Peter Restored (Peter's Denial 4 [Final])

Be encouraged by the certain prospect of restoration for fallen believers who repent

Previous issues of Grace have considered Peter's self-confidence, his fall and his initial repentance. Finally, we look at the most encouraging part of his story, his restoration. Here is a message of comfort and hope for all true believers.

The Promise of Restoration

It is important to see, firstly, that restoration is a realistic prospect for all true believers. Thomas Watson says rightly somewhere that failure is not falling down but failing to get up. From his very first warning to Peter, Jesus left open a door of hope. Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat, he says. But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned back strengthen your brothers (Luke 22:31, 32).

Remember

Christ prays for all true believers not just for Peter (the you is plural). We can be sure his prayers will be answered. No true believer is irretrievably lost. There is apostasy, yes, but no true believer is lost. The saints are always preserved.

The faith of such believers may falter but it will not fail. The saints are not simply preserved, they persevere. The doctrine of preservation or perseverance does not teach that none stumble or that the path to heaven is easy. Rather, it teaches that however many times he goes under, the believer always rises again.

Even though they may turn away for a while. they will turn back. True faith will not ultimately fail. The Christian goes on believing to the end. He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus (Philippians 1:6).

When believers do turn back, they must strengthen their brothers. When we do turn back, it is important to be ready to teach others. The return is not to a place of insignificance but to the responsibility of teaching others. Part of the idea is that others should learn from our mistake.

The Beginnings of Restoration

Each case is unique but there is much to learn from the pattern of Peter's restoration. There seems to have been both initial and immediate restoration and then a later and fuller reinstatement. It is legitimate to distinguish between major and minor falls. All falls are serious but not all are equally serious. Their seriousness and significance and endurance will vary. Normally restoration will be quick and immediate but sometimes (for our sakes as much as anything) things are not so simple. We can see this by considering how affairs are properly conducted in the areas of the family and the state. Just as some misdemeanours merit more severe punishment and slower restoration there, so in church discipline there is a range of punishments and of periods in which restoration can take place.

In Peter's restoration there were a number of stages

1. Repentance

All restoration begins here. Without this there is no hope. There must be sorrow for sin and a determination, under God, to put things right. Whatever the sin, this is always the way back. We should be repenting daily, moment by moment.

2. A realisation of individual responsibility and privilege

Mark 16:7 says Go and tell his disciples and Peter. If Mark wrote down what Peter preached it is likely that this was something that stuck in Peter's mind long after it had been forgotten by others. It is a word of rebuke and of encouragement. Restoration is a very individual thing. It is one problem with corporate confession and absolution, as practiced in some congregations. Like conversion, restoration after a fall is something we can only receive personally. As individuals we must recognise our responsibility, our personal failure and our privileges in Christ.

3. Wonder and confusion

We know nothing of Peter's thoughts and actions between his repentance, recorded in the first three Gospels and his full restoration, described by John. We know that the disciples regrouped, however, and we know Peter was slower than John to realise what had happened when they found the empty tomb (Luke 24:12, John 20:8). One characteristic of a serious fall is a sense that it is all over. There is never any reason for a believer to think like this. If Peter had remembered the promises there would have been no need for despair or fear. Remember the risen Lord's greeting (John 20:19) Peace be with you. The empty tomb should have been enough to restore Peter's joy but he was left wondering and confused. The death and the resurrection of Christ, his triumph over sin and death, should lead to joy and peace but too often, like Peter, we remain wondering and confused.

4. Peace, joy and power

Peter does not remain in this state for long. Jesus comes to the disciples and to Peter in particular (Luke 24:34) leading to peace (John 20:19), joy (20:20) and power (20:21-23).

5. Restlessness and failure

It would be easy to assume that this is the end of the story. What could there be more? But God is not so superficial. Clearly Peter was still not unequivocally restored. He, and the others for that matter, were still not living the Christian life as they should and as they would. As time passed they found themselves with Jesus nowhere to be seen and Peter feeling restless and aimless. Eventually they decide to go fishing (John 21:3).

