1 Peter 5:5

Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud but gives grace to the humble. Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith... But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen. (1 Peter 5:5-11)

Humility, submission, and vigilance are the kingdom keys by which God's grace sanctifies His citizens for glory.

Keys of the Kingdom

At the end of January we began this series in 1 Peter. My original goal was to teach through it in six studies—this is our seventeenth. We're a bit off schedule, but that's okay. The Lord has had something He wanted to teach me, and hopefully you, through this letter Peter wrote two thousand years ago.

I've called this series Keys of the Kingdom because this book holds a number of important keys we need to learn. If you're a follower of Jesus, you are a citizen of heaven, as Philippians 3 says. You belong to another kingdom. So what are the important truths to live by as a citizen of the kingdom of heaven, even while we find ourselves here as His ambassadors? Some of those keys are sanctification, submission, suffering, eternal salvation, and our witness in a world contrary to Christ. As we finish this section, Peter returns to sanctification and submission.

Our goal here is to go through the Scriptures book by book, chapter by chapter, verse by verse, rightly dividing the word of truth, as Paul told Timothy. We want to present the whole counsel of God, as Paul told the Ephesian elders that he had not shunned to declare. That means we cover hard topics we might otherwise avoid—suffering, submission, sanctification—because they are essential to understand.

The Necessity of Sanctification

I'll admit I'm no fan of suffering. I like it about as much as anyone. And submission is not easy for any of us—none of us find it easy to yield, to be meek, to submit to those above us. But if we are going to be transformed into what God desires and live the life He intends for us here and in eternity, we must understand suffering, submission, and this process called sanctification. Sanctification is a cleansing process, and the more I study Scripture, the more I see my need for it. It is essential—not always fun, but necessary.

If you are a parent, you've experienced this firsthand in your children. To the dismay of many first-time parents, children don't come out perfect. There's a segment of our population that believes all children are born inherently good. Those who hold that view either never had children or didn't raise their own.

Years ago, the Christian author Charles Swindoll wrote a book called Your Child and You, quoting the Minnesota Crime Commission. Their summary statement said: "Every baby starts life as a little savage. He is completely selfish and self-centered. He wants what he wants when he wants it—his bottle, his mother's attention, his playmate's toy, his uncle's watch. Deny him these and he seethes with rage and aggressiveness, which would be murderous were it not for his helpless state. He has no morals, no knowledge, no skills... every child would grow up a criminal, a thief, a killer, a rapist." That was clearly not written in 21st-century America—it's totally politically incorrect now—and yet, if you're an honest parent, you hear it and say, "There's truth in that."

Foolishness in the Heart of a Child

We have four wonderful children. Our youngest will be three at the end of this month, and he is exceptionally cute—until about eight months ago, when a certain transition took place. You're laughing because you've been there. When you see a two-year-old having a meltdown in a store, if you don't have kids you think, "Can't that parent get hold of that child?" But if you're a parent, your heart goes out to them, because you've been there.

Scripture says there is foolishness in the heart of a child. As precious as our son Elliot is—as all our children are—there is this foolishness. He wants what he wants, and he seethes with a rage that would be dangerous if he weren't so small. There are times when he punches my chest or grabs my face, and if he were bigger I'd be scared to death.

Let me say this about so-called "PKs"—preachers' kids, pastors' kids. They're just kids. There's nothing perfect about them by osmosis, and I'm not perfect either. Very recently, one sibling did something our youngest didn't like, and he called him "you little jerk." My wife and I wondered where on earth he got it—until we realized he'd watched Home Alone a million times at Christmas. There's a scene where someone is called a little jerk, and now he calls everyone a little jerk. There is foolishness in the heart of a child, and he needs to be sanctified.

That transformation is necessary so he will experience the life his mother and I envision for him—a life filled with good things and joy. But he must be refined. That sanctifying process is not always fun, for him or for us as parents, but it is essential.

Discipline That Yields Righteousness

The author of Hebrews writes in chapter 12, verse 11: "Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." The King James says "exercised by it"—and some of us needed some exercising.

