"This is The True Grace of God"

1 Peter 5:1-12

"The elders who are among you I exhort. I who am a fellow elder and A WITNESS OF THE SUFFERINGS OF CHRIST, AND ALSO A PARTAKER OF THE GLORY THAT WILL BE REVEALED; Shepherd the flock of God which is among you, serving as overseers, not by compulsion but willingly, not for dishonest gain but eagerly; not as being lords those entrusted to you, but BEING EXAMPLES to the flock; and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away. Likewise you younger people, submit yourself to your elders. Yes, all of you be submissive to one another, and be clothed by humility for....'God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble'."

"Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant, because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, knowing that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the GOD OF ALL GRACE, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, PERFECT, ESTABLISH, STRENGTHEN and SETTLE you." 

"By Silvanus, our faithful brother as I consider him, I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that THIS IS THE TRUE GRACE OF GOD IN WHICH YOU STAND. She who is in Babylon, elect together with you, greets you; and so does Mark my son. Greet one another with a holy kiss of love. Peace to you all who are in Christ Jesus. Amen."

God cares for you the way a devoted gardener cares for their growings: He removes the deadness of your works so that the works of faith in Jesus Christ, with pruning, may develop, testifying of Him! I am convinced that the "elder(s)" in this passage understand this true grace of God and are willing to persevere with Him in it. Their example assists the younger ones to persevere in the "TRUE GRACE OF GOD". 

The Gospel According to Mark, Chapter 11:20-26

"Now in the morning, as they passed by, they saw the fig tree dried up from the roots. And Peter, remembering, said to Him, 'Rabbi, look! The fig tree which you cursed has withered away'. So Jesus answered and said to them, 'Have faith in God, for assuredly I say to you, whoever says to this mountain, "Be removed and be cast into the sea", and does not doubt in his heart but believes that those things that he says will be done, he will have whatever he says. Therefore, I say to you, whatever things you ask when you pray, believe that you receive them and you will have them. And whenever you stand praying, if you have anything against anyone, forgive him, that your Father in heaven may also forgive you your trespasses. But if you do not forgive, neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

We should remember that Jesus said, "I can of Myself do nothing. As I hear, I judge; and My judgement is righteous, because I do not seek My own will but the will of the Father who sent Me."(John 5:30) We should remember that whatever Jesus said came to pass!

Now, an amplification of what Jesus said to Peter and those who were (are) inclining themselves to follow Him for discipleship:

"You will need to hold fast to this revelation from God. For assuredly Jesus Christ says (to all those who are inclining themselves to follow Him for discipleship) whoever says to the this mountain, 'Be removed and be cast into the sea', and does not doubt in his heart, but believes, recognizing and receiving the grace of God which makes him strong to stand in this matter so the removal of this mountain will be complete, he will have whatever he says because he will clearly understand and act upon only those things that the Father, in the name of the Son, by the ministry of the Holy Spirit are inspiring him to say and do. Therefore, Jesus Christ says to you, no matter what you think to ask for when you are praying, pray this that you have received from Me and you will have it."

It seems clear to me that Jesus' is teaching here the process by which "this mountain" will be removed so that His Way can be made straight.  "This mountain" impedes us from receiving Him as He comes (Mark 11:18), from submitting to and persevering with Him! (John 6:53-67) 

Life in God's Son Delivers Us From Idolatry

1 John 5:11-13, 18-21

"And this is the testimony: that God has given us eternal life, and this life is in His Son. He who has the Son has life(or, the life); he who does not have the Son of God does not have life (or, the life). These things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God."

"We know that whoever is born (made again, being made) of God does not sin; but he who has been born (made again, being made) of God keeps himself (or, this guards him), and the wicked one does not touch him. We know that we are of God, and the whole world lies under the sway of the wicked one. And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding (so) that we may know Him who is true; and we are in Him who is true, in his Son Jesus Christ. This is the true God and eternal life. Little children, keep yourself (guarded in His making) from idols. Amen."

Idolatry could be defined as the action given to a desire for something, even apparently a good thing or a "God thing" in the perception of the idolater, that supercedes the true and eternal life in Jesus Christ toward God. We recognize this when Jesus' gospel and the New Testament teachings are discussed; and our response to those.

"And we know that the Son of God has come and has given us an understanding (knowing what is the hope of His calling) (so) that we may know Him who is true..."  What understanding? There has to be a transfer of what man thinks about, which often sways him to destinations apart from God, to that which guards him and keeps him, untouched by the wicked one.  

"But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also (continuing to believe) count(ing) all things loss (here is the transfer) for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things (things that lead to unfruitful destinations) and COUNT THEM AS RUBBISH, that I may gain Christ, and be found in Him....(Paul speaking in Philippians 3:7-9)