Shalom in Christ Alone

Peter closes his first letter with a benediction: “Peace to all who are in Christ” (v. 14). True peace (shalom) is found in Jesus Christ alone. In Matthew 1:21, the angel told Joseph, “You are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins.” How do we know that we are his people? By repentance and faith in Christ. If we do not repent and believe, we do not belong to him, and he will deal with us severely. The Father gave him all authority; he alone is both Savior and Judge. If you have not trusted in Jesus Christ alone, you will have no peace, no joy, no life eternal, no salvation. And beyond that, you are under God’s wrath.

Outside of Jesus Christ, there is no peace. But everyone who trusts in Jesus Christ, who came to make atonement for our sins by his death, burial, and resurrection, receives peace.

The devil comes only to steal, kill, and destroy. Jesus came to give us peace, to give us indestructible eternal life (John 10:10). The question today is, have you trusted in Jesus Christ? Paul said, “Having been justified by faith, we have peace with God” (Rom. 5:1).

Faithful Silas

Peter begins, “With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly” (v. 12). It is a blessing to have faithful friends. First Peter 5:12–14 is the postscript of Peter’s epistle. I believe Peter wrote only this postscript; Silas, also known as Sylvanus, wrote the rest as Peter dictated it to him. In the same way, Tertius wrote the Epistle to the Romans as Paul dictated to him (Rom. 16:22), and Baruch wrote Jeremiah’s prophecy as Jeremiah dictated to him (Jer. 36:32). In other words, Silas was Peter’s scribe, his amanuensis. Silas was also the bearer of this letter to churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia (located in modern Turkey). Silas also was Paul’s companion on his second missionary journey.

Silas was a prophet and a Roman citizen (Acts 15:32; 16:37). He was a trustworthy brother, according to Peter. Are you a trustworthy believer who keeps God’s covenant even when it hurts (Ps. 15:4)? Or are you a covenant breaker, one who confesses, “Jesus Lord,” only for your own benefit? But Silas was trustworthy, and Peter himself was proven trustworthy and was crucified for his faith, as Jesus had prophesied.

Judas became untrustworthy. So also did Demas, a companion of Paul, who wrote, “For Demas, because he loved this world, has abandoned me and has gone to Thessalonica” (2 Tim. 4:10).

Are we faithful? Will Christ the Judge say on the last day concerning each one of us, “Well done, good and faithful servant. . . . Come and share your master’s happiness!” (Matt. 25:21)? Or will he say, “Throw that worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth” (Matt. 25:30)—throw him to hell, in other words.

Paul says he faced “danger from false brothers” (2 Cor. 11:26; see also Gal. 2:4). I too have experienced much trouble from unfaithful and false brothers. But my wife and I thank God for the blessings we receive daily from our faithful brothers and sisters in God’s family.

The Purpose of Writing This Brief Epistle         

Peter says, “I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God” (v. 12). Peter says he wrote his brief epistle, first, to encourage the people of God. The churches were undergoing great suffering, even as God’s people are now undergoing great suffering throughout the world, especially in Nigeria.

Peter had already written, “Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted because the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you” (1 Pet. 4:12–14).

A health and wealth and suffering-free gospel is of the devil. Those who preach such a gospel are described by Paul: “Such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, masquerading as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising, then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will be what their actions deserve” (2 Cor. 11:13–15).

Such preachers preach a different Jesus, a different gospel, and a different spirit. Two times Paul gives an apostolic curse upon any preacher who will not preach the gospel that is revealed to us in the Scriptures and in Jesus Christ (Gal. 1:8–9). His second epistle to the Corinthian church speaks of suffering for the people of God and comfort for those who suffer. So we read,

Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassions and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God. For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ our comfort overflows. If we are distressed, it is for your comfort and salvation; if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which produces in you patient endurance of the same sufferings we suffer. And our hope for you is firm, because we know that just as you share in our sufferings, so also you share in our comfort. (2 Cor. 1:3–7)

Notice, nine times the word “comfort” appears in this passage. God is the God of all comfort. In all our sufferings, the Scripture, the Holy Spirit, and the people of God will encourage and comfort us.