Now apply that picture of parents and children to the reality that every one of us is a child of our Father, God. He needs to sanctify us. He has a vision for your future far better than anything you can imagine, but to experience the fullness of that joy there must be this sanctifying, refining, transforming process in our lives. Sometimes that process feels akin to suffering. And almost certainly it brings us to a place where we must yield to authority and respond in a submissive way to those over us. There is no way to experience the life God desires, or to be a witness of His glory, without this suffering, submissive sanctification.

Submit to Your Elders

So Peter returns to the topic of submission. In 1 Peter 2 and 3 we covered submission to government, to employers, and of wives to husbands—and everyone loved that, as you let me know. Here he does it again: "Likewise, you younger people, submit yourselves to your elders."

In the previous verses (5:1-4), Peter exhorted the leaders—the elders, overseers, the under-shepherds God has placed over His flock. We saw that leaders must maintain humility, that they are not to lord it over those in their charge but to serve and lead with genuine love. Now Peter turns to those under the leaders, whom he calls "the youngers."

The word "younger" is interesting. It's the Greek word that's translated "new" elsewhere—it could be rendered "newbies." It doesn't necessarily mean younger by age. Some of you became Christians later in life, in your fifties or sixties. You come into the body of Christ where there is an established, God-ordained structure, and even though you may be older in years than those in leadership, you're still new—still a "younger." So Peter says, submit yourselves to your elders.

This authority structure doesn't mean you are less in dignity, ability, or even intellect. You might exceed them in those things, but the exhortation still stands: yield meekly to those in the leadership structure. Hebrews 13:17 says it like this: "Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you." How do you increase their joy in leading? By yielding to their leading, knowing they will answer to the chief Shepherd for how they led you.

Respect Reflects a Humble Heart

Point one: it is proper to respect the authority of leaders. This respect is an evidence of meekness and of submission to God and the leadership structure He has ordained. None of us like to submit, especially in an American culture that emphasizes from the earliest age our individual nature, will, and authority. We're constantly encouraged to be assertive, to demand, to stand up for our rights—so American that part of us says, "Yes!" Then we read passages like this and say, "No." Many times we find that kingdom of God culture is quite contrary to American values.

And just in case you assume this doesn't apply to you because you've been around a long time, notice the rest of verse 5: "Yes, all of you be submissive to one another." There's no loophole. The exhortation is to the whole body of Christ.

I can speak firsthand here. In my experience as a leader, I've frequently been placed in positions of leadership over people older than me, which makes submission harder, because there's an instinct that says, "Wait, this person is younger." Yet I can speak nothing but praise for our elder team. I'm the youngest man on our board of elders, and until we recently ordained Nick, I was the youngest pastor on staff. Our executive pastor Mark, our family ministries pastor Jason—they're older than me, yet they follow the Scriptures and respect the eldership God has given. How is that possible?

Be Clothed with Humility

Verse 5 answers it: "Be clothed with humility." Here's another kingdom value not exactly prized by American culture. I grew up in a culture that amplifies assertiveness and even pride. In junior high I was a band geek—I played trumpet in the marching band at Hidden Valley Middle School. Our band director was a taskmaster, and he made us memorize the definition of pride: "a justifiable appreciation of one's worth, abilities, and high ideals." I remember almost nothing else from those three years, but I remember that definition. Then at Orange Glen High School I played football, and "PRIDE" was painted big on the side of the gym. It's as American as apple pie. Then we come to a passage like this: "be clothed with humility."

Point two: proper respect is an indication of a humble heart. Submissive respect is impossible without humility. And you will never be worthy of respect and honor as a leader without humility. Last week I noted that leaders are to maintain humility—and you can't maintain what you don't have. So leaders will never rightly attain their position without it. Paul warned in ordaining elders: "not a novice, lest being puffed up with pride he fall into the same condemnation as the devil." There's danger in placing in leadership someone who hasn't first learned humility.

The only way we can submit as Scripture exhorts is to walk in humility as Christ did. Philippians 2: "Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who... made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant... and humbled Himself." It's pictured in John 13, where Jesus—the one in the honored position—takes the shamed position and washes His disciples' feet. His application: "I have given you an example, that you should do as I have done." He's not commanding foot-washing parties; He's commanding that we walk in humility.

