THOUGHTS IN 2 PETER 1:1-3 – Number 5 - GRACE AND PEACE BE MULTIPLIED TO YOU
[1]. THE INTRODUCTION
What does one place in the introduction to a letter? I suppose that depends on how familiar you are to your readers, and what previous information has been imparted to them. We shall now see what particulars were raised in the first three verses of the introduction to Peter’s second letter, and it will be noted that these were of significance to Peter.
An interesting exercise is to compare the openings to each of the New Testament books to see the immediate thoughts of the writers. I love the way the Gospel of Luke comes face to face with us – {{Luke 1:1-2 “Inasmuch as many have undertaken to compile an account of the things accomplished among us, just as those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word have handed them down to us,”}}
Luke wants to establish the authenticity of His historic account and sets that out in the first 4 verses. Of all the New Testament writers Luke comes over as precise and accurate, though every book is covered by the inspiration of God. The letter to the Hebrews gets right to the point.- {{Hebrews 1:1-2 “God, after He spoke long ago to the fathers in the prophets in many portions and in many ways, in these last days has spoken to us in His Son, whom He appointed heir of all things, through whom also He made the world.”}}
I do not doubt Paul’s authorship of Hebrews, and as it is appealing to his fellow countrymen who despised Paul, it is natural that his name would be withheld from the book. Hebrews sets out the arguments Paul would have used in the synagogues in presenting the gospel to the Jews.
[2]. PETER’S INTRODUCTION IN HIS SECOND LETTER
We look at what Peter wrote in this letter’s introduction – {{2 Peter 1:1 “SIMON PETER, A BOND-SERVANT AND APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the RIGHTEOUSNESS of our God and Saviour, Jesus Christ:”}}. His first letter is not dissimilar to this one – {{1 Peter 1:1 “PETER, AN APOSTLE OF JESUS CHRIST, to those who reside as aliens scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen”}}
Initially Peter states his credentials. Paul always gave his authority as “an Apostle” whereas Peter declares himself as “bond-servant and Apostle”. What an interesting pairing this is. Some think the position of Apostle resides at the top of the tree, as some sort of primary hierarchy and exclusive position, an office to feel justly proud of. It does reside at the top of the tree, but carries an equal amount of humility in God’s sight. Yet here, just to let the readers know that Peter is a man of great humility, the Holy Spirit caused the word “bond-servant” to be written.
A bondservant is bound to his master/Master through choice and Peter knows he is just a servant in active service. Paul was the same. There is nothing of Pope Peter here! Nothing of being carted around in a papal chair with everyone bowing down to him. That is 100% paganism.
Thus you have a person designated as “apostle” by God, yet in his own estimation, no more than a grateful bond-servant, who in love and dedication, would bind himself to his Lord forever. It is interesting to see that Peter puts “bond-servant” first, a touch for certain, of true, unassuming humility. How beautiful was that relationship with his Lord. This is the man who writes this letter to scattered Christians (mainly to Jewish Christians). Even more than that, it is a true identification with his blessed Saviour in complete humility, for he follows the Master in this very attitude:-
{{Philippians 2:7-8 “but emptied Himself, taking the form of a bond-servant, and being made in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.”}}
In verse 1, Peter uses a lovely word (righteousness), one refreshing in its deeper application. All the “like common faith” “a faith of the same kind as ours” is with every Christian of every age and place, and is all bound up in the righteousness of God. What a position! God’s righteousness has been satisfied by the expiatory sacrifice of Christ, and flowing from that, is the impartation of His righteousness to us, making us acceptable in His sight. What a precious faith we have.
[3]. A SHORT LOOK AT VERSE 3
Let us move straight to verse 3 and it will not be a major focus in this message, but another time. In verse 3 there is the explanation of what this imparted righteousness means in our lives:-
{{2 Peter 1:3 “seeing that HIS DIVINE POWER has granted to us everything pertaining to life and godliness, through the true knowledge of Him who called us by His own glory and excellence.”}}
There we have it. Through His divine power we have been granted everything that we need in life to live out this righteousness of God; everything to allow us to pertain to godliness.
There is much of personal testimony in this verse. Peter was with the Lord since the start of the Lord’s ministry, and he learnt all that was necessary for his own ministry. He personally experienced divine power. He knew about godliness and that true knowledge from the One who said in the upper room, “I am the way, the truth and the life,” and Peter built on that. He knew the glory of Christ and the excellence of the Son of God. We won’t pursue verse 3 any further at this time.
