Wayfaring Strangers , Part 23 Wrap Up. A Study Of 1 Peter Series

Wayfaring Strangers

A study of 1 Peter

Part 23

“On solid rock, I’ll make my stand”

Today we are concluding our study of the great book of 1 Peter

Over the last few months we have learned and studied over and over how

Peter wrote to encourage those who had accepted Christ as Lord

And no longer felt as if they fit in

How through the trials and troubles?

They could find hope

And peace in God though Christ

But more than that, how they could find joy in the storms of this life

Knowing that there is a priceless inheritance waiting in glory for all who endure

Peter has covered such difficult topics as suffering

As submission

He challenges us to live Godly lives in an ungodly world

And to become building stones in the kingdom of God

While recognizing that Jesus Is the cornerstone

We in his writings have seen Peter transform from

Ready aim shoot Peter

Into the rock he was so aptly called by Jesus

And seeing this in his life

Should make us se that

God can use all of us, we just need to say yes

He taught us the difference between suffering for our choices

And suffering for Christ

And how if we want to be God has called us to be

We must be all in

He goes on once again to warn us of the sever trials that may come our way

But reassures us that we are not alone

As Christ suffered also

And because he overcame

So, shall we

Then he moved on to how we should treat those we are called to lead

And those we are called to follow

Humility is huge in his writings

And I believe this is because he himself found the humility that he lacked in his early ministry

And desires that we as wayfaring strangers

Don’t make the same mistakes he did

He touches on Spiritual warfare

Telling us to stand firm against the attacks of Satna

And remain strong in the faith

And that when we do

Satan will r u n n o f t

And then Shows us Gods kindness and

Assures us that after we have suffered a little while

God will

Restore us

Support us

Strengthen us

And

Place on a firm foundation

Though His Power not ours

We have studied this book verse by verse in context

And we have seen the importance of contextual study for clear understanding of The true meaning of God’s word

So to finish the book

Let me read the last 3 verses for you

They are mostly self-explanatory

So, for a Sunday message

I f will simply read them for you

And explain just a couple of things

if we were doing this study on a Wednesday night

I would break them down in more detail

1 Peter 1

5:12-14

I have written and sent this short letter to you with the help of Silas,[a] whom I commend to you as a faithful brother. My purpose in writing is to encourage you and assure you that what you are experiencing is truly part of God’s grace for you. Stand firm in this grace.

13 Your sister church here in Babylon[b] sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.14 Greet each other with a kiss of love.

Peace be with all of you who are in Christ

Silas was one of the behind the scenes disciples that supported the work of the church

He was a huge asset to both Peter and Paul and is a true example of someone working for God’s glory and not his own.

Peter once again gives encouragement in the suffering and assures us that what we are experiencing is all part of God’s plan for our lives

Even when we can’t see or don’t understand it all

He says hang your hat on this fact- stand firm in this grace

Then verse 13 throws us for a bit of a loop

Maybe

“Your sister church here in Babylon[b] sends you greetings, and so does my son Mark.”

Your sister church in Babylon

If you are a student of scripture

Especially old testament scripture

Or end times scripture

This may be confusing

As you know that The Babylonians

Were fierce enemies of God and god’s people

And in the end times

Nothing positive is said about Babylon

Don’t get hung up on this

This is a symbolic reference to the Church that was in Rome

Serving as a light in the darkness

In

One of the most corrupt places on earth

Mark is John mark- the author of the gospel of Mark

Peter ends his letter with verse 14

“Greet each other with a kiss of love.

Peace be with all of you who are in Christ”