Perfected by God Himself
The sermon emphasizes that perfection is achieved through suffering, as revealed in 1 Peter, and that it is God who must perfect us.
Andrew Murray emphasizes that through suffering, believers are called to glory, as articulated in 1 Peter 5:10-11. He highlights the connection between Christ's suffering and our own, urging that true perfection comes from God amidst our weaknesses. Murray explains that God's grace is the means by which we are perfected, and that yielding to Him is essential for our spiritual growth. The sermon underscores the importance of viewing life through the lens of suffering leading to glory, as a reflection of Christ's journey. Ultimately, it is God who perfects, establishes, and strengthens us in our faith.
Text
"And the God of all grace, who called you unto his eternal glory in Christ, after that ye have suffered a little while, shall himself perfect, stablish, strengthen you. To him be the dominion for ever and ever. Amen." (I Peter 5:10-11)
Through suffering to glory: this is the keynote of the First Epistle of Peter. The word 'suffer' occurs sixteen times, the word 'glory' fourteen times. Peter sums up all that he has taught his readers in the epistle with the words quoted above. In no other epistle in the New Testament are the two aspects of Christ's death - that he suffered for us, and that we are to suffer with him and like him - so clearly and closely linked together. Fellowship with Christ and likeness to Christ, manifested in suffering is the point of view from which Peter wants us to look upon life as the path to glory...
It is God who must perfect us. What is revealed to us in nature is the pledge of what is secured for us in grace. 'For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the leader of their salvation perfect through sufferings' (Heb. 2:10)
It is fitting that God should show that he is the God who brings about perfection amidst the weakness and suffering of a human life. This is the very essence of salvation: to be perfected by God; to yield oneself to God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in order to be perfected by him.
(Excerpted from Consecrated to God, pg.58, 59)
Sermon Outline
- The Keynote of 1 Peter
- God's role in perfection
- Yielding to God for perfection
- Yielding oneself to God
- The source of perfection: God, for whom and through whom all things exist
- The essence of salvation: to be perfected by God
Key Quotes
“Fellowship with Christ and likeness to Christ, manifested in suffering is the point of view from which Peter wants us to look upon life as the path to glory.” — Andrew Murray
“For it became him, for whom are all things, and through whom are all things, in bringing many sons unto glory, to make the leader of their salvation perfect through sufferings” — Andrew Murray
“It is fitting that God should show that he is the God who brings about perfection amidst the weakness and suffering of a human life.” — Andrew Murray
Application Points
- We must yield ourselves to God in order to be perfected by Him.
- Suffering can be a path to glory, as seen in Christ's death and resurrection.
- Perfection is not achieved through human strength, but through God's power and character.