This is how he has revealed himself.

21:26So that's the nature of true grace. Now, I want to talk to you a little bit about the work of true grace. What does it do? What does true grace do? Well, the first thing it does is it brings humility. As you start becoming aware of the greatness of God and your eyes start being open to the depravity and the lostness and the sinfulness of your own heart, and you begin to sense that need for God in your life.

21:55And you stoop and say, you are God, I am not. That is the work of grace, true humility. Because God is going to oppose the proud, but he gives grace to the humble. And it is his grace that brings that humility. And we respond, and it keeps bringing humility because we keep growing in knowledge of him and we keep seeing how great he is and we understand how much in need we are of him. Paul says it like this.

22:302 Corinthians 5:17, therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature. The old things passed away, and behold, all things new have come. True grace not only humbles, but true grace renews a person. True grace makes everything new on the inside and on the outside. True grace makes things new. It changes the very nature of man. Okay, kids, let me see. Suppose we got a big alligator up here on the platform, okay? Would you guys come up here and pet it?

23:08No, I probably wouldn't be standing here, right? Okay, so if we have an alligator up here, now let's suppose I put him in a cage, okay? I don't know how I do that, but let's just suppose I did. I've got an alligator in a cage, and he's got bars around him. Then would you come up and pet him? No. Why not? He's still an alligator, right? We can put him in a cage, but he's still an alligator. You see, and that's what happens when we try to moralize a person or where we... Behavioral modification is nothing more than trying to put a cage around sinful appetites. But what true grace does is it changes the heart. It turns the alligator into a kitten.

23:58Figuratively speaking, okay? We're not talking weird grace, true grace. It just. But that's what happens. Moralism. And we've got to be careful how we talk to people, that we don't become a people that are just harping on moralistic issues and trying to put people in cages and say, here, restrain that flesh, restrain that flesh. Grace works on the heart to change the nature. I mean, as we parent, as we teach, as we are friends to others, let us be sources of grace and not just be all about behavioral modification or behavioralism, but deal with chain heart.

24:47True grace changes the nature of a person. In fact, a good picture of this is Isaiah 11:6. And the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and the leopard will lie down with the young goat, and the calf, and the young lion, and the fatling together, and a little boy will lead them. You've got to understand something about heaven. It's not going to be a great big cage that just keeps you away from sin. Heaven is going to be a place where your whole identity and nature has been changed and has been matured so that you have no appetite for sin.

25:28You know, in fact, it's. Very interesting that if you read in Acts 9, Paul was such a wolf, wasn't he? He was one of the greatest adversaries of the early church, and he became one of the greatest advocates of the early church because God changed his nature. That's what true grace does, and that is who originally preached to these churches in Asia Minor. But another thing about true grace, it changes the objects of one's affections. It changes you from the inside. It produces a new set of affections. A person touched by true grace has a different value system than they did before.

26:11A hunger and a thirst for the noble and eternal begins to replace that which is ignoble and temporary. That's what true grace does. And this isn't just growing up and growing out of things. It's that, maybe. But it's changing the desire. It's not just that you've gotten older and you don't crave these things, these childish things anymore. There's a maturity in grace to where you no longer have an appetite. You're no longer progressing in maturing in sin, but growing away from it and maturing in righteousness. That's what grace does. It changes us. True grace produces an esteem for the choicest and highest objects. This is what Peter was saying in chapter 1 and verse 4, speaking about an inheritance which is imperishable. Undefiled and will not fade away. And that the soul begins to long for, that which is eternal, that which is beautiful, and that which is beautiful that lasts, and that which is beautiful that lasts and always remains new. That is what grace produces, an esteem for those things. But the lowly and the fleeting and the temporal things of this life, the soul that's been touched by grace tends to move away from those. It's beautiful what it does.

27:36True grace. A person touched by true grace prefers the cross to a crown. A temporary Christian can step over Christ's cross to pursue the world's crown. Remember in 2 Timothy 4, 10, there was Demas who loved the present world and deserted Paul. And then there was a rich young ruler, Matthew 19, 22, after Jesus had fed, Go, sell all your possessions, give to the poor, you'll have treasure, and follow me. But when the young man heard this statement, he went away grieving, for he was one who owned much property. He's basically saying, Look, if heaven can be had on no other terms, you can keep your Christ. You can keep your heaven. I'll find another Christ. I'll find another heaven, one that allows me to pursue.