The Completion of Restoration

Finally, for Peter there is a full and public reinstatement by the risen Lord.

Notice the stages:

1. Hope is encouraged

The miraculous draft of fish and the meeting with the risen Lord encourage hope.

2. Denial is reversed

Finally, Jesus meets with his disciples again and speaks specifically to Peter. The three-fold question clearly echoes the three-fold denial. The series is reversed and even the charcoal fire is there again. John 21:15-19 is also the reverse of 13:36-38. Sometimes it takes longer than we think to reverse wrong thinking and wrong attitudes.

3/ The right response

Jesus's question is carefully chosen. This was the real issue for Peter. He had boasted about being more devoted than others (Matthew 26:33 has more than these). But there is none of that now, just a simple and humble assertion (Peter uses a weaker word for love, which may be significant). What we need to get back to, when we have fallen, is renewed yet humble devotion.

4. The response tested

It was not pleasant for Peter to have the question put three times (though in a variety of forms). But devotion needs testing. Snap decisions and rushed statements must be avoided. We need to be very careful here.

5. A new commission

When a man is restored, it would seem, restoration is full. He may be restored to all his previous privileges and responsibilities. Certainly, we do not put a man in the same danger. Peter never again boasts of his devotion. But Jesus does recommission him to the work of being a pastor to the weak, the wayward and the immature (see 1 Peter 1:5). Christ does not give up on such people, nor should we. One Nehemiah Cox was a source of great discouragement to his pastor and congregation in Puritan days and he had to be admonished and disciplined. But by God's grace he responded and went on to be pastor of a church himself

6. A new future

There were hard times ahead. Peter would indeed one day die in the cause of Christ but he was not to think about that (or about the fate of others) but to keep following Jesus. And so we must keep following him too.

7. Great usefulness

Think finally of Peter in Acts 2 and writing his letters. It is not that he never fell again (see Galatians 2) but he was greatly used by God despite his fall. There is hope for us all, if we will look to Christ.

Start out on the arduous road to repentance (Peter's Denial 3)

This is the third in a series of four articles looking at Peter's denial of his Lord and his eventual restoration. We have considered the stupidity of self-confidence and the downward steps of denial with the plea that we seek to avoid such mistakes. This time we look at the repentance of Peter immediately after his fall, as recorded by Matthew, Mark and Luke.

Here we learn how to start out on the arduous road of repentance. As we consider what happened in Peter's case so we learn what may bring it about for us. Ideally, we ought not to fall, but when we do we need to know how to repent.

1. The Causes of Repentance

What causes a person to repent? That is an important question as we are never likely to repent if we do not know the steps that lead to it. Ultimately, we have to say it is in God's sovereign power. He gives repentance. However, it is worth considering how it was given to Peter so that we may recognise the gift when it comes. Here we see the conjunction of three typical elements, each intimately connected to the other and each important in its own right.

A. The Timing of Christ's Providences

In Israel, cockerels apparently tended to crow, for three to five minutes, at three specific times - about midnight, just before dawn and then an hour later. Matthew (26:74) and others tell us that a cock could be heard crowing in the courtyard of the High Priest just as Peter denied Jesus the third time. As soon as he heard the sound, Peter was understandably convicted of his sin and hurried away full of remorse. Cock crow happened every night. It had happened twice before that night and Peter had not reacted. But this time it was different. Similar everyday events have had their effect on backsliders many times since. Think of the effect on some of seeing a church building, of a certain time on a Sunday morning, of certain books, certain names. A little word can sometimes be very powerful in drawing sinners back even after a long time away. For Peter, cock crowing had been tied to denial by someone else. We can be sure he could never hear a cockerel in the same way again. Many of the associations in your mind have been enforced by others but surely we can help ourselves too. We ought to do all that we can to tie the whole of our lives to the things of the gospel - times, places, occasions, friends, possessions, etc. Thomas A Kempis made it his habit to sanctify every place where he went by praying there. We should similarly seek to sanctify all our associations.