The second purpose Peter gives for writing this epistle was to bear witness to the gospel. The entire epistle bears witness to the gospel, in fulfillment of the Great Commission. Jesus said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matt. 28:19–20).

Peter also bore witness to the gospel on the Day of Pentecost. He declared, “Men of Israel, listen to this: Jesus of Nazareth was a man accredited by God to you by miracles, wonders and signs, which God did among you through him, as you yourselves know. This man was handed over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge; and you, with the help of wicked men, put him to death by nailing him to the cross. But God raised him from the dead, freeing him from the agony of death, because it was impossible for death to keep its hold on him” (Acts 2:22–24).

We are to bear witness to the gospel by what we believe and how we live, by our doctrine and life, that elect sinners may repent and believe in Jesus and be saved. We must witness to all because in Adam all have sinned and come short of the glory of God. No true believer is exempt from bearing witness to Christ. Jesus said that we must “let [our] light shine before men [unbelievers], that they may see [our] good works and praise [our] Father in heaven” (Matt. 5:16). No one is exempt from testifying to Jesus Christ.

Through the gospel, God saves sons of perdition and makes them sons of God by adoption. Do you bear witness to the gospel in your family and in your neighborhood by the power of the Holy Spirit? Jesus said, “Ye shall receive power after the Holy Ghost is come upon you, and ye shall be my witnesses in Jerusalem, Judea, Samaria, and unto the uttermost parts of the earth” (Acts 1:8).

True Grace

The gospel reveals the truth of grace. Peter says he is testifying “that this is the true grace of God” (v. 12). Jesus prayed, “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth” (John 17:17). Jesus also said, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me” (John 14:6). This is true grace.

Let God be true, and all men liars. There is no truth in this world except what is recorded in the Scriptures. The Scripture alone is truth, the very word of God.

It is the true grace of God. It is the word of God alone that can be trusted. Peter writes, “Above all, you must understand that no prophecy of Scripture came about by the prophet’s own interpretation [or inspiration]. For prophecy never had its origin in the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit” (2 Pet. 1:20–21).

This epistle reveals the gospel, as we read in the following verses:

• 1 Peter 1:12: “It was revealed to them that they were not serving themselves but you, when they spoke of the things that have now been told you by those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven.”
• 1 Peter 2:24: “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds [we are saved] we are healed.”
• 1 Peter 3:22: “[Jesus] has gone into heaven, and is at the right hand of God—with angels, authorities and powers in submission to him.” What about you? Are you in submission to him? He has received all authority in heaven and on earth. Who are you? Falling blossoms, mere grass, characterized by arrogance, and he will deal with you severely. He will never tolerate a person who is against him. He declares war against arrogant sinners.
• Titus 2:11–14: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. [Grace] teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.” Grace teaches. Grace is not nothing. Grace is Jesus Christ.
• John 1:14: “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”
• John 1:17: “For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

The gospel reveals grace because the gospel reveals Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God who became man. He never sinned and went to the cross to make atonement for our sins. He suffered the wages of sin, which is death, that were due us and gave us his perfect righteousness in which we stand. The gospel reveals grace—God’s unmerited favor to hell-meriting elect sinners. What we need is grace, which is God’s power to save.

Paul writes, “But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you,’” and notice the parallelism, “‘for my power is made perfect in weakness’” (2 Cor. 12:9). Grace is God’s power to raise the dead, to raise people from hell and bring them to heaven. God gives more grace (Jas. 4:6). God gives grace to the humble (1 Pet 5:5). God’s grace is sufficient (2 Cor. 12:9). God gives grace to those who pray (Heb. 4:16). Jesus is source of grace (John 1:17). So also God is the Father of all grace (1 Pet 5:10).

Then Peter says, “Stand fast in it” (v. 12). The apostle is commanding us to stand fast in this true grace of the gospel. We must not move away from it, as Judas and Demas did. Paul speaks similarly: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but you will be saved” (Phil. 1:27–28).

Elsewhere Paul exhorts, “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage [men of the Holy Spirit]. Do everything in love” (1 Cor. 16:13–14). He also says, “Now, brothers, I want to remind you of the gospel I preached to you, which you received and on which you have taken your stand. By this gospel you are saved, if you hold firmly to the word I preached to you. Otherwise, you have believed in vain” (1 Cor. 15:1–2). We must stand firm, believing the gospel of grace, and stand opposed to the devil. Peter says, “Resist the devil, standing firm in the faith” (1 Pet. 5:9).

