Sermon: Stablishment

by Chris Cumming
 

Open your Bibles to 1 Peter 5:10
 

1 Peter 5:10

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.

 

What does this verse mean when it says “make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.”?

What does God mean, “after I have suffered for a while”? What, I have to suffer a little?  Why must I suffer?

Why is God referred to as the “God of all grace.”?  Why is this phrase all-important to this verse?


Why is God including in this verse the statement that we are being called unto His eternal glory?

Today, we will explore all these questions as I encourage all of us to something called Stablishment.

Let me read this verse again…

1 Peter 5:10

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.
 

This single verse is perfectly written.  It contains 7 perfect phrases or parts.  Put all together they express great truths about God, Christ, and the Salvation Process.  Let us begin by looking at the meaning of four key works in the verse: “Perfect”, “Stablish”, “Strengthen” and “Settle.”

Perfect:  NT:2675  katartizo (kat-ar-tid'-zo)

 

--to complete thoroughly, i.e. repair (literally or figuratively) or adjust:

 

Rendered: - fit, frame, mend, (make) perfect (-ly join together), prepare, restore. –Strong’s

Used in 1 Corinthians 1:10 where it says…
 

Now I beseech you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye all speak the same thing, and that there be no divisions among you; but that ye be perfectly joined together in the same mind and in the same judgment.

 

Stablish:  NT:4741  sterizo (stay-rid'-zo)

 

--- to set fast, i.e. (literally) to turn resolutely in a certain direction, or (figuratively) to confirm:

Strengthen:  NT:4599 sthenoo (sthen-o'-o)
 

--- to strengthen, i.e. (figuratively) confirm (in spiritual knowledge and power):
 

Settle: NT:2311  themelioo (them-el-ee-o'-o)

 

--- to lay a basis for, i.e. (literally) erect, or (figuratively) consolidate:

These words in this verse are talking about God…
 

Repairing, Adjusting, Confirming, Consolidating and Completing us.          How does He do this?

The answer is found in the third phrase of our verse:

“…after ye have suffered a while…”

Notice some scriptures…

Acts 14:22

Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.

 

2 Cor 1:5-7

5 For as the sufferings of Christ abound in us, so our consolation also aboundeth by Christ.
6 And whether we be afflicted, it is for your consolation and salvation, which is effectual in the enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer: or whether we be comforted, it is for your consolation and salvation.

7 And our hope of you is stedfast, knowing, that as ye are partakers of the sufferings, so shall ye be also of the consolation.

 

Phil 3:7-11

7 But what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ.

8 Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ,

9 And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:

10 That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death;

11 If by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.

 

So through trials, persecutions and tribulations God:

 

Stablishes you:  Turns you to a right direction.

 

Strengthens you:  Confirms you in spiritual knowledge and power.  The Word of God strengthens us.  God through His Word strengthens us.

 

Settles you:  God lays the basis of your existence, that is, your foundation and in doing so justifies you.

 

In other words, God uses trials to turn us in the right direction.  Through God’s Word we gain spiritual knowledge and power to withstand the trial, understand the direction God is taking us and to ultimately justify us in the Salvation Process, which IS the foundation.

At this point we have seen the key words at the end of the verse [“Perfect”, “Stablish”, “Strengthen” and “Settle” you].


I will now look at the meanings of all seven phrases using some Bible commentaries.

[But the God of all grace] The God who imparts all needful grace. It was proper in their anticipated trials to direct them to God, and to breathe forth in their behalf an earnest and affectionate prayer that they might be supported. A prayer of this kind by an apostle would also be to them a sort of pledge or assurance that the needed grace would be granted them.

[But the God of all grace] The Fountain of infinite compassion, mercy, and goodness.

 

[But the God of all grace] But the God of all grace. Peter has enjoined upon them the graces consistent with their calling. He now commits them to the God of all grace

 

[But the God of all grace] To God, as it source, all grace is to be referred: He in grace completes what in grace He began.

Summation of the first phrase:  Direct all trials toward God.  Direct your existence in the Salvation Process toward God.  It is by grace that you are in the Salvation Process.

 

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[Who hath called us unto His eternal glory] And who means, therefore, that we shall be saved. As He has called us to His glory, we need not apprehend that He will leave or forsake us.

The other commentary break it into three parts:

[Who hath called us] By the preaching of the Gospel.

 

[Unto his eternal glory] To the infinite felicity of the heavenly state.

 

[By Christ Jesus] Through the merit of His passion and death, by the influence of His Holy Spirit, by the precepts of His Gospel, and by the splendor of His own example.