B. The Sight of Christ's Face

How is it that Peter did not notice cock crow the first two times? Luke reveals an important piece of information in 22:60, 61a. This cock crow coincided with an important moment. How it happened we do not exactly know. Probably, Jesus was being transferred from the court to the prison. At that very moment Peter looked up and saw his Master face to face.

1) By the Spirit Jesus is today always looking at his people. At that time there were many other things to occupy him following his arrest but for that brief moment he had eyes only for Peter. Now glorified in heaven, this is true for every believer all the time and especially for those who are backsliding and have fallen into sin. Jesus looks at you. His face never turns away.

2) Of course, not only did Jesus look at Peter but Peter looked at Jesus. The first thing we must do at the realisation of sin, is to turn our eyes to him. That is not easy. Our natural inclination is to turn away from his penetrating gaze. Think of Adam and Eve hiding in the Garden. But we must look. This is our only hope. We must 'Turn our eyes upon Jesus and look full in his wonderful face'. He is no longer here bodily, of course, but we still need to remember him 

3) What did Peter see when he looked? It is clear from Isaiah 53 that he would have seen an unattractive sight. A man bloody, thorns on his head, spittle on his face, a man in great pain. It is not a pleasant sight. And so when we think of the crucified Saviour and remember it was for our sins he suffered and died, it cannot be easy.

4) Peter must have seen disappointment in Jesus's eyes too. Surrounded by enemies, under fierce opposition, Jesus looks to his chief disciple and there is nothing.

5) But surely he must also have read pity in those eyes. Jesus is willing to forgive. Perhaps this hurts more than anything. If only we could do something to amend, to ameliorate, to make up for what we have done. But there is nothing we can do to put it right. He has done it all. Whenever we become conscious of sin, then, we should go straight to Christ and look to him. He is watching believers always. The great antidote to sin is to keep the face of Christ always before us. We do that, not through a crucifix or some other form of idolatry, but through prayer and the Word and a life of keeping Christ always in our thoughts.

C. The Remembrance of Christ's Words

See Luke 22:61. Suddenly, it all came flooding back. This is our experience too. Suddenly, we remember Christ's warnings, his Word. Peter remembered not just Jesus's words but the words being spoken. So for us, it is not just the bare word but the context too. Have you ever sat in a meeting or read a book or prayed a prayer and resolved to be wholly committed to the Lord in future? Yet you have drifted from those resolves. Then in some way you are reminded of that prayer or that message and it all comes back. This reminds us of our continual need to be exposed to the Word. Learn it; immerse yourself in it; wrap yourself in it so that it is constantly coming back to your mind.

2. Expressions of Repentance

Once under conviction how should you react? Obviously true repentance involves stopping doing a thing, resolving never to do it again and seeking to put things right. But what comes first? Peter here acts instinctively. It is very instructive. Both as a warning against sin and as a pointer to how repentance should be initially expressed. Do not be like Judas - full of remorse but not repentance. Rather be, like Peter, genuinely sorry and repentant. Notice,

A. Wanting to be Outside

All three Gospel writers notice Peter's immediate instinct to go outside. Why?

1. He fled in shame from those before whom he had just denied his Lord.

2. He fled too in shame from the Master he had so wronged. Compare Luke 5:8. No doubt he also desired to be alone to humble himself.

B. Thinking it out.

He probably did not break down (Mark 15:72, NIV) but began to think on what he had done. As the Prodigal coming to himself, he began to think straight again.

C. Bitter Weeping

All three Gospel writers mention this too. He burst into tears, he began to weep, and was unrestrained in it. Why?

1. He saw the deceitfulness of his heart. Our hearts are treacherous and we cannot trust them.

2. He saw the weakness of the flesh.

3. He remembered Christ's agony for him. This we must never forget.

4. He thought on the pardon that Christ gives. See Luke 22:31, 32.

5. Most melting of all was the fact he truly loved Christ and yet had failed him. It is when we get these things into our minds that we begin to be truly sorry.

