Through the first four chapters of 1 Peter, we have noticed that Peter seems to be saying that his readers have been “elected” and “exiled” as God's saved people for the purpose of “living good lives” full of “good deeds” in full submission to, and in full view of their daily contemporaries, so that those contemporaries would see those "good deeds" and glorify God as a result. In essence, Peter concludes that his message, promoting the example of Jesus, is “The True Grace of God.”
Further, we have seen that Peter may understand the hallmark of one’s salvation to be evidenced in the “performing of these good deeds” which he ultimately equates with “holiness” and which is generated by “submission” to others in daily life.
We have also seen that Peter then goes on to explain to his readers that no matter what situation in which they might find themselves, submitting to “every human authority,” (2:13) submitting to “employers,” (2:18) submitting to partners in “marital relationships,” (3:1) and submitting to “spiritual leaders” (5:5) is the practical, day-to-day outworking of those “good deeds” in all their relationships. According to Peter, it seems he is saying that “submission” to others is considered “holiness”. And it is a submission mindset that drives and enable all successful daily actions, not just a random activities.
The primary result of this submission mindset is that people would see those “good deeds,” and glorify God. The secondary result of this submission is that through these “good deeds,” as evidence of their salvation worked out in daily interpersonal relationships, they are “receiving the end result of their faith, the salvation of their souls.”
Then to seal his argument, we have also noted that Peter points out to the “elect” that they ought to be in submission to others in their daily lives just as “—angels, authorities and powers are in submission to Jesus who has gone into heaven and is now sitting at God’s right hand.” (3:22) Jesus is our example!
“To this you were called/elected, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.” (2:21)
This has been a tough message to receive and apply for everyone throughout human history, and it is especially a tough message to receive for today’s world.
Perhaps Peter knew how difficult it would be to encourage submission to one another, especially in difficulties with others, and therefore was the reason for such an emphasis on “submission” in this short letter.
It is not too difficult to assert that the readers of 1 Peter were undergoing some sort of “suffering and trials” at the hands of others, and as a result of these “suffering and trials,” Peter felt compelled to encourage them to submit to those who were the cause of that suffering.
The following references seem to validate this assertion…
“In all this (salvation experiences that Peter mentions in 1:3-5) you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials.” (1:6)
“It is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God.” (2:19)
“You suffer for doing good and you endure it, this is commendable before God. To this you were called/elected...” (2:20)
“Since you should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.” (3:14)
“It is better, since it is God’s will, to suffer for doing good.” (3:17)
“…Since you suffer…” (4:15)…... “…Since you suffer…” (4:16)
"Those who suffer according to God’s will should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do good.” (4:19)
“…the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.” (5:10)
Notice that Peter refers to their suffering at least once, and sometimes twice in every chapter of his letter. Therefore, it might not be too bold to assert that suffering is definitely a focus for Peter throughout the letter. In the same way, Peter’s focus on the idea of "submission" in the context of “suffering” is just as emphatic. "Suffering" and "submission" seem to be lexically tied together like salt and pepper, peanut butter and jelly, and ham and eggs. Submission seems to be suffering's partner. Does this suggest more than a lexical connection? Does the lexical connection suggest possible socio-relational implications? It is worth asking the question.
Peter may suggest an answer. As a fellow elder, and one who “witnessed Jesus’ sufferings,” and his Submission Mindset which drove him to accept those sufferings, Peter, in the final chapter specifically directs his comments to the leaders of the local church to whom he is writing.
Peter encourages those leaders to be “examples to the flock,” who as we have noted above, are undergoing suffering of their own. Peter writes…
"Be shepherds of God’s flock that is under your care, watching over them—not because you must, but because you are willing, as God wants you to be; not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples (of Jesus Submission Mindset) to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that will never fade away." (1Peter 5:3-4)
Peter then goes on to say,
"In the same way, you who are younger, submit yourselves to your elders. All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another." (1Peter 5:5)
Hearing what Peter just said, we can confidently infer that the example that Peter is encouraging his readers to follow is Jesus’ example of A Submission Mindset. We can confidently assert that because the very next verse leads us to to that confidence. Peter begins the next verse with, “In the same way...” (1Peter 5:5)
The phrase, “In the same way,” begs the question, "In the same way... as what?" It seems that Peter is talking to the younger believers, asking them to “submit themselves to the elders”...who, "in the same way” are to submit to Jesus...who, "in the same way" submitted himself to those causing him to suffer.
