Sermon Prepared by James McCullen
Email Preach Him with Dr. Jim

Why He Wrote
1 Peter 5:12-14

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. (NAS)

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. (KJV)

12 With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.  13 She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark.  14 Greet one another with a kiss of love. Peace to all of you who are in Christ. (NIV)

Introduction
Do you like to write? I know many people do not like to write. My wife would much rather talk on the phone. Well when you write, why do you write? I like books in the Bible where the author tells us why he writes. We know he wrote because he was inspired of God to do so. But what are the underlying themes as to why he wrote. Simon Peter at the end of this epistle tells us why he wrote. I want to organize this message in two sections and say  (1) He wrote because he had some proclamations to share and then he wrote because  (2) He had some partnerships to savor. Look with me beginning at verse 12.
 
 

A.    Proclamation Of Some . . Exhortations. v 12 b
        ". . . I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God."

EXHORTATION
3870 parakaleo (par-ak-al-eh'-o); from 3844 and 2564; to call near, i.e. invite, invoke (by imploration, hortation or consolation):    KJV-- beseech, call for, exhort (-ation), intreat, pray.

This word is made up of two GREEK words. One word means "along side of" and the other is "called ". We get our word comforted or counselor from the word.

        1.    An Exhortation about . . Suffering.

                a.    The Sufferings of Christ.
(1 Pet 1:11 NASB) seeking to know what person or time the Spirit of Christ within them was indicating as He predicted the sufferings of Christ and the glories to follow.

                b.    The Sufferings of the . . Saints.
(1) (1 Pet 2:19-20 NASB) For this finds favor, if for the sake of conscience toward God a man bears up under sorrows when suffering unjustly. 20 For what credit is there if, when you sin and are harshly treated, you endure it with patience? But if when you do what is right and suffer for it you patiently endure it, this finds favor with God.

(2) (1 Pet 4:19 NASB) Therefore, let those also who suffer according to the will of God entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.

(3) (1 Pet 5:10 NASB) And 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.

        2.    An Exhortation about . . Serving. 1 Peter 5:1-4
5:1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, 2 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; 3 nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. 4 And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.
 

B.    A Proclamation Of Some . . Testimonies.v 12 c
        ". . . and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it! "

Introduction
TESTIFY
1957 epimartureo (ep-ee-mar-too-reh'-o); from 1909 and 3140; to attest further, i.e. corroborate: KJV-- testify.

This word is made up of two GREEK words. One word means "over or above" And the other is "witness ". We get our word martyr from the word witness. Simon dies for his testimony.

ATR epimartureoo here alone in the New Testament,. . . " [1]

        1.    Testimony of . . Saving Grace. 1 Pet 1:10
10 As to this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that {would come} to you made careful search and inquiry, (NAS)

        2.    Testimony of . . Serving Grace.. 1 Pet 4:10
10 As each one has received a {special} gift, employ it in serving one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God. (NAS)
 

C.    A Proclamation Of A . . Command. v 12 d
        ". . . this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!"

        1.    Stand Firm. A Command

Illustration
I like the story of the little boy who always wanted to have a horse of his own. He finally got an older horse who could not run very fast anymore. The little boy would ride his horse into town and tie it up with the other horses and go into the stores.

His horse was always content to stand at the post where he was tied. On one occasion a passer by seeing the boy tie up his horse asked "does that horse run fast" And the boy replied not but he sure does "stand fast". How about you to you run fast or stand fast?

Illustration
Some times I don't stand as firm as I ought to stand. I have been praying for a man for several years. I was about to take him off my prayer list. . Our hungry men's group has had him on our prayer list for several years. Then I got a letter on Tuesday of this past week from this man and it said "you can take me off your prayer list. I have been saved." Eddie Parsons invited Christ into his life and now is zealous for others to be saved.

That makes 3 men we have prayed off that list on Tuesday Morning. Dale Danniels, Bob Aklin, and Eddie Parsons. What have you been doing on Tuesday Mornings.
 

Application

Simon wrote because the Lord Told him too and he had some Proclamations to share.
 
 

A.    The . . Partnership In . . Election. v 13 a
            v 13 a She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you,

4899 suneklektos (soon-ek-lek-tos');
from a compound of 4862 and 1586; chosen in company with, i.e. co-elect (fellow Christian): KJV-- elected together with. [2]
 

B.    The Partnership In . . Greetings. v 13 b - 14 a
            v. 13 b sends you greetings, and {so does} my son, Mark.
            v 14 a Greet one another with a kiss of love. . . . "

        1.    Greeting from the Entire Church. Babylon = Jerusalem.
        2.    Greeting from Mark. Mark = I think the Gospel Writer
        3.    Greeting with a Kiss. Our habit of shaking hands.