This article first appeared in Grace Magazine

Avoiding the downward steps of denial (Peter's Denial 2)

In the July issue, in an article called Escaping the stupidity of self-confidence we considered how, before his crucifixion, Jesus had warned Peter that he was about to deny his Lord. What about the denial itself? What can we learn from that incident?

The story has clearly been preserved as a warning to us. If even the great Apostle Peter could fall so easily, despite the clearest warning, which of us is safe from such a danger? If we want to live lives that are pleasing to the Lord, we will take carefiil note of Peter's failure and learn, by God's grace, not to repeat the same mistakes in our own lives.

When we look at what happened, clearly Peter's denial was a series of slips and not a sudden unpredictable fall. Like slipping down a slope, losing one grip after another or like falling downstairs one step at a time, so Peter fell lower and lower until he was at rock bottom.

One reason for such spectacular falls among Christians is a failiure to 'nip things in the bud'. Things are allowed to go on unchecked. Sin is left to fester and eventually disaster follows. We need to learn with Charles Wesley to 'tremble at the approach of sin' and with the Puritans to oppose the first risings of sin. It is no good letting things slide. Neglecting our spiritual state can only make things worse.

Peter's story marks out the downward steps of denial for us. We need to recognise those steps and seek to avoid them. We can identify at least eight.

1. Self-confidence

We talked about this danger in the previous article. This is where Peter's problems began. Pride comes before a fall. Remember too that God resists the proud. So, if you think you are standing firm, be careful that you don't fall! (I Corinthians 10:12). Humility is the best antidote to falling into sin unawares. It frightens me when I hear someone say, 'Well, that's something I'd never do.' Rather we should say, "There go I but for the grace of God'. But watch yourself for you also may be tempted, Paul warns the spiritual in the Galatian churches.

2. Ignoring the warnings found in God's Word

Of course, what exacerbated Peter's fall was his total disregard for the warnings of Christ, even though Jesus quotes from Zechariah the sheep of the flock will be scattered (see Matthew 26:31). If a man deliberately drives his car through a red light he has only himself to blame for the consequences. If you disregard the warnings that come on nearly every page of Scripture and you fall into sin, you have only yourself to blame. Take seriously the warnings in God's Word.

3. A lack of watchfulness

The very next thing in Scripture following Jesus' warnings to Peter and the other disciples is the story of what happened in the Garden of Gethsemane that night, the night of his betrayal. You remember that it was Peter, along with James and John, who were selected to go with Jesus a little way off from the others to pray. He looked to his closest friends, his leading disciples, for support. And what happened? They fell asleep. It exemplified their lack of watchfulness. Could you not keep watch with me for one hour? he asks. Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation (Matthew 26:40,41). Watch out that you do not fall into temptation. Be alert. Be on guard as good soldiers of Christ.

4. Giving in to the temptation of resorting to carnal means of serving Christ

It was in the Garden of Gethsemane that Jesus was arrested. From John's account it becomes clear that it is Peter who draws his sword to defend Jesus. No doubt he intended to strike off Malchus's head, although he ended up only slicing off an ear, which Jesus quickly restored. Jesus rebuked Peter for such an unwarranted and foolhardy act (see John 18:10,11). It is typical of worldly bravado to suppose that we can somehow serve the Lord by our own methods. It is often the mark of a sinking believer that in desperation he will try and save himself by thrusting out wildly in some new but foolhardy endeavour intended to be for the good of the gospel but entirely contrary to all that Christ desires.

5. 'Following at a distance' with more concern for your body than for your soul

Next we find Peter following Jesus at a distance (Matthew 26:58). He follows Jesus right up to the court of the High Priest and stands warming himself at the fire there (John 18:15-18). Again Peter's action is typical of many who are steadily drifting from the Lord. They still follow the Lord, yes, but at a distance. Their chief concern, though, is no longer to walk closely with the Lord. They are unwilling to suffer with him. Their concern is earthly not heavenly. They think more about their bodies than their souls. Is that you? You are in a dangerous position. Disaster is inevitable unless there is real repentance.

