Stand Firm in the True Grace of God

In one paragraph

This was the final sermon in a long series on 1 Peter. Pastor Red worked through the last three verses of the letter as a frame around a complete reading of the entire book, so that the congregation could hear the whole letter in one sitting before the series closed. The four major themes he kept returning to throughout the series, a high view of Christ, unjust suffering met with eventual...

Read together

1. 1 Peter 1:1-2 Peter's greeting to the elect scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia
2. 1 Peter 1:3-5 Born again to a living hope through the resurrection, toward an imperishable inheritance reserved in heaven
3. 1 Peter 1:6-9 Rejoicing even through various trials, faith more precious than gold, joy inexpressible
4. 1 Peter 1:10-12 Prophets searched out the grace prophesied for believers, sufferings of Christ and glories to follow
5. 1 Peter 1:13-16 Guard your minds for action, fix hope on grace at Christ's revealing, be holy as God is holy
6. 1 Peter 1:17-21 Conduct yourselves in reverent fear, redeemed not with silver or gold but with the precious blood of Christ
7. 1 Peter 1:22-25 Fervently love one another, born again of imperishable seed, the word of the Lord endures forever
8. 1 Peter 2:1-3 Put aside malice and deceit, crave the pure milk of the word, if you have tasted the kindness of the Lord
9. 1 Peter 2:4-8 Come to Christ as a living stone, you yourselves as living stones built up into a holy priesthood, cornerstone and stone of stumbling
10. 1 Peter 2:9-10 Chosen race, royal priesthood, holy nation, a people for God's own possession, once not a people but now people of God
11. 1 Peter 2:11-17 Abstain from fleshly lusts, keep conduct honorable, submit to human institutions, honor all people, fear God
12. 1 Peter 2:18-20 Servants be submissive to masters, bearing up under unjust suffering finds favor with God
13. 1 Peter 2:21-25 Christ suffered leaving an example, committed no sin, kept entrusting himself to him who judges righteously, bore our sins in his body
14. 1 Peter 3:1-6 Wives be submissive so disobedient husbands may be won without a word, adorning the hidden person of the heart
15. 1 Peter 3:7 Husbands dwell with wives in an understanding way, honoring them as fellow heirs of the grace of life so prayers are not hindered
16. 1 Peter 3:8-12 Be harmonious, sympathetic, kind hearted, humble, not repaying evil for evil, the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
17. 1 Peter 3:13-17 Who will harm you if zealous for good, sanctify Christ as Lord, be ready to give an account of the hope in you with gentleness
18. 1 Peter 3:18-22 Christ died for sins once for all, the just for the unjust, made alive in the spirit, angels and powers subjected to him
19. 1 Peter 3:19-20 Christ preached to spirits in prison, disobedient in days of Noah when ark was being prepared
20. 1 Peter 4:1-3 Arm yourselves with the same purpose as Christ, no longer living after lusts of men but the will of God
21. 1 Peter 4:4-6 The world thinks it strange you no longer run with them, gospel preached even to those now dead
22. 1 Peter 4:7-11 The end of all things is near, be of sound judgment, keep fervent in love, as each one has received a gift employ it serving one another
23. 1 Peter 4:12-16 Do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal, if reviled for the name of Christ you are blessed, if anyone suffers as a Christian glorify God
24. 1 Peter 4:17-19 Judgment begins with the household of God, entrust souls to a faithful creator and do what is right
25. 1 Peter 5:1-4 Shepherd the flock of God among you, not under compulsion but voluntarily, chief Shepherd will appear and you will receive the unfading crown of glory
26. 1 Peter 5:5-7 Clothe yourselves with humility, God is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, cast your anxiety on him
27. 1 Peter 5:8-11 Be of sober spirit, your adversary the devil prowls like a roaring lion, resist him, God will perfect confirm strengthen and establish you
28. 1 Peter 5:12-14 Written through Silas, testifying this is the true grace of God, stand firm in it, greet one another with a kiss of love, peace to all in Christ
29. Acts 16:31 Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ and you will be saved, spoken by Paul and Silas to the Philippian jailer
30. Acts 16:25-31 Paul and Silas praying and singing hymns in jail, earthquake, prison doors opened, jailer asked what must I do to be saved
31. 2 Corinthians 1:19 The Son of God Jesus Christ was preached among you by me and by Silas
32. Revelation 1:3 Blessed is he who reads this book publicly, cited as precedent for reading scripture aloud
33. John 21:25 If everything about Jesus that ought to be written were written, the world could not contain all the books

Talk about it

1. Pastor Red described four major themes running through the whole letter: a high view of Christ, unjust suffering met with eventual exaltation, obedience to the gospel, and humility. Which of those four has spoken most directly to where you are right now, and why?
2. Peter tells his readers that the way they live out their faith will result in the salvation of souls, not just their own. Can you think of a time when someone's conduct, rather than their words, pointed you toward God?
3. Pastor Red read from chapter two that Christ, while being reviled and suffering, kept on entrusting Himself to the One who judges righteously, including in His garden prayer. What does it look like practically to keep entrusting yourself to God in the middle of a situation that feels unjust or out of your control?
4. First Peter tells believers they are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for God's own possession. Pastor Red pointed out that the people gathered in that room may have very little in common except Christ. How does that identity as God's people shape the way we treat one another and the way we treat outsiders?
5. Peter closes the letter by telling his readers to greet one another with a kiss of love, and he bookends the whole letter with a prayer for peace and grace to be multiplied to all of them. What is one specific way you could show love to someone in this congregation before you see them again next week?