28:30The crown of earth. But true grace changes and makes you prefer the cross of Christ to the crown of men. True grace is not content to hold anything back. True grace will cause a man to grow in following the Lord fully. All superficial religion, all it can do is to cause you to follow the Lord partially or unwaveringly or with hesitation. But true grace wants to go with Christ all the way. True grace makes one cautious of his own faults and his own heart. True grace is aware of one's own weaknesses and it takes to heart Peter's words in 5:8, be of sober spirit and on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion seeking someone to devour.

29:40A heart transformed by grace is more cautious and concerned about their own weakness and their own personal failures than they are about the faults of others. They're more studious of their own faults than they are studious of the faults of others. That's what true grace does. It makes one cautious of his own weakness. His or her own heart. But true grace also enables one to delight in spiritual service. 1 Peter 1 speaks to these aliens scattered throughout Asia Minor. Then he says, You are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God by the sanctifying work of the Spirit to obey Jesus Christ. First, spiritual service is obeying Jesus Christ. And true grace enables a person to delight in obeying Christ. His yoke is easy, his burden is light. And those who have been touched by grace know this and are growing in it, growing in knowledge of this. The blessed man in Psalm 1 is described by his delight in the law of the Lord. Listen, if you do not have grace, you will not love the laws of Christ. You will not love the laws of the Lord. You will not like his ways. You will not enjoy serving at all.

31:04Because unless you have a change in your heart, you will not have a taste for the life of heaven. It remains completely foreign. But it also gives you the grace to enjoy not only obeying Christ, but serving others. 1 Peter 4:10, Peter says, This, as each one has received a special gift, Employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. Using that grace, which is uniquely yours, that God has given for the purpose of serving others. Those who have been touched by grace love the gifts that God and love to serve with that gift, and it is not a burden, or they're growing in the process where it isn't becoming a burden.

32:01You see, true grace, those who have not been touched by true grace see moral virtues, they see religious service, and they see all this as a burden, not a pleasure, and certainly not a delight. They have other things they want to do. But true grace prepares one for eternity. That's what true grace does. It prepares one for eternity. It makes an individual ready to be blessed by God to the extreme degree without the danger of self-worship. That's what true grace does. It wants to bless, bring you to the point of full blessing of God that you can be blessed to the extreme degree without the concern of you becoming conceited like Satan, like the serpent of old.

32:51You see, grace fits us for heaven. It's not just a ticket to heaven, it's a Transformer that displays eternal life. That's what grace is. It's not just a ticket. Yes, it's that. But it's more than that. It's a transformer that displays eternal life in your hearts and in your life. Well, true grace also leads a person to be content in Christ. A soul touched by true grace finds satisfaction in Christ alone. True grace enables a soul to be perfectly content just knowing that Christ is. There is a soul satisfaction and contentment just knowing that Christ is.

33:36Remember when Joseph's brothers returned up into Israel and they tried to talk Israel into moving his family down into Egypt? And they said, we've seen Joseph. They didn't have to do any convincing after that because Jacob says this in Genesis 45, 28. Then Israel said, it is enough. My son Joseph is still alive. You don't have to give me any more arguments. It is enough. I will go and see him. But that's what true grace does. Analogously, I should say. True grace produces an inner contentment just because Christ is. There is a contentment of soul because Christ is. It is enough to know that Christ is, that Christ reigns, that Christ conquers, and that he will return in triumphant glory. That's enough, no matter what goes on around me. No matter what life may take me through, it's enough to know that He is. All is well. My soul is content.