We must stand fast till death, as Peter and Paul did. In Hebrews 11 we read of those who stood fast till death: “Others were tortured and refused to be released, so that they might gain a better resurrection. . . . They were stoned; they were sawed in two [slowly]; they were put to death by the sword” (Heb. 11:35b–37). These people suffered for their faith. Yet even as they were suffering, the Holy Spirit was resting on them, giving them sweet comfort of the Spirit.

Jesus told the church of Smyrna, “Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer. I tell you, the devil will put some of you in prison to test you, and you will suffer persecution for ten days. Be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you the crown of life” (Rev. 2:10). We also read, “They overcame him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony; they did not love their lives so much as to shrink from death” (Rev. 12:11). This is what is going to happen in this country, which abandoned the faith of our fathers.

We are saved by this true grace, which the apostolic gospel reveals. “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God” (Eph. 2:8). Thank God for the gift of grace that saves us through the gift of faith!

This grace is a great teacher. (PGM) In Titus 2, Paul says it teaches us to say “No” to sin and “Yes” to righteousness. Do you say “No” to sin and “Yes” to righteousness? Then you are saved.

Greeting

Peter then writes, “She who is in Babylon, chosen together with you, sends you her greetings, and so does my son, Mark” (v. 13). Peter was sending a greeting of love from his church in Babylon to the five churches to which the letter was first written (1 Pet. 1:1). He uses an interesting expression, calling these churches “co-elect.”

All true churches consist of elect people of God. Paul writes, “For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. And those he predestined, he also called [effectually]; those he called, he also justified; those he justified, he also glorified” (Rom. 8:29–30). What about you? Are you an elect of God? If you are an elect, you will repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ because he will call you effectually, and when he calls, you will come.

We find this idea of being elect throughout the New Testament. Paul writes, “For [God] chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight” (Eph. 1:4). Peter says, “[You] have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father” (1 Pet. 1:2). He also says, “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light” (1 Pet. 2:9). In his second epistle he says, “Therefore, my brothers, be all the more eager to make you calling and election sure. If you do these things, you will never fall” (2 Pet. 1:10). Have you repented and believed on the Lord Jesus Christ? Do you obey Jesus Christ? Then you are saved. You are an elect. An elect will not fight against Christ and against his truth as revealed in the Bible.

God loves certain sinners, not all sinners. God elects dead sinners. God elects in eternity past. God elects before creation. God elects in Jesus Christ, our atonement. God elects them to glory. God elects them to become objects of mercy, destined for glory. That is why we must make our calling and election sure. And when we have done so, it will not matter whether we are hated or not.

Paul speaks more of this in Romans 9. He writes, “Just as it is written, ‘Jacob I loved; Esau I hated’” (Rom. 9:13). He also says, “Therefore God has mercy on whom he wants to have mercy, and he hardens whom he wants to harden” (Rom. 9:18). Then he explains, “What if God, choosing to show his wrath and make his power known, bore with great patience the objects of his wrath—prepared for destruction? What if he did this to make the riches of his glory known to the objects of his mercy whom he prepared in advance for glory” (Rom. 9:22–23). If we are God’s elect, our destiny is glory.

All God’s people are elect sinners who became objects of mercy, prepared for eternal glory in Christ. We are loved by our triune God from eternity past to eternity future. So nothing in all creation, including death, can separate us from God’s eternal love for us in Christ Jesus our Lord. The basis of our salvation is the perfect righteousness of Christ our Redeemer, and the proof of our salvation is our obedience to our covenant Lord Jesus, through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Paul writes, “Therefore, my dear friends, as you have always obeyed—not only in my presence, but now much more in my absence—continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you to will and to do according to his good pleasure” (Phil. 2:12–13).

What great comfort is the doctrine of election for us in our daily life, in our sufferings, and in our death! If God is for us, who can be against us?

