1 Peter 5:10 But the God of all grace, who has called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that you have suffered a while, make you perfect… It is the first duty of Christian minister to endeavour to convert sinners to God. The second object of the Christian ministry is the improvement of those already converted. Those trees of righteousness are not only to be planted in the garden of the Lord, but to be watered also. I. THE CHARACTER OF JEHOVAH. He is called "the God of all grace." II. As OPERATION. "Who hath called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus." This glory is eternal. A future state of being is intended to develop all our spiritual excellences, and therefore it is called glory. III. We have here a PRAYER. "But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you." Peter here has a pleonasm which shows how earnestly he felt it in his own mind; he was deeply impressed, but could hardly find words to express his meaning and desire. "Do for you exceeding abundantly above all that ye can ask or think." There are, however, in this prayer three things which we may distinctly observe. 1. First, it includes much progress ill religion: "Make you perfect." Christians should never be satisfied. In your secular affairs you wish not only to go on, but to prosper. Why not show the same concern in your religious affairs? A little does not satisfy you in temporals, why should it in spirituals? especially since the latter is much more necessary and desirable; and you are commanded not only to have the Spirit, but to be "filled with the Spirit." 2. Another thing to be observed in this prayer is confirmation. For it is to little purpose to gain unless you retain also. "Stablish, strengthen, settle you." 3. But observe, thirdly, the Divine agency necessary for this. Peter not only admonishes, but prays for them. Who is to make them so? "Why," said he, "the God of all grace, who hath called us to His eternal glory." Who is to be the finisher but He who is the Author? "He who hath begun a good work in you will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ." "He shall fulfil in you all the good pleasure of His will, and the work of faith with power." IV. Consider THE CONCESSION. "After that ye have suffered a while." First, a suffering state is to precede their finishing their course with joy. Yes, before you reign with Him you are to suffer with Him. In the beginning of the gospel the sufferings of Christians arose much from persecution. I have known persons who have probably suffered more than many of the martyrs. The martyr has had public excitement; these have suffered in obscurity: the martyr's sufferings have soon ended; but here the melancholy experience stretches out from week to week, and even from year to year. These sufferings are needful: God, who loves His people infinitely, would not allow them to suffer without some gracious design. Yes, the fallow ground requires the ploughshare to prepare it for the seed. Even the vine needs the pruning knife, that it may bring forth fruit. (W. Jay, M. A.) Parallel Verses KJV: But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. |
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