Grace and Peace

DEVOTION

THE 1^ST LETTER OF PETER

GRACE AND PEACE

1 Peter 1:1-2

1:1 Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ,

To God's elect, strangers in the world, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, 2 who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, for obedience to Jesus Christ and sprinkling by his blood:

Grace and peace be yours in abundance.

NIV

Having understood this letter is also written to us, the Gentiles who are scattered among the nations, although we were not part of the original recipients. What we still have to consider are the words that are typically used in many letters written by the Apostles, “Grace and peace be yours in abundance.” So often we read through those words and pay little attention to them. However, over the past years, we have been impressed to spend more time on these words and investigate the meaning and the ramifications of them on our lives. Grace is often seen as the unmerited favor of God. Although it is true the God displays his favor without any merit on our part, which is we cannot earn it, or pay for it, or pay it back. However that Greek word is always translated as a gift. The free gift of God is eternal life.

Rom 6:23

23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

KJV

This word Gift is the Greek word Charisma, which means a divine gratuity, i.e. a deliverance from danger or passion, a spiritual endowment. It is a gift, a free gift from God. But that is not the Greek word used by Peter and the other Apostle in their greetings. This grace is the Greek word, Charis. Although both Charisma and Charis are in the same root word, here the Apostle used Charis which carries the meaning of the divine influence upon our hearts and how that is reflected in our lives. It is specifically used as graciousness, the act of graciousness. Peter was writing to believers who already received the free gift of God, Charisma, so he did not use that form of the word, but the form that indicates a gracious act of God upon us, influencing our hearts. How we so desperately need his influence in our lives and we have it, and we have his influence multiplying in us, which is the meaning of the word translated abundance. In other words, his influence is continually increasing in our lives, or at least it should be. The Greek word translated as peace, eireenee, can and is used to define a state of national tranquility, free from the rage and havoc of war. We can see how that would apply to a person, as is how Peter intended it to be used. We are free from being at war with God, or we are at peace with God, we have a peace treaty which is made with us through Jesus. However, within Christianity, this word has taken on a meaning which carries into the way we live, the condition of our heart. This word has the meaning of a tranquil state of our soul, we are at peace within, we are assured of our salvation through Christ, and so we fear nothing from God and are content with our earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is. Paul used this context in his letter to the Romans.

Rom 8:6-7

6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace;

NIV

This is that peace, that contentment within, that tranquil state of our heart, which should produce freedom from anxiety, or the stresses in life. All this life is temporary and each day has enough trouble of its own and we are told not to be anxious about tomorrow or the next day, or a week, or year, or our later years, but to be free from fear because we have the peace of Christ ruling, being multiplied continually, in our hearts. We have the grace and peace of God within us and that should give us great comfort. Let us live in that comfort, enjoying his grace, his influence, and his peace, his contentment, his tranquility.