34:43But those who have, without true grace, find contentment in lower things. They find contentment in the outward bells and whistles of life, like the praise of man, the possessions of earth, the health of the body, or favorable circumstances, or something. But their contentment isn't in Christ, but it's in the lower things, the temporal things. But if you've been touched by grace, you find contentment in Christ. Have you been touched by grace? But to the soul that touched by grace, Christ is enough. Let me read to you what Thomas Brooks says. Wrote this about 150 years ago. The confluence of all outward good cannot make a heaven of glory in my soul if Christ be absent. Why? My honor is not my Christ, nor riches is not Christ, nor the favor of men is not Christ. Let me have him, and let the men of this world take the world and divide it among themselves. I prize my Christ above all. I would enjoy my Christ above all other things in the world. His presence will make up all the absence of all other comforts, and his absence will make all his absence. Will darken and embitter all my comforts. We have all things in Christ, and Christ is all things to a Christian. If we be sick, he is a physician. If we thirst, he is a fountain. If our sins trouble us, he is righteousness. If we stand in need of help, he is mighty to save. If we fear death, he is life. If we be in darkness, he is light. If we be weak, he is strength. If we be in poverty, he is plenty. If we desire heaven, he provides the way. You see, true grace leads a person to be content in Christ alone.

36:43But true grace also makes a person gracious. Makes them gracious in the face of eternal hardships, relational difficulties, and being wronged, even in the midst of the body of believers. And this is what he is saying in 1 Peter 3:8. To sum up, all of you speaking in this portion of being submissive to one another, he says, all of you, be harmonious, sympathetic, brotherly, kind-hearted, humble in spirit, not returning evil for evil or insult for insult, but giving a blessing instead, for you were called for the very purpose that you might inherit a blessing. Be gracious. That's what he's saying. Be gracious to one another and do not miss your opportunities to share. Show grace. They kind of sneak up on you. And sometimes they happen all of a suddenly. And then you're like, oh, I guess I missed that opportunity to show grace. But they happen all of a sudden. But be gracious. True grace will make you a gracious person. But it will also make you gracious not only in the face of internal hardships, but it will make you gracious in the face of persecution. And that's largely what this book is about. Peter 3:13 says, This, Who is there to harm you if you prove zealous for what is good? But even if you should suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. And do not fear their intimidation and do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks to give an account for the hope that is within you, yet with gentleness and reverence. And keep a good conscience, so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. In other words, be gracious, even if you live in the midst of a hostile world. Respond graciously. That is what your father did for you. That is what you are to do for others. A temporary Christian will not do this. They are like the stone thrown on the rocky soil. And when affliction and persecution of the word Comes up, they quickly die. So, what is grace? Well, true grace is God's love and exercise towards inferior and sinful creatures who deserve something else. That's what it is. Next, how does one stand firm in it? Good question. You know what it is? How does one stand firm in it? Look back at 1 Peter 5, 12. I have written you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace. Stand firm in it. Now, standing firm is how one lives victoriously in the midst of a world that is turned upside down. How does one do it? Okay, kids, come with me in your mind's eye for a minute. Now, let's suppose I want to change that light bulb up there, okay? And I decide I'm going to build an apparatus to get you up there, okay? So, I'm going to put a wagon here, okay?

39:51And that's still not going to be enough, so I'm going to put a ladder in the wagon, okay? And that's still not going to be enough to get you up there to change the light bulb, so I'm going to put roller skates on you, okay? And I'm going to have you climb up that ladder, and I'm going to have you reach up there and change the light bulb. But that's still going to leave us a little short, so I'm going to take a carjack, and I'm going to jack that wagon up. You get the picture? There you are on top of a car jack, on top of a wagon, on top of a ladder, on top of roller skates, changing the light bulb. Do you think you're going to stand?

40:21No, probably not. And it won't take much to knock you down, would it? Well, I'm stating the obvious. If you're going to stand. Firm on something, you need to have something firm to stand upon, right? Well, that's, you know, a sturdy building is tied into the foundation of the bedrock. The best buildings are dug deep into the bedrock. They are dowed into the existing bedrock with dowels and with concrete, and that makes that structure immovable. That is a solid foundation. So, how does one anchor himself or herself to the true grace? Well, it goes through what Peter has been saying this whole book. I could pre-preach the whole message, the whole series. This is what he's been saying.