Peter also tells the churches that John Mark, his spiritual son in the faith, loves them and, therefore, he greets them. John Mark was the son of Mary, as we read in Acts 12:12: “When this had dawned on [Peter], he went to the house of Mary the mother of John, also called Mark, where many people had gathered and were praying.” John Mark was born into a rich family. It appears his father had died early. His mother Mary was rich. She was related to Barnabas and owned a big house in Jerusalem where the church gathered to worship.

In spite of Mark’s early failure as a helper of Paul, he later became useful in the ministry to both Peter and Paul. Church father Papias said that Mark was the author of the gospel of Mark under Peter’s oversight.[1]

Holy Kiss

Then Peter says, “Greet one another with a kiss of love” (v. 14). He is commanding the churches in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Bithynia, and Asia to express their love for one another by means of a kiss of love.

The true mark of a Christian is love—love to God and love to God’s people. This means sacrificial love. Paul writes, “If I speak in the tongues of men and angels, but have not love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. If I give all I possess to the poor and surrender my body to the flames, but have not love, I gain nothing” (1 Cor. 13:1–3). There is no place for discrimination in God’s holy church based on anything. Paul also says, “If anyone does not love the Lord—a curse be on him” (1 Cor. 16:22).

Do you love your brother and sister this way? John writes, “This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers. If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him?” (1 John 3:16–17).

James says the same thing: “What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? . . . If one of you says [to a poor man], ‘Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed,’ but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by [sacrificial] action, is dead” (Jas. 2:14–17).

About the early church, we read, “All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need” (Acts 2:44–45; see also Acts 4:32). The mark of true Christians is love to God and to each other.

Peter says, “Though you have not seen [Jesus Christ], you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with joy unspeakable and full of glory” (1 Pet. 1:8). We love because Jesus himself loved us. Peter writes, “He himself bore our sins in his body on the tree, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; by his wounds we are healed” (1 Pet. 2:24). And because of this, we also love the saints. Peter says, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth.” Notice, he is teaching us to obey whatsoever Christ, the one who received all authority in all the universe, has commanded us. So Peter writes, “Now that you have purified yourselves by obeying the truth so that you have sincere love for your brothers, love one another deeply [sacrificially], from the heart” (1 Pet. 1:22). Peter also says, “Love one another deeply” (1 Pet. 4:8). Ask yourselves whether you love one another deeply from the heart as Christ loved us and died for us, making atonement for our sins.

In Knowing the Times, Dr. Martyn Lloyd-Jones speaks about dead orthodoxy. Let me tell you what dead orthodoxy is. Dead orthodoxy is cursed orthodoxy. It describes life in a cemetery, not life in a church where only born-of-God people worship in spirit and in truth.

Jesus speaks of dead orthodoxy: “To the angel of the church of Sardis write: These are the words of him who holds the seven spirits of God and the seven stars. I know your deeds; you have a reputation of being alive, but you are dead” (Rev. 3:1). A church may have all kinds of activities, but, in reality, it is dead. This is a shocking statement by Christ, the head of the church.

I and my wife Gladys were brought up in a revival. We know and we knew how people of God loved one another sacrificially.

The Father loves us, as we read: “God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believes on him should not perish but have everlasting life” (John 3:16). Christ loves us, as Paul writes in his injunction to husbands: “Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her” (Eph. 5:25). And the Holy Spirit loves us. Paul writes, “The fruit of the Spirit is love” (Gal. 5:22).

Jesus said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another” (John 13:34-35).

Peter is not the only one who mentions the kiss of love. Paul writes, “Greet one another with a holy kiss” (Rom. 16:16; see also 2 Cor. 13:12). Peter uses the phrase, “Kiss of love.” The holy kiss expresses unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. We have seen it during time of revival in churches in Kerala. Brothers would kiss brothers on the cheek and sisters would kiss sisters on the cheek, declaring that we were one in Christ. In such a situation, there is no rivalry, such as there was in the Corinthian church, where people would say, “I am of Paul,” “I am of Apollos,” “I am of Cephas,” “I am of Christ” (1 Cor. 1:12).