Peter is referring to Jesus’ Submission Mindset that he witnessed in Jesus’s sufferings. And it is also that same Submission Mindset that Peter is encouraging the elders to follow, as it is that same example of Submission Mindset that he is encouraging the younger believers to follow from the elders.
“Two times in his short letter Peter encourages his readers to “follow” Jesus’ “example” of A Submission Mindset. (2:21 & 5:3) Five more times, an average of one time per chapter, Peter uses the phrase “in the same way” as a means of encouraging his readers to imitate Jesus’ Submission Mindset as the “example” to follow in daily relationships; and in this context, the context of suffering.
A Submission Mindset is the response Peter encourages to those who cause suffering. This does not mean that one rolls over and accepts the suffering. But to Peter's point, if one
“should suffer for what is right, you are blessed.” (3:14) To continue under those conditions takes A Submission Mindset. "To suffer for doing good” (3:17) takes A Submission Mindset. To "Love your enemies" takes A Submission Mindset.
So, Peter's final exhortation to his readers is to follow the example of A Submission Mindset in the same way of Jesus’ Submission Mindset.
It seems that Peter, throughout his letter, has been referring to the hallmark of one’s salvation experience as being A Submission Mindset. And for Peter to say “be holy as God is holy” seems to be the same thing as 'follow the example of Jesus’ Submission Mindset.'
We have said earlier that perhaps for Peter, “holiness” means a daily performance of “good deeds” of submission in “loving one another and displaying affection and empathy” in all relationships. Perhaps "holiness" is a Submission Mindset in all our relationships. Or perhaps it could be said that a Submission Mindset in all our relationships results in "holiness."
Perhaps it is this type of “holiness” to which Jesus was referring when he said,
“let your light (generated by A Submission Mindset) so shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.” -(Matthew 5:16)
Jesus could have said , “let your light shine before men. But he didn't. He said, “let your light so shine before men..."
"So" is a comparative word in this context, and in this context, "so" can also be translated, "in the same way" as the ESV, NIV and other translations indicate. Just as a light is meant to be seen, "so"/"in the same way" one's salvation is meant to be seen in "good deeds". What should shine is the "good deeds." Those "good deeds" are generated from A Submission Mindset. Does not the word "so" indicate a light generated by A Submission Mindset?
Peter ends his letter by tying together all he has written concerning the concepts of A Submission Mindset in the context of "holiness" and the salvation experience, summing it all up and calling it all “The True Grace of God.” Peter writes..
“I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.” (5:12)
We've seen that Jesus' acquiescence to his "suffering in the body" is the result of his Submission Mindset. And we have already seen similarly that Paul also encourages the Philippian Christians “in the same way,” to imitate the Submission Mindset of Jesus...
"Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
This Submission Mindset, about which both Peter and Paul both write, Peter calls "The True Grace of God." It is true, because God is the "God of all Grace" (5:10)
Peters makes equivalent this brief message (of Jesus, “in the form of God, humbling himself and becoming obedient to the point of death”) to Jesus's Submission Mindset by calling his message The True Grace of God. God in the flesh is "the true grace of God" just as God is the "God of all grace" as Peter says in 5:10.
The True Grace of God is the message of a humble, holy Jesus, God in the form of man, in submission to the authorities’ as the cause of his suffering in his body on cross during a horrific crucifixion, for the sake of providing salvation for man and glorifying the Father through his resurrection and ascension and ultimate glorification in heaven.
This grace, was only possible as Jesus who in “form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross."
Jesus with A Submission Mindset is "holiness" lived out. That is the True Grace of God!
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