Illustration
My wife I and I have picked up on an expression "CYK". When we can not kiss one another we say the letters "CYK". They stand for "Consider Yourself Kissed." This is what Simon is waiting. A greeting with the Christian community including a Holy Kiss.

Illustration
Two of our pastors have gone over to Belarus. They tell us when they left the members of the church shed tears and one by one came by and kissed them. If they really wanted to show their appreciation they would give you a big wet kiss.

One of our pastors told of one man who seemed to be blessed more than the rest and he would always greet with a big juicy kiss.  YUK!   I am glad we shake hands.
 

C. The Partnership In . . Peace. v 14 b
        v 14 b Peace be to you all who are in Christ

        1.    The Product = Peace.
        2.    The Place = In Christ.

Illustration From: cnw@macconnect.com
When Noel (my son) was a little boy, he would sneak out of his bed early in the morning and eat the cube of butter in refrigerator. We would get up and there would be all these little teeth marks chomped across the top of the butter stick.

Noel was told that under not uncertain terms was he to get in the refrigerator. One morning I got up and went to get some Pepsi. The Pepsi, I had put there the night before, was gone. I had Cathy come and look for this bottle of Pepsi in the refrigerator. She could not find it either.

I called Noel in to ask him about it. Noel said, "No, dad, I didn't get in the refrigerator." Lying was always a spanking offense in our family. No questions, no quibbling. You lie, you get a spanking. Noel was taken to his room where he was given another chance to change his story and own up. He did not, so he received a spanking.

That night, after Noel had been put to bed, I opened the refrigerator and there right up front was that Pepsi bottle. I called Cathy (my wife) in. We both stood there starring. Finally, Cathy said, "What are you going to do?"

I went into Noel's bedroom, and woke him up. I said, "Noel, you didn't lie to me this morning, did you?" He said, "No, Daddy, I didn't." I said, "I know you didn't. I found the Pepsi bottle. Will you forgive me?" He smiled and said, "That's okay, Daddy. Dads make mistakes sometimes too." He hugged me, turned back over and went to sleep. I left the room in tears. Humbled by the open unreserved forgiveness of his heart. Submitted by: Craig Watters, Senior Pastor, First Baptist Church of Louisville, CO
 

Application

The boy had the peace that forgiveness brings. Simon's last words in this epistle encourages peace to those who are in Christ.
 

Illustration
Friday my wife and I left to take my mom back to St. Louis. We timed our departure so that we could be in Houston MO to stop at the Fish Fry Restaurant at lunch time. As we came in, there was a young man who probably weighed about 400 pounds sitting with his back towards us and on his back the words "Jesus". His T-shirt was so big that the words "Jesus" just about covered the most part of his back.

We found a place to sit and I told my wife I was going to go and ask that young man two questions. So I went and as he was sitting alone, I just sat down and said, "Sir, I want to ask you a question." He looked kind of startled and said, "Well, what is it?" And I said, "my question is have you reached a place in your life that you know for certain if you die you're going to heaven?" And he smiled and looked at me and said, "I know that I know, that I know, that I know."

Why did he make that kind of an emphasis? Because he was part of the election. He had the peace that was within Christ. My second question to him was, "If you stand before God and He says, 'why should I let you in my heaven?' What will you say to Him?" He quickly replied, "because I believe in the Lord Jesus Christ." Friend, he was in Christ.
 

Illustration:
During this week, as I taught a class at Southwest Baptist University Center, I emphasized scriptures to use in leading someone to the Lord. I got an E-mail from one of my students who said, "Thank you for sharing that because I had an opportunity today to talk to someone who said, 'I've sinned too much to be forgiven. God could not forgive me.'"

This person shared Rom. 5:8 which said God showed His love toward us in that while we were yet sinners Christ died for us. The man had never understood that Christ died for sinners and he gave his life to Christ. The E-mail said, "so I want to share with you that we can welcome a new brother in Christ. Friend, that's exactly what this passage of scripture is emphasizing. That the place of peace is in Christ. Do you have this peace? It is only available in Jesus Christ..
 

Are you "In Christ"? You should be at peace and be a transporter of peace.
 

If you are not "In Christ" We encourage you do place your faith and trust in Him.
 

You Too can have
 

Some Proclamations to Share.

And

Some Partnerships to Savor.
 
 

Footnotes

[1] A. T. Robertson's Word Pictures in the New Testament. Vol 6 P 135 Broadman
[2] Ibid.