Summation of the second phrase:  God has called us to eternal life in the Family of God by Jesus Christ, both by His shed blood and by His example that we should follow it…follow Him.
 

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[After that ye have suffered a while] After you have suffered as long as He shall appoint. The Greek is, "having suffered a little," and may refer either to time or degree. In both respects the declaration concerning afflictions is true. They are short, compared with eternity; they are light, compared with the exceeding and eternal weight of glory.

[After that ye have suffered a while] Having suffered a little time; that is, while ye are enduring these persecutions, God will cause all to work together for your good.

Summation for the third phrase:  Continuing from the second phrase…

1] we follow Christ in His sufferings.  He suffered, so we suffer. 
2]Suffering is the catalyst of the Salvation Process.  Through trials and tribulations, we are molded in character and form. 
3] God causes all these trials to work out to GOOD:

Rom 8:28

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.


Finally, this suffering is short!  These tribulations are short in duration when compared to eternity in the Kingdom.  They are light when compared to the weight of glory or salvation.  Notice three encouraging verses:

Rom 8:18

18 For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

 

2 Cor 4:17-18

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

18 While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen: for the things which are seen are temporal; but the things which are not seen are eternal.

 

Matt 5:11-12

11 Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake.

12 Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you.

 

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The final four phrases describe the results of all these trials, tribulations and sufferings.

 

[Make you perfect] By means of your trials. The tendency of affliction is to make us perfect.

 

[He will make you perfect] Put you in complete joint as the timbers of a building.

 

[He will make you perfect] Vulgate; Coptic versions read 'Shall Himself perfect (so that there shall be nothing defective in you.).

Summation for the fourth phrase:  Trials perfect us.  God, Himself will perfects us via these trials.
 

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[Stablish] The Greek word means "to set fast; to fix firmly; to render immovable. Notice a verse for this one…

Rom 16:25-26

25 Now to him that is of power to stablish you according to my gospel, and the preaching of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery, which was kept secret since the world began,

26 But now is made manifest, and by the scriptures of the prophets, according to the commandment of the everlasting God, …


And now the other commentary…

[Stablish]  Make you firm in every part; adapt you strongly to each other, so that you may be mutual supports, the whole building being one in the Lord.  And now a verse for this one…

 

1 Thess 3:12-13

12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do toward you:

13 To the end he may stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.

Summation for the 5th phrase:  Through tribulation, God makes us firm.  He gives us resolve.  He makes us unmovable, as from the narrow path of the Salvation Process.  Notice too that what He does with the individual, He does with the church.

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[Strengthen] Give you strength to bear all this.

[Strengthen] Cramp and bind every part, so that there shall be no danger of warping, splitting, or falling.
 

[Strengthen] shall fill you with might, shall put you upon a firm foundation.


Remember here that this is the book of Peter.  Remember what Jesus said to Peter way back during His ministry?

Luke 22:32

But I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not: and when thou art converted, strengthen thy brethren.


This is exactly what Peter is doing in this letter.

Summation for the 6th phrase:  God is at our side in each trial.  We are never alone in tribulation.  The strength we need both in suffering and in the Salvation Process itself comes from Him.  He supplies abundant power.

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[Settle you] Literally, found you, or establish you on a firm foundation.  The allusion is to a house which is so firmly fixed on a foundation that it will not be moved by winds or floods.

[Settle] Cause all to rest so evenly and firmly upon the best and surest foundation, that ye may grow together to a holy temple in the Lord: in a word, that ye may be complete in all the mind that was in Christ; supported in all your trials and difficulties; strengthened to resist and overcome all your enemies; and after all abide, firmly founded, in the truth of grace. All these phrases are architectural; and the apostle has again in view the fine image which he produced 1 Peter 2:5.

1 Peter 2:5

Ye also, as lively stones, are built up a spiritual house, an holy priesthood, to offer up spiritual sacrifices, acceptable to God by Jesus Christ.

Summation of the 7th phrase:  This is the embodiment of spiritual maturity.  This single verse transcends the moment God first contemplated man all the way through to glorious salvation.

 

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Up to this point we have defined both words and phrases and even combined all seven phrases into one single concept.  Now we get full immersed.  Now we show the linkage of each phrase to the rest of the Word of God and thereby confirm its meaning and make this verse a part of our heart and mind.

“The God of all grace”:

Ex 34:6-7

6 And the LORD passed by before him, and proclaimed, The LORD, The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth,

7 Keeping mercy for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, and that will by no means clear the guilty; visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children, and upon the children's children, unto the third and to the fourth generation.