[4]. LET US TURN OUR ATTENTION TO VERSE 2:-
{{2 Peter 1:2 “GRACE AND PEACE be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”}}
These two words – GRACE and PEACE were chosen to open the letter. The Apostle Paul used this phrase as his own special greeting in almost every letter he wrote, and he did it right near the start of the letter. It could almost be a designated greeting among the saints in these Apostolic days, a bit like we use “Greetings” today. “Peace be upon you,” is the most common greeting in Islam.
Grace and peace are so important. Our God is gracious. He is the God of peace. To use grace and peace in greeting is to recognise the great character of our God. We need the Lord’s grace and peace always, because we are not always gracious or peaceful in ourselves.
There is another word that is used in conjunction with those two, and it is mercy. God is a merciful God. The New Testament writers knew the powerful connotations of those words. On one occasion Paul used all three in His greeting to young Timothy – {{1 Timothy 1:1-2 “Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus according to the commandment of God our Saviour, and of Christ Jesus who is our hope - to Timothy, my true child in the faith: GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”}}
John also combined the words – {{2 John 1:3 “GRACE, MERCY AND PEACE will be with us from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”}}. They were precious words in the early church.
[5]. DEVELOPING OUR THOUGHTS ON GRACE
Grace is the favour of God, unmerited and without limit; pure and divinely overshadowing; and is that attribute that springs from a God of wrath. God’s wrath must naturally proceed from His holiness, where all that is sinful and fails His standard, must come under condemnation. However, if and when there is a satisfaction of that wrath, then the channels are free to flow with grace and mercy.
Where do you think the first mention of grace is in the Old Testament? Well you have to come all the way to Ezra in the return from captivity to find it. {{Ezra 9:8 “but now for a brief moment GRACE HAS BEEN SHOWN FROM THE LORD our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage.”}}. Grace is God’s choice for mercy and good to the undeserving.
However the word “gracious” is used a lot and this is the first reference, speaking of Esau sighting all Jacob’s family, and Jacob responding - {{Genesis 33:5 and he lifted his eyes and saw the women and the children, and said, “Who are these with you?” so he said, “The children whom God has GRACIOUSLY given your servant.”}}
God is a gracious God and a merciful One, and because He is a God of love, a way has been found to cancel out the wrath of God. That way was through blood, for without the shedding of blood, there can be no forgiveness of sins. Christ Jesus, the spotless Lamb of God, tried and observed in His every word; scrutinised by sinful men, was delivered up by sinful men that He might endure the wrath of God for us, in order that God’s forgiveness, arising from grace and mercy, might be freely bestowed. That grace has been given, but at what cost! And if the receiving of that grace is not enough, Peter’s desire for his readers, is that that grace might be multiplied to them.
Is God’s grace sufficient? Most certainly it is. It had to be said to Paul when he thrice requested the thorn be removed from his flesh; it was God who responded, “My grace is sufficient you you.” (2 Corinthians 12:7-9). If that is the depth of God’s grace, then what is “multiplied grace”? In this sinful scene we can not understand the depth of God’s grace. Our finite minds assess everything in finite terms.
The deeper the sin, the deeper God’s condemnation. The deeper the sin, the deeper the forgiveness granted. The deeper the forgiveness, the greater is the appreciation of the grace of God. That is why John Newton, reprobate, drunken slave trader could pen, “Amazing grace - how sweet the sound - that saved a wretch like me,” and Charles Wesley penned those simple, but profound words, “He left His Father’s throne above, So free, so infinite His grace.”
Grace is a gift as well as being a tremendous attribute of God. It is always giving, never taking. In this world, right now in the city where I live, everyone is trying to rip you off. Tradesmen openly lie to you, cheat, and grossly overcharge you. Electricians charge anywhere between 200 to 400 dollars an hour. One company wanted to charge me $570 just to replace a light and a fan and I had the new ones here. Things can’t continue like that but God’s grace is forever and the results of it are eternal. We are at the end of the Church age.
A soul at enmity with God is a soul in conflict and turmoil like a restless sea in great agitation from the stormy winds. But when the storm has passed and the sea has abated, then peace descends. When a soul has entered into eternal life through the gate of grace, in union with God, then the storm of conflict and separation has ceased, and peace reigns. What a wonderful benefit that grace has given birth to.
[6]. AND NOW FOR PEACE – WHERE DOES THIS LEAD?
