Receive the crown of glory by faith.

 

Sermon for Pentecost 4, July 6, 2025

Mercy and peace to you all, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people.”  Amen.

1 Peter 5:1-4  Therefore, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and as one who also shares in the glory that is about to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you: ²Shepherd God’s flock that is among you, serving as overseers, not grudgingly but willingly, as God desires, not because you are greedy for money but because you are eager to do it.  ³Do not lord it over those entrusted to your care, but be examples for the flock.  ⁴And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory. (EHV)

Receive the crown of glory by faith.

Dear lambs, precious to our Savior,

            As we read this text, you may have considered that it would be an appropriate text for an ordination or installation of a pastor, and indeed, that has often been the case.  It speaks to faithful service in the Church of those placed in positions of authority or leadership of Christ’s flock.  Thus, you might wonder what does that have to do with you?  Shouldn’t I be preaching this toward myself?  A sceptic might even reply by quoting Jesus when He was confronting people of His hometown, who resented His words.  He told them, “Certainly you will quote this proverb to me, ‘Physician, heal yourself!’” (Luke 4:23)

At the same time, if we dive a little deeper into the message Peter delivers, it soon becomes apparent that this teaching applies to all of us who have any measure of authority among God’s people.  Certainly, it applies to the pastor.  Likewise, it applies to the men of the congregation entrusted with the care of the congregation as a whole.  It applies to fathers concerning their care for their wife and children.  It applies to the wives as they care for and teach the children.  Even children have a responsibility in these words, because like all the rest of us, they need to give heed to the authority placed over them by God’s loving grace.

Once we understand that every Christian has responsibility among God’s beloved people, we are likewise struck by how often we have failed to live up to the law’s demand as presented here by the Apostle Peter.  We might ask ourselves, how often have I failed to be that humble example to others?  How well and how willingly have I served without any concern for my own comfort or gain?  Have I ever unjustly placed myself above another?  Have I always been eager to serve? 

Many a pastor, and I suspect many ordinary men and women, have been brought to their knees by the realization that we simply never measure up to the task.  We fail far too often, and often far too willingly, to deserve the crown of glory which is salvation of our souls in heaven.  Yet, isn’t that the point?  That we don’t receive God’s grace because we deserve it, but that forgiveness and salvation are gifts of our loving God, so that we Receive the crown of glory by faith.

Peter comes to us with this message as one who has seen it all.  He was a witness to the sufferings of Christ Jesus on behalf of the whole human race.  However, Peter doesn’t speak to us as one without sin, for Peter had committed perhaps the greatest betrayal of all time.  Peter would be the first to admit that he abandoned His Savior just moments after boasting of his unwavering commitment.  Still, Peter speaks with full confidence in the love Jesus has for him.  He writes, “Therefore, as a fellow elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and as one who also shares in the glory that is about to be revealed, I appeal to the elders among you:” 

Understand the humility of Peter’s appeal.  He is giving this strong advice and encouragement, not as commands which must be obeyed in order to be counted holy.  Rather, this is an urgent plea that we all do whatever we can to serve those placed under our care so that they too will experience the grace of God poured out for all His people.  Naturally, Peter expects the elders to lead by example. 

At the same time, Peter recognizes the grace he has been shown.  Peter makes no claim to deserving forgiveness for his abandonment of Jesus at His arrest in the Garden of Gethsemane, but Peter was shown mercy because of Christ’s love for him and for all.  By the faith in Jesus that Peter was granted by the Father in heaven, he receives also the promise of life everlasting in heaven.  You see, when Jesus asked His disciples, “But you, who do you say that I am?”  Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”  Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for flesh and blood did not reveal this to you, but my Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 16:15-17)

Likewise, you and I and all Christian believers have been brought into this kingdom of grace by the work of the Holy Spirit in Word and Sacrament.  It is God’s gift to us to be forgiven for Jesus’ sake.  The Father sent the Son into the world to redeem us from the curse of sin.  The Father and the Son, together, send the Holy Spirit with the power of the Gospel to work that faith in us.  You and I did nothing to deserve God’s merciful actions, but in His love for us, God refused to leave us in the devil’s hands.  Therefore, having been justified, that is being counted righteous before God, through the faith in Jesus worked in us, the Holy Spirit also works on our sanctification, which is continuing to build holy living among us.

