Biblical Influence

1 Peter 5:1 KJV

The elders which are among you I exhort, who am also an elder, and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed:

While the apostle had authority to give commands he chose not to exercise it here but rather chose here to exhort (encourage or urge but not command). Peter's exhortation was based upon three things that we may employ in our own attempts to direct people in the way of godliness:

He identified with them

Peter reminded them that, though he was an apostle he was also an elder along with them. His office was the same as theirs.

The same is true with any Christian. We are in the same boat as every other human being. To identify with them is the first step to influence them.

He was a witness of Christ.

Peter speaks specifically of the suffering of Christ which is the gospel; His death burial and resurrection.

For us it is that we have experienced His gospel in the new birth. We have nothing to offer the world except that gospel.

He had an expectation of heaven.

It is not redundant to speak of salvation and then heaven. Salvation is much more than going to heaven and in many cases we have done the gospel a huge disservice by presenting it that way.

• The gospel cleanses our sin
• The gospel reconciles man to God
• The gospel frees us to serve righteousness

We have preached a watered down gospel when we preach that the gospel builds a bridge between our sin and heaven. It does so much more and to illustrate it like that is to preach a false gospel.

But being saved, the Christian does then have an expectation of glory.

• To exhort others to salvation and to a higher degree of walk with Christ is both biblical and reasonable.
• To use our identification with others and our experience with Christ as tools in our exhortation is practical and effective.