 

Ps 86:5

5 For thou, Lord, art good, and ready to forgive; and plenteous in mercy unto all them that call upon thee.

 

Ps 86:15

15 But thou, O Lord, art a God full of compassion, and gracious, longsuffering, and plenteous in mercy and truth.


“Who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus”:

These scriptures particular to Godly calling:

1 Cor 1:9

God is faithful, by whom ye were called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.

 

1 Thess 2:12

That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory.

 

2 Thess 2:14
Whereunto he called you by our gospel, to the obtaining of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.


    1 Tim 6:12

Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses.
 

2 Tim 1:9

Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,

 

1 Peter 1:15

But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation;

This one particular to “by Christ Jesus”:

Heb 9:15

And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

 

“After that ye have suffered a while”:

I have already given you Romans 8:18 [our suffering is not worthy to be compared] and 2 Cor. 4:17-18 [speaking of our light affliction].  Add these…

 

1 Peter 1:6-7

6 Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations:

7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

 

Ps 30:5

For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.

 

Isa 54:8

In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment; but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the LORD thy Redeemer.


“Make you perfect”:

Heb 13:21

Make you perfect in every good work to do his will, working in you that which is wellpleasing in his sight, through Jesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Jude 24

Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,

Matt 5:48

Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.

 

2 Cor 13:9

For we are glad, when we are weak, and ye are strong: and this also we wish, even your perfection.

 

James 1:4

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.


“Stablish [you]”:

Col 2:7

Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.

 

2 Thess 2:17

Comfort your hearts, and stablish you in every good word and work.

 

2 Thess 3:3

But the Lord is faithful, who shall stablish you, and keep you from evil.

“Strengthen [you]”:

Ps 138:7

7 Though I walk in the midst of trouble, thou wilt revive me: thou shalt stretch forth thine hand against the wrath of mine enemies, and thy right hand shall save me.

 

Zech 10:12

And I will strengthen them in the LORD; and they shall walk up and down in his name, saith the LORD.

 

Phil 4:13

I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.

 

Isa 40:29-31

29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall:

31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

 

Eph 3:16

That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened with might by his Spirit in the inner man;

 

Eph 6:10

Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.


“Settle [you]”:  This word is derived from and related to the concepts of “foundation”, “grounded securely” “being rooted.”  Notice some verses.  Also notice how they all relate to Christ being in a spiritually mature firstfruit, which is to say we have become like Him.

Eph 3:17

That Christ may dwell in your hearts by faith; that ye, being rooted and grounded in love,


Col 2:6-7
6 As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him:

7 Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving.


1 Peter 4:11—describing a person spiritually mature and fully immersed in the Word of God.
 

If any man speak, let him speak as the oracles of God; if any man minister, let him do it as of the ability which God giveth: that God in all things may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom be praise and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

 

Mat 7:21-28—speaking to how we must be settled to enter Kingdom
 

21 Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven.

22 Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? and in thy name have cast out devils? and in thy name done many wonderful works?

23 And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity.

24 Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock:

25 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

26 And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand:

27 And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it.

28 And it came to pass, when Jesus had ended these sayings, the people were astonished at his doctrine:


What all these verses do is to verify each phrase of 1 Peter 5:10.  Moreover, they repeat the concepts of the verse, taking us from…

1] Godly inception—coming up with His plan.

2] His calling us.
3] Taking us through the Salvation Process.
4] Allowing trials and tribulations to direct us and build strength and character in us.
5] Putting us on a foundation of full spiritual maturity.
6] Finally taking us into the Kingdom of God.

I want to leave you now with some verses of encouragement that all link back to 1 Peter 5:10 and speak mostly to enduring tribulations in our lives.

Rom 5:3

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience;

 

Rom 8:35
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword?

 

Rom 12:12

Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer;

 

2 Cor 1:4

Who comforteth us in all our tribulation, that we may be able to comfort them which are in any trouble, by the comfort wherewith we ourselves are comforted of God.

 

John 16:33

These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

 

1 Peter 4:12-16

12 Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to try you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

13 But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ's sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.

14 If ye be reproached for the name of Christ, happy are ye; for the spirit of glory and of God resteth upon you: on their part he is evil spoken of, but on your part he is glorified.

15 But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or as a thief, or as an evildoer, or as a busybody in other men's matters.

16 Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf.

 

Rev 2:10

Fear none of those things which thou shalt suffer: behold, the devil shall cast some of you into prison, that ye may be tried; and ye shall have tribulation ten days: be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life.

 

Phil 1:6

Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:

 

So stay immersed in the Word of God.  Keep this verse close in your heart.  Keep moving forward in the Salvation Process.  Do this and you will be part of God’s…

                       
Stablishment

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