6. Denying the Lord

Considering all that has gone before, it is no surprise when we fmd Peter finally denying the Lord. I don't know or understand what you 're talking about, he lies.

7. Denying the Lord again

And when you have denied the Lord once, there is no telling how many more times you may do it. Peter was soon repeating his folly and denying his Lord to someone else. God has made us to be creatures of habit. Those habits can be good or bad.

8. Vehemently and totally denying the Lord

Mark 14:71 brings us to the very bottom of Peter's shameful cesspit. He began to call down curses on himself and he swore to them 'I don t know this man that you are talking about'. What a frightening picture. In just a few hours, a man who seemed so bold for the Lord, so strong for him, is vehemently cursing and swearing and denying any knowledge of the Lord Jesus at all. May it never happen to any of us. It will not, if we look to God and take care that, the moment we begin on this frightening downward rush, we realise what is happening and cry out to God for mercy, repentance and forgiveness.

Escaping the stupidity of self-confidence (Peter's Denial 1)

A large number of words in English can be formed by using the prefix Self-. Some refer to potentially good things such as self-examination, self-abasement, self-denial, self-discipline, self-restraint. Some are more dubious. Self assertion, self-esteem, self-help, self-respect, self-regard. These have their dangers. Others are clearly opposed to what the gospel teaches. For example, self-conceit, self-importance, self-reliance, self-righteousness, self-seeking.

Amongst these is the dangerous sin of self-confidence. It was the area in which the apostle Peter, in particular, famously came to grief. It is the reason why he petered out. Despite Christ's solemn warning Peter fell. We will fall to if we do not escape from the stupidity of self-confidence. 'Beware of no man more than yourself' warns C H Spurgeon. He was steeped in the Puritans and no doubt had read their warnings. Flavel referred to self as a man's household god. Goodwin labelled it the spirit of unregeneracy. A later writer called it the beginning of unfaithfulness. More recently, Jim Packer has warned, We can never distrust ourselves too much. "I" trouble is perhaps our biggest problem. Again and again we put confidence in ourselves instead of in God. Christ's dealings with Peter prior to his denial stand as a lasting warning against such foolishness. The following points, that arise out of the passages where the warning is recorded, reveal the stupidity of self-confidence.

1 Satan's great desire for you to be self-confident proves the stupidity of such a course

Luke 22:31 reveals Satan's role in Peter's downfall, Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift you as wheat. It reminds us of the opening chapters of Job. Simon (Jesus deliberately uses that name) was no rock. The other disciples are included (the you is plural) but Jesus speaks especially to Peter.

Satan wants to sift us all. Sifting was used to separate the grain from the husks. To sift, then, means to shake and then to blow on in order to separate good from bad. The choice of word no doubt points to God's purposes in allowing this. The Devil's hope was that Peter would be sifted out but Jesus has prayed for him. It is the Devil's masterpiece to make us think well of ourselves, observed one writer. He himself fell, through pride, and he knows it is the easiest way to make others fall too. Watch out!

2 Past failings should warn you against the stupidity of present self-confidence

It was not as if Peter had not made similar mistakes in the past. Good intentions are never enough. We must learn from past mistakes. Peter failed to do this.

• Remember the incident of walking on the water recorded in Matthew 14. Even if Peter was not guilty of self-confidence at the beginning, looking away from Jesus to the wind and the waves is another species of the same thing. Despairing self-confidence is an oxymoron but it exists I He should have learned to keep his eyes on Jesus.
• In Matthew 16 he receives a stern rebuke. What else but self-confidence could have led Peter to speak to Jesus in such a way? One would think it impossible to forget such a rebuke.
• In John 13 we read how Peter at first refused to have his feet washed by Jesus. Although he quickly reversed his decision, it again shows too high an estimate of self before Jesus. Peter having got it wrong once that evening one would think humility must follow but no. And where has your self-confidence in the past got you? Only away from the Lord and into a mess. Pride goes before destruction, a haughty spirit before a fall (Proverbs 16:18) or to quote an uninspired proverb 'History teaches us that history teaches us nothing'. We ought to learn humility and self-distrust from our past mistakes.

