Sermon Notes from "Stand Firm in God's Grace: Final Greetings, Kisses, and Peace to All." Sermon by Mitch Chase.

[Sermon from this past Lord's Day morning at Kosmosdale Baptist Church.]

1 Peter 5:12-14.

I. Introduction

A. How do we end our letters/emails?

B. Greco-Roman letters have somewhat standardized forms of endings.

C. The greetings at the end of NT epistles demonstrate the power of the gospel at work in many lives.

D. Commands at the end of NT epistles often summarize themes within the letter.

E. Sometimes, letters mention the letter-bearer.

F. Sometimes, letters mention scribes.

G. Parallels between the ending of 1 Peter and the introduction of 1 Peter:
1. Grace (5:12; 1:2);
2. Peace (5:14; 1:2);
3. Chosen Babylon/elect exiles (5:13; 1:1).

II. Summary Command

A. "Silvanus" is likely a form of "Silas."
1. Silas was imprisoned with Paul.
2. Silas was likely the scribe and letter-bearer of 1 Peter.

B. The true grace of God:
1. "Grace" has been important in 1 Peter as being that by which Christians are saved and sustained;
2. Peter's readers are to stand firm in grace.

III. Transmission of Greetings

A. "She who is in Babylon" = the church in Rome [or, perhaps, Jerusalem]

B. Peter himself identifies with his readers as exiles (1:1).

C. Mark, despite the tension in Acts 13, becomes significant and useful within the Church.

IV. Command to Greet One Another. The affection appropriate within a family is appropriate within the Church: the family of faith.

V. Prayer of Peace

VI. Conclusion. We must stand firm in the grace of God:

A. Rooted in the gospel;

B. Enduring fiery trials;

C. Keeping our minds on the hope to come.