Thus, we receive Peter’s instruction, here, as an appeal to live God’s love among those around us.  Peter wrote, “Shepherd God’s flock that is among you, serving as overseers, not grudgingly but willingly, as God desires, not because you are greedy for money but because you are eager to do it.”  True Christian faith doesn’t ask, “What do I have to do?” but rather asks what is God’s will for me so that others might be helped in this world and led into the faith that gives eternal life?  In that light, shepherding God’s people means leading them to the food of life.  It means correcting false ideas or misleading temptations that the enemy sows among us.  It means defending those in your care from the deceptions and attacks of the ravenous foe.

On the receiving end of those instructions, we also remain humble.  It is not the under shepherd who makes rules or tells the Christian how to live, but only to share how our Lord has lived so that we might be granted true righteousness.  Our sinful nature often rebels against the commands God has given for our good.  The believer has been brought to understand that obedience of the law will never save us, because we have already broken it.  However, we also understand that God gives law to preserve peace and safety among His people.  Still, it is not law that saves but the truth of what Jesus has done for us—that he lived holiness on our behalf, and that He died to pay the penalty for our guilt—that He rose from the dead on the third day just as promised so that we have sure confidence in everything Jesus has told and taught—so that we Receive the crown of glory by faith.

“Do not lord it over those entrusted to your care, but be examples for the flock.”  Having received such a great treasury of gifts of God’s grace, it isn’t hard to imagine that people might begin to assume that we deserve such things.  The Holy Spirit recognizes that the human nature often takes credit to itself for what God has done for us.  Therefore, He tells us here not to make ourselves pompous overlords, but rather that we lead by the example of humility that is most clearly seen in our Savior, Jesus Christ.  St. Paul wrote likewise:

Indeed, let this attitude be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.  Though he was by nature God, he did not consider equality with God as a prize to be displayed, but he emptied himself by taking the nature of a servant.  When he was born in human likeness, and his appearance was like that of any other man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:5-8)

Unworthy sinners that we all were, Jesus gave up His home in heaven to live on earth for us.  Rebellious enemies that we were, Jesus died for everyone who will ever walk on this planet, so that cleansed by His blood through the gift of faith, we can be called sons of God.  The apostle Jesus loved wrote, “See the kind of love the Father has given us that we should be called children of God, and that is what we are!” (1 John 3:1)

Knowing Jesus’ selfless sacrifice for us, how could we ever imagine ourselves as more worthy than any other sinner?  Instead, the appeal is that we do whatever we can to lead people to Jesus.  When discipline is needed, we will apply it with humility and kindness.  When right judgment is called for, the faithful, humble believer will speak only truth, even when judgment must be pronounced upon the unrepentant sinner.  And whenever the Gospel can be proclaimed, we will gladly and willingly, joyfully share with those in our care that Jesus lived, died, and rose again so that your guilt is taken away and forgiveness can be applied boldly and without question.

Ultimately, living in this grace we have been given, and diligently serving our Lord and our neighbor to the best of our ability, “And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive an unfading crown of glory.”  That is the reward won for His people and given to you by faith that every Christian believer looks forward to.  Our hope is not in ourselves but in Christ Jesus.  He is the One who made us righteous by His holy living and innocent death.  He is the Son of God and Man who reconciled us with the Almighty Creator of the world.  Jesus is the One who loved you enough to make you His brother by faith.  The crown of glory that Jesus forged in the fires of His trials, suffering, and death will be placed on the heads of all His faithful children.  God grant that we always live in humble service, fully trusting in Jesus alone for forgiveness and life, in which faith we will Receive the crown of glory by faith.  Amen.

Now may the God of peace—who brought back from the dead our Lord Jesus, that great Shepherd of the sheep, in connection with his blood, which established the eternal testament—may he equip you with every good thing to do his will, as he works in us what is pleasing in his sight through Jesus Christ.  To him be glory forever and ever.  Amen.