Peter spoke of grace and peace. We will look at peace. There is an enormous sale of anti-depressants and psychiatric medicines now because people are mentally disturbed and all the rest of it. They have no peace. They are like the description given here speaking of the wicked of Judah – {{Isaiah 57:17-21 “Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him. I hid My face and was angry and he went on turning away in the way of his heart. I have seen his ways, but I will heal him. I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners, creating the praise of the lips. PEACE, PEACE TO HIM WHO IS FAR AND TO HIM WHO IS NEAR,” says the LORD, “and I will heal him.” The wicked are like the tossing sea, for it cannot be quiet, and its waters toss up refuse and mud. THERE IS NO PEACE,” SAYS MY GOD, “FOR THE WICKED.”}}
The problems of many people are categorised as medical or mental condition, but the true reason is spiritual. Do you recall this episode -
{{Luke 8:34-36 “When the herdsmen saw what had happened, they ran away and reported it in the city and out in the country, and the people went out to see what had happened, and they came to Jesus and found the man from whom the demons had gone out sitting down at the feet of Jesus, clothed AND IN HIS RIGHT MIND, and they became frightened. Those who had seen it reported to them how the man who was demon-possessed had been made well,”}}
If that demonic lived today doctors and psychiatrists would have him dosed up on all sorts of drugs, and labelled him with all the more recent terms allocated to “mental illness” but his condition was spiritual. What a blessed state to be in when you are at peace with God. {{Philippians 4:7 “and THE PEACE OF GOD WHICH SURPASSES ALL COMPREHENSION, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”}}. That is a wonderful position, but we must never use that verse in isolation, but always connect it with the active verse before it - {{Philippians 4:6 “BE ANXIOUS FOR NOTHING, BUT in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God,”}}
May I say something to Americans. In my 80 plus years I have taken note of cultures around the world and have seen some of them. By far, Americans are the most materialistic of all cultures. They have so many gadgets and are so wasteful. Just do the research on this for yourselves if you don’t believe me. Wanting to keep having the best, and better than your neighbours is not a Christian attitude. The happiest people I have encountered in places where I have been are those who are rather materialistically poor, but have a great contentment. They are at PEACE where a lot of Americans are not. These verses surmount all human striving for materialism –
{{Philippians 4:11 not that I speak from want for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
1 Timothy 6:8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content.
1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness actually is a means of great gain, when accompanied by contentment.}}
Those who strive after materialism (and wealth) are never at peace, and if they think they have peace, then it is superficial.
Peace with God! How blesséd and delightful a position for us to have. It is not of ourselves - all of Him! What can compare with it? Let the trials of life blow and shake; let lightning flash and the thunder roar. We have peace given by a gracious God and Jesus said, “My peace I give to you”. Peter asks again that peace be multiplied to them.
Peace with God is a position of condition, if we can say it that way. When a man or woman is born again and is right with God, so the condemnation of sin is gone forever through the cross of Christ. Here is a stanza from a hymn by Anne R. Cousin in 1864 “O Christ, What Burdens Bowed Thy Head” -
The tempest’s awful voice was heard,
O Christ, it broke on Thee!
Thy open bosom was my ward,
It braved the storm for me.
Thy form was scarred, Thy visage marred;
NOW CLOUDLESS PEACE FOR ME.
Once there is PEACE WITH GOD, there flows THE PEACE OF GOD in the soul of the believer. The Philippians verse earlier spoke of the peace of God. (Philippians 4:7). It is the only reference to the peace of God in the New Testament.
[7]. CONCLUSION
Now we may conclude that grace and peace in multiplication must have a corresponding effect on the recipient, and it certainly does. Peter uses the word “knowledge” for this great gain. {{2 Peter 1:2 “Grace and peace be multiplied to you IN THE KNOWLEDGE OF GOD AND OF JESUS OUR LORD.”}}
We know there are two knowledge camps. One of those sees an increase in academic knowledge, which we could call a head knowledge. The other of course, is what Peter is referring to verse 2. It is a knowledge gained through experience; one that taps the reality and veracity of godliness. Peter increased in knowledge of the Son as he lived day by day with the Lord, and correspondingly, of the Father, as he accepted the teachings Jesus gave. By experience he knows of what he speaks, for it is that same road Jesus trod, that he desires for his readers. God’s dispensed grace and peace will see an increased maturity in a believer’s life. It grows the knowledge of God.
This knowledge is connected with wisdom. Wisdom is found only in God, that is, the true wisdom, not the world’s wisdom. Jesus Himself increased in this as we too, must do - {{Luke 2:52 “Jesus kept increasing in wisdom and stature, and in favour with God and men.”}}
What about us? Are we open to the reception of this grace and peace? Is maturity hindered because we are not available because of sin, or self-sufficiencies, or self-importance, not then receiving our proper portion of that sweet grace and peace?
Saved through grace. Granted His righteousness. Equipped by divine power for godliness and true knowledge. What more could we ever ask or desire? This being so, can we ask ourselves, “What are we doing to further this pursuit of godliness and true knowledge in our lives when such divine power is available for that purpose?