In the second century, Justin Martyr said that the kiss of love “was a customary part of the Christian worship service.”[2]

Place of Writing

Peter sends greetings from the church “which is in Babylon” (v. 13). Some assert that Peter is using “Babylon” metaphorically to refer to Rome. But I believe with Matthew Henry that Peter wrote 1 Peter, as he says, from Babylon (of Mesopotamia) as the apostle to the Jews (Gal. 2:8). In Acts 2:9, we read that worshipers came from Babylon of Mesopotamia to Jerusalem to celebrate the festival of Pentecost. In other words, there were Jewish people living in Babylon at that time.

Jeremiah speaks of Babylon about 169 times in his prophecy; he was referring to Babylon of Mesopotamia. It is true that the book of Revelation, written about 95 AD, may speak of Babylon metaphorically to mean Rome, but Peter died long before John wrote Revelation. There is no New Testament evidence to support the Roman Catholic teaching that Peter reigned in Rome as the first pope for twenty-five years. Rather, a certain chronology can be constructed of Peter’s whereabouts during those years that indicates otherwise.

• AD 48: Peter was in prison in Jerusalem (Acts 12).
• AD 52: Peter was at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15).
• AD 53: Peter was with Paul in Syrian Antioch (Gal. 2:11).
• AD 58: Paul wrote his Epistle to the Romans, not using the metaphorical language of Rome as Babylon. Rather, he addresses it “to all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints” (Rom. 1:7). And at the end of his epistle, Paul greets by name twenty-seven people who were in Rome at the time, yet he does not greet Peter (Rom. 16).
• AD 61: Paul was in Rome as a prisoner. A number of Christians met with him, but we are not told that Peter met with him (Acts 28).
• AD 64–67: Paul was in prison again in Rome. He wrote, “Only Luke is with me. . . . At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. . . . But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength [to bear witness to the gospel]” (2 Tim. 4:11, 16–17). Again, there is no mention of Peter being in Rome at that time.[3]

Thus, although Roman Catholic teaching says Peter was pope in Rome and some Protestants may agree, there is no New Testament evidence to back it up. First Peter was written 62–63 AD. There is no biblical evidence that Peter was in Rome during that time, functioning as bishop of the church of Rome.

 Benediction

            Finally, Peter writes, “Peace to all who are in Christ” (v. 14). God’s people need peace as they experience persecution. True peace is not given by having money, security, and a big house. Forbes magazine recently listed all the world’s billionaires. Do you think that any of them are Christians? I do not. The richest man has $112 billion. Oh, by the world’s standards, he must be very secure, very happy, and very peaceful. But it is all a lie.

God is God of all grace (1 Pet. 5:10). God is also the God of peace (Rom. 15:33). And grace is the mother of peace. So Peter connects grace and peace in 1 Peter 1:2 and 2 Peter 1:2, saying, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” Let me ask you: Do you experience this divine peace and grace from God daily in abundance? If we experience God’s grace, we will also experience God’s peace.

Jesus spoke about this God-given peace. He said, “If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you” (John 15:18–19). But he also said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.” Peter understood what Jesus was saying. That is why he wrote, “Peace to all those who are in Christ.” So Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world” (John 16:33). Jesus also said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you I do not give to you as he world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid” (John 14:27). The peace of God that passes all human understanding will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. When? In the middle of the night, as we face persecution, and even as we face martyrdom (see Phil. 4:7).

Without faith in Jesus Christ, your sins are not forgiven, you are not justified, and you have no grace and peace. In fact, the wrath of God is still abiding on you, and you have no peace. “There is no peace for the wicked, saith the Lord” (Isa. 57:21). Jesus said, “When you enter a house, first say, ‘Peace to this house [meaning, “Shalom, salvation to this house”].’ If a man of peace is there [that is, if an elect sinner is there], your peace will rest on him; if not, it will return to you” (Luke 10:5–6).

If you have not trusted in Christ, I say to you this Lord’s Day: Repent and believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved. To those already in Christ, I say, may grace and peace be yours in abundance as you live for God’s glory in repentance and faith. Amen and amen.

[1] Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Epistles of Peter, New Testament Commentary series (Grand Rapids: Baker, 1995 ed.), 209.

[2] Kistemaker, 209.

[3] Gordon H. Clark, I & II Peter (Phillipsburg, NJ: P&R, 1982), 158–159.