Inspired P.S. #5: The Benediction Given

The point: Testify that every word of God is nourishing to your soul.

Martin compares some parts of God's Word to a well-spread banquet table (Ephesians 1, Romans 8, John 3) that immediately offers delight, while other parts are like exotic fruits or Brazil nuts with rough exteriors (like 1 Peter's P.S.) that require effort to peel away to reveal the nourishing content within. This illustrates that all Scripture is profitable, even if some passages require more diligent study.

And by quoting that verse found in Deuteronomy 8, 3, our Lord underscored, among other things, the fact that there is true nourishment of the soul in all of the words of God. Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of God. Now, some of the words of God are like a well-spread banquet table or like that buffet table at some of the local restaurants that serve as their specialty a midday or evening buffet. You know, sooner walk in the restaurant and you can smell the smells going up from the steam tables and the minute you get within visual sight you begi...

3:20 - 4:27 Read in full sermon

Driving home: All serious and responsible students of the Bible who believe in its unique inspiration by the Spirit of God, they all agree that peace in this passage has its roots in the Old Testament word, shalom.

Martin contrasts the profound biblical meaning of 'peace' with the superficial greeting 'peace bro' used by 'long haired, strung out radicals' in the 1960s and 70s. This highlights the need to understand the rich theological depth of the word 'peace' as Peter intended it, rather than its diluted modern usage.

Almost all of the epistles close with such language as grace to you, or grace be with your spirit, or the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. And only here, and in a benediction in Romans 15, 33, Galatians 6, 16, and Ephesians 6, 23, and 3 John 14, is peace either sharing the stage with grace or taking over the stage completely. Now, the question is, what does the word peace mean? It surely must mean a lot more than it came to mean back in the wild sixties and early seventies when long haired, strung out radicals greeted one another out the door of their garishly painted Volkswagen van...

29:05 - 30:18 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He highlights that Christ himself is the embodiment of peace, citing His post-resurrection greeting to the disciples and His ascension while blessing them. Peter, as Christ's…

Martin quotes Edmund Clowney, who states that Peter received this blessing from the risen Lord (when Jesus said 'Peace be unto you' to the disciples) and was now authorized to pronounce it. This reinforces the apostolic authority behind the benediction and the enduring power of Christ's peace against persecution.

As Edmund Clowney has beautifully stated it, Peter had himself received this blessing from the risen Lord. You remember, when the disciples are scared, witless, gather behind closed doors, and Jesus stands in the midst. What is his first word?

50:30 - 50:45 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: He highlights that Christ himself is the embodiment of peace, citing His post-resurrection greeting to the disciples and His ascension while blessing them. Peter, as Christ's…

Martin recounts Jesus's ascension, where He lifted up His hands and blessed His disciples as He parted from them. This serves as a powerful image of Christ's ongoing blessing over His people and provides a precedent for Peter's benediction.

How would Peter remember the last sight he had of Jesus with earthly eyes? Remember what it was? Luke chapter 24. It says, While the Lord is speaking to them, suddenly he begins to levitate.

51:39 - 51:56 Read in full sermon

The point: Yearn for those not in Christ to experience joyful heart communion with God, escaping the 'cocoon of their own little world of stuff and things.'

Martin describes unbelievers as living in a 'cocoon of their own little world of stuff and things and mere mortals.' He prays that God's 'mighty finger' would split this cocoon, allowing them to experience the freedom and blessing of fellowship with God. This vividly portrays the spiritual confinement of unbelief and the liberating power of conversion.

that lingers back and does not boldly affirm confidence that what You've said You mean and what You've said You will validate for You cannot lie. We pray for those who are not in Christ. Lord, we yearn for them to think that they would live another Lord's Day with no joyful heart communion with You the living God dead in their sins held in the cocoon of their own little world of stuff and things and mere mortals and what they can give them. O God, have mercy we pray that this day the cocoon would split by Your mighty finger and they would come out into the free and blessed experience of knowin...

65:08 - 66:37 Read in full sermon