You will never rise as a leader without first learning the lessons of humility. Solomon repeats the theme: "Before honor is humility" (Proverbs 15:33; 18:12), and "By humility... are riches and honor and life" (Proverbs 22:4). Our culture says you climb by being assertive and demanding—that's my two-year-old, and it will get him nowhere. But humility will. Consider what brought about the fall of Lucifer. In Isaiah 14 we peek behind the veil and see the "I wills"—"I will ascend, I will be exalted." His assertiveness led to his downfall.

God Hates Pride but Rewards Humility

Even if you have no aim to become a leader, take heed of Peter's next words: "be clothed with humility, for God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble." Point three: God hates pride, but rewards humility. There are things that God—who is the very personification of love—hates. Proverbs 6:16 lists six things the Lord hates, and the very first is "a proud look." Number one on God's list of things He detests is pride.

Since that's the case, the application is simple. Verse 6: "Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you." Little commentary is needed. God resists the proud—therefore humble yourself.

Here's an important truth: if you refuse to humble yourself, God will allow you to be humbled, and that is never fun. Think of Peter himself. Jesus prophesied, "This night you will all be offended because of Me... you will deny Me three times." Peter insisted, "Even if all deny You, I never will. I'll die with You." Jesus said, "You don't even know your own heart." By morning, Peter wept bitterly. So Paul warns in 1 Corinthians 10:12, "Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall." Many of us have fallen because we thought, "I've got this."

Be Sober and Vigilant Against the Adversary

Verse 8: "Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world." It's no accident that Peter moves from humility and pride to sobriety and vigilance toward the devil. We must be wary and on guard against our adversary.

First, we need to recognize that there is an adversary. A growing group, in and out of the church, disregards the reality of evil and the personification of evil we call the devil. About 80% of Americans say they believe in God, but only about 50% will say there is a devil. There's a famous line from a movie in the mid-90s—I don't recommend the film—that "the greatest trick the devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist." Sadly, many Christians have been convinced by the enemy that there is no enemy. If you're convinced of that, you won't stand fast against him, and you'll be an easy target.

Second, we need to understand that the devil is dangerous and cunning. Peter says he prowls like a roaring lion. He is deceptive, appearing sometimes as an angel of light, and he is the father of lies.

Third, we need to be ready, serious, and alert. Peter says be sober—clear-headed—and vigilant—on guard. When does the lion tamer get maimed? When he arrogantly lets down his guard, thinking, "I've got this," and finds himself prey to the one he thought he had mastered. We must maintain humility and meekness even in this spiritual battle.

Stand Firm in Faith

Fourth, we must stand strong in faith against him, knowing that though he is real, dangerous, and cunning, he is weak before God. He may not be weak before you or me, but he is weak before God. First John 4:4 says, "He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world." If you're a follower of Jesus, Christ dwells in you by His Holy Spirit; you are the temple of the Spirit of God. Greater is He who is in you than he who is in the world. So you can and should resist the enemy, standing steadfast in the faith.

Paul writes in Ephesians 6: "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, powers, rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places." He goes on to describe the helmet of salvation, the breastplate of righteousness, the belt of truth, feet shod with the gospel of peace, the shield of faith that quenches the fiery darts of the wicked one, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God—and to pray always. With these things we can and should resist the enemy.

Point four: be unsubmissive in your dealings with evil. As Winston Churchill said, "Never give in, never give in, never, never, never give in." Be unsubmissive in your dealings with evil.

God's Grace Is Sufficient

Verse 10: "But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen." At the end of the day, when confronted with suffering, submission, sanctification, and spiritual attack, Peter exhorts us to trust the God who by His grace has called us. He will perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle us forever, for His glory.

Point five: in all things, God's grace is sufficient. When you're called to submit to authorities you feel more capable than, God's grace is sufficient. When you face suffering, His grace is sufficient. When you face spiritual attack, His grace is sufficient. In everything God uses to sanctify us and prepare us for what He has prepared for us, God's grace is sufficient.

Closing Prayer

Father, I pray that the peace You have won for us through the cross would be our experience this week—that we would know Your peace, that we would experience Your perfect work in us, that You would establish, strengthen, and settle us by Your grace. Help us to walk in a way that is glorifying to You, knowing that what is ultimately glorifying to You is the very thing most satisfying for us. Speak to us, teach us by Your Spirit and through Your word, and transform us more and more into the likeness of Your children. God, work in us. We ask this in Jesus' name, and all those who agreed said, amen.