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.
She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son Mark. Greet one another with a kiss of love.
Peace to all of you who are in Christ.
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These are Peter’s final words in this letter. As he concludes, he mentions two men as close associates whom we’ve met elsewhere. Silas was Paul’s co-worker, and co-prisoner, in Philippi. With their feet fastened in stocks, closed behind prison doors, they sang hymns of praise to God – the Lord responded by sending an earthquake that loosened all the chains and opened the doors – freedom! But the greatest result was the prison guard, together with his whole family, coming to faith in Jesus – freedom!
The second man is Mark who is most familiar to us as the writer of the second Gospel. Tradition has it that he got most of his information from Peter himself – It’s clear here that they were very closely connected.
But beyond these sightings of New Testament heroes, there are two words that leap off the page: “Grace” and “Peace.” We encounter both words at the start of each of Peter’s letters – “Grace and peace be yours in abundance” (1 Peter 1:2, 2 Peter 1:2). These two words are also used by the Apostle Paul as introductory greeting in every single one of his letters. Neither Apostle uses them offhandedly, as some kind of “hi-how-are-you” greeting. No! – they are instead fully loaded with rich spiritual blessing for all believers.
So, Peter ends his letter by re-engaging these potent words.
“I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in it.” What Peter has written in this whole letter, both in its doctrine and exhortation, is an unpacking of God’s grace. We are “God’s elect” (1 Peter 1:1) because he has chosen us by grace. We receive the command to “Be holy” (1 Peter 1:16) not as an overwhelming obligation, but rather rooted in “the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed” (1 Peter 1:13). As living stones, we are built together in Christ by the Master Builder himself (1 Peter 2:4-5) – it’s all of his grace. If we suffer for Christ, we know that the Spirit of glory rests upon us (1 Peter 4:14) – what grace. All the way through we have been exposed to the unending gift of our gracious God, electing, saving, empowering, and sustaining.
So, Peter says, “Stand fast in it.” Let your feet be firmly planted in the grace God has given. In the whole of life – including the struggles, temptations, sufferings – don’t lose your moorings. You are called to follow closely, but it is all energized by the grace of God himself. Oh, how good.
Peter’s final words are, “Peace to all of you who are in Christ.” As we’ve noted before, this word is firmly rooted in the Hebrew word “shalom” which is much more than simply an absence of conflict – rather, it is richly expansive, including wholeness, health, and well-being, physically, spiritually, relationally, emotionally. As Paul says, “We have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ”(Romans 5:1), which then allows us to live at peace with one another, and to experience “life in all its fullness” (John 10:10).
Rooted in grace we experience peace. What a good place to conclude. May we stand fast in both.
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Lord God Almighty, thank you for the richness of your grace and peace bestowed on me in Jesus. By your Spirit, help me to stand fast in these gifts. To your glory. Amen.
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Reflect:
What does it mean for you to “stand fast” in grace? How about in peace? What might get in the way? How can you embrace more of what the Lord has given?
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Photos by Greg Weaver and Jonathan Meyer on Unsplash
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