41:17But in short, he's saying anchoring oneself into true grace is growing in obedience to all that Peter has said. Take to heart what he has said. Although this is brief, as he says, I've written to you briefly, not because it's not a weighty subject, but he's just giving you the high points. And if you'll remember, we've walked through this. First, you need to know your salvation. Chapter 1 through verse 12, know your salvation. There's a glorious election, a living hope, a vibrant faith. It comes out of a Christ-centered grace. Second thing you need to do: respond to that salvation. And there is going to be action items that come out. Action that comes out motivated by grace, by fear, by love, by sacrifice, by praise. We've covered all that material. And then in chapter 2, 11, he takes us to another phase of the book. Embrace submission as a way of life.

42:10And finally, we've been is welcome suffering as a part of life. Be obedient to these. And you will further anchor yourself in grace. And in all this, chapter 5, verse 7, the anchor for the soul is stated very clearly. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Anchor your soul in this fundamental truth that God cares for you. That is the foundation. If you are in Christ, understand He cares for you. And if you're not in Christ, you can be in Christ today. Just respond to Him in faith. Ask Him.

42:57Well, there's another level of suffering that's going to come, and that's going to come in resisting the devil. There's going to be suffering involved in the fiery trials of life, in the suffering loss, suffering in serving others. There's going to be suffering and expressions of practical humility, and there's going to be suffering involved in resisting the devil. But anchor yourself in true grace. And as you do, and as you grow in obedience, you grow in that anchored, anchoring in true grace. And at the foundational anchor level is this firm trust in Christ. Ultimately, you anchor yourself in the true grace by accepting Peter's testimony of true grace and walking in obedience to it and resigning your soul over to God and trusting yourself to a faithful Creator by doing what is right. That is how you entrust yourself to Him. It's the very word that Christ gave as He entrusted His soul. But there's one remaining question that needs to be answered: What happens when you fail? What happens when you fail, these exhortations? And I think one word at the end of verse 13 answers this. Look at this. Very last word.

44:25She who is in Babylon, chosen with you, sends you greetings, and so does my son, Mark. Remember Mark? You remember him? He was the one that started out well, went on the first missionary journey, and they got to Cyprus, and then he totally bailed out. He failed. He left Paul and Barnabas high and dry. He went back home to mom. And then, years later, the second missionary journey comes around. Mark wants to go. No, you can't go, says Paul. You're not ready.

45:00Paul and Barnabas had such a sharp split over it that Parnabas took Mark and they went down to Cyprus, and we don't hear anything about that missionary journey. No, the favor of God and the favor of the church was upon Paul's journey. Mark wasn't ready at the time. There was much more that needed to be done, and Paul knew he was not ready. But you can imagine, these are the churches that are being written to by Peter. These are the churches that would have known about Mark because these were the missionary journeys. And Mark had failed. Imagine the shame and the pain and the devastation.

45:40But God was not through with John, Mark. And out of the ruins of the failures of John, Mark, God raised up one of the greatest men to have ever lived. And there's three reasons why I say this. Because when you get to the, in Paul's first Roman imprisonment, in 60 AD, Paul writes a couple of letters and he mentions Mark in Philemon and in Colossians. At the end, he mentions Mark by name as one who is there encouraging him. And then again in 67, just before Paul met his death, according to tradition, Paul says, Everybody has deserted me. And then he says, This, pick up Mark and bring him to me, for he is useful for me in service. So at the end of Paul's life, When he was feeling deserted and abused and in need of being ministered to, he called upon Mark for companionship, comfort, and help. And it's interesting here. Here he is with Peter in Rome, ground zero of Nero's persecution, and he is there with Peter.

46:50And it's a beautiful picture of God's grace. God did something in restoring this fallen brother. And this grace is to be seen in that there is a reconciled brotherhood. But the grace is also seen in the finished man of Mark. The stick that once broke had become a mighty pillar of strength that even the strongest of apostles needed to lean on. That's what true grace does to a person. And why? We can only know that Mark leaned upon that true grace even after his personal failures. So look at verse 14. Having testified to what true grace is, and after exhorting the church to stand firm in it, Peter gives his final words. And look at the end of verse 14: Peace be to you, all who are in Christ.