3 The Bible contains many warnings against the stupidity of self-confidence

• In the Old Testament. Matthew tells us (26:31) that Christ quoted Zechariah 13:11 They will strike the shepherd, and the sheep of the flock will be scattered but this has no impact on Peter. One of the chief lessons of the Old Testament is how easily people fall. Think of Israel in the desert and under the Judges; think of the Northern Kings and many in the south; think of the Exile.
• Christ. Christ himself gives both a general warning to all and a specific warning to Peter. But Peter will not listen. The New Testament contains many similar warnings. We neglect such warnings at our peril.

4 Self-confidence proudly places confidence in self and despises others

This comes out in the very way Peter expresses himself. See Matthew 26:33 (Mark 14:29, Luke 22:24) Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will. 

• He had a high view of self. Are you like that? Is your head swollen? A Puritan has written. 'Inexpert Christians can hardly believe themselves so weak and sinful as the Lord's word shows them to be, but so much the more as they have an honest purpose to stand they have a fleshly confidence in their own strength.'
• He had a low view of others. But remember Philippians 2:3, In humility consider others better than yourselves. Jesus takes up this aspect of Peter's pride after the resurrection when he asks him, to his shame Do you truly love me more than these? (John 21:15). By that time he had learned to stop comparing himself with others. It is a lesson Paul learned too and sought to get over to the Corinthians, when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves he says of the false teachers, they are not wise. All boasting must be in the Lord. It is not the one who commends himself who is approved but he whom the Lord commends (2 Corinthians 10:12-18). Have you learned that lesson?

5 Self-confidence has far too high an opinion of its own resources

Even if I have to die with you says Peter, I will never disown you (Matthew 26:35, Mark 14:31). Lord, I am ready to go with you to prison and to death (Luke 22:33). In fact, Peter was not ready at all. Are you miscalculating your powers? Knowing yourself is an important part of true wisdom. Pray Search me, O God, and know my heart, ... see if there is any offensive way in me ... (Psalm 139:23, 24). 'He that trusts most to his own strength is nearest to the most fearful fall' adds the Puritan quoted above.

6 Self-confidence is impatient with the unfolding of God's purposes

It comes out only in John's gospel but clearly Peter is way ahead of himself. Jesus speaks of his departure and Peter asks where Jesus is going. Jesus says Where I am going, you cannot follow now, but you will follow later. But Peter is insistent, even petulant, Lord, why can't I follow you now? I will lay down my life for you (John 13:36, 37). Yes, the time would come when he would bravely die for the Lord's glory but he was hardly ready for it at this point.

I remember as a 16 year old being eager to get into a Bible College and out as a pastor, a work I was far from ready for at 18. A further eight years of study did me no harm as I learned the sentiment of Lamentations 3:27. The Lord's timing is best.

7 Self-confidence has far too high an idea of its own self importance

It was not that Peter was going to die for Jesus but Jesus was going to die for Peter. Will you really lay down your life for me? (John 13:38). So often we think about what we are going to do for God. But what really matters is what he has done for us. What we do is only in response to what he has already done. See the definition of love in 1 John 4:10 This is love: not that we loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as an atoning sacrifice for our sins. Peter would one day die for his Lord but not before his Lord had first died for him. So let us all beware of self-confidence in its various forms. Flee Satan; learn from past mistakes; take note of the Bible's many warnings; seek humility; look to God; be patient; keep uppermost in your mind what Christ has done for you. Let him who thinks he stands take heed lest he fall.