Five major patterns in First Peter
1. The believer's behavior.2. The believer's unfair circumstances.
3. The believer's deference implies a yielding or submitting to the judgment of a recognized superior out of respect or reverence.
4. The believer's motivation by Christ's example.
5. The believer's anticipation of future glory.
i.e. The behavior of believers when they encounter unfair circumstances reflects a spirit of deference in all relationship as they follow Christ's example and anticipate future glory.
6. The believer's resource of God's grace. i.e. we must understand and apply what he wrote about God's grace as our resource in order to obey His exhortations. As in 5:12 "Stand firm in the true grace of God."
God's grace is sufficient for all our needs. 2 Corinthians 12:9.
2. Grace produces confidence: 1:10
3. What proclaims God's grace is our conduct: 2:19-20
4. Grace perfects character. Grace is the source of service: 4:10; Grace is the source of humility: 5:5. God's grace is the secret of both the attitude and activity.
5. Grace promotes courage: 5:10. To resist the devil, to give us strength to defend ourselves agains his attacks. 5:8-9
This epistle exhorts us to "stand firm" in this grace (5:12). This is Peter's appeal to his Christian readers.
1. When God tries our faith, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "strength" in God's grace (2 Cor. 12:9).
2. When our faith is trembling, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "confidence" in God's grace. This is not simply positive thinking, but real external help.
3. When our circumstances are difficult, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "conduct" in God's grace, not just "pep talks."
4. When we suffer for conscience's sake, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "character" in God's grace, not just self-effort.
5. When assaulted by the adversary, we need to remember that we have an adequate source of "courage" in God's grace. Some need courage to evangelize, others need it to do other forms of ministry.
We "stand firm in the true grace of God" when we respond to suffering for Christ's sake as Peter directed. God's grace is what we need to rely on, as we commit ourselves to continue to walk in the will of God. We need to trust and obey!