47:50He's laid a foundation for true peace, and that is true grace. True grace. I want to read to you. This I got yesterday from a young lady, 21 years old, or was forwarded to me, second oldest of eight kids. Just lost her mother to cancer. Many of us have been praying for this family on Wednesday nights, if you've been here. She wrote this, and I think it encapsulates Peter's message and his emotion and his message for these churches. It's written, it's called But a Vapor. Death is a hard pill to swallow. It often leaves those involved confused, hurt, and angry. However, by God's grace, we will deal with our loss in a way that honors his name. As odd as it sounds, death is a part of life, and it is only through death that we truly live. It's not as if I thought something like this couldn't happen to me. The thought would cross my mind. What if something were to happen? What if they got into an accident and I never saw them again? Bearing this in mind, a hug, smile, signing, I love you, or the last lingering word before they left was always important in my mind. But the reality really hits home when a loved one is truly gone, gone, leaving a thousand things unsaid, leaving behind imminent memories that will never be made. I was talking with a couple of good friends the other day. They mentioned some wedding planning mother and daughter would be doing together. It struck a thought in my mind. This is something I will never have. Planning my wedding alongside my mom. It's just something that happens. It's expected, but something I will never experience. My younger siblings have been on my mind as well. They too will grow up without their mother. Little Keturah, Josiah, the twins, so young. So many experiences to come, and so much of life before them, yet they are motherless. I guess it's common to ask why. Why would God take mom from us? Why would God let her suffer? Honestly, I never really found myself asking these questions. We have so much more than we deserve, and wishing mom was still here with us seems almost selfish to me. She is so much happier than I could ever fathom. We weep now because we want her back. I want her back. I want these times with her. There are things I want to tell her. I want to go through my life, through the trials, the hardships, and all of its joys and beautiful experiences with her. It seems selfish. So I don't ask why. However, this doesn't make the sadness any less, nor does it help the emptiness we now feel without her presence. It's amazing what one person's life can create in such a short amount of time and the lasting impression it can have on others. Of course, as expected, life moves on despite. Our circumstances. Memories will be made, sorrow will come, hardship, temptations, and experiences will sprinkle this path called life. Death is a part of life, but the hole one leaves is hard to fill. I thank God we do not walk this path alone. His anger is but for a moment, his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may last for the night, but a shout of joy comes in the morning. Don't take for granted the little things in your life. These are the things that make a lifetime. These are opportunities that are fleeting. At once it's here and the next moment dissipated like a mist greeted by the sun. So enjoy the little moments in your day, revel in them, take delight in the gentle smile of a loved one, the dirty hands of a child at play, the reading of God's Word together, young shouts of glee and enthusiasm, voices lifted in song, the strain of sweat, of hard work, the grace of a kind word, a glistening tear in a softened eye, the honor in adversity as you journey through life with those you love. Each and every little thing creates a lasting impression on those around you. Don't take them for granted. Don't let them pass you by unnoted, unnoticed. Instead, step out and work through the moments. Stand strong on God's Word and follow Him with a steadfast heart. And an unwavering trust in his love, for you, my friend, will be making impressions that last a lifetime. This is the message of 1 Peter. Unwavering trust in Christ, even in the most difficult circumstances and times. And know this. Be gracious. And God will use you to be an instrument of true grace that will touch the world.

53:00You see, true grace, and only true grace is the basis for peace. And this is why Peter can say, Peace be to you all who are in Christ. Let's pray. Heavenly Father, we just thank you for this apostle. We thank you for his words. We thank you for the message, and he deals with the deepest issues of life. And Father, help us encourage our faith, strengthen our faith, trusting, knowing that you do care for us and that we can come to you at any time, casting all of our cares on you, because you have called us your own. And Father, I pray for anyone here today who is not in you. Father, I just pray even now that you would awaken, that they would call upon you, that they would place their faith and trust in you, for this is who you want to be known as.

54:00The God of all grace, and you want to display that in individual lives, whoever will call. I just thank you in Jesus' name, amen.