God's True Grace.

After further word study and scripture reading, I decided to write a little more on Grace. There was a little discussion about common grace after my last blog. After more study, I have not changed my mind but would like to argue against common grace from the book of 1 Peter. I will go to the end of 1 Peter and start there. 1 Peter 5:12, NASB,

“Through Silvanus, our good brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.”

What Peter is saying is that what he has written previously in this book is the true grace of God. I added the emphasis on true grace. I am only going to summarize 1 Peter, not quote it word for word. So, be a Berean and read 1 Peter for yourself to find out if my interpretation is right or not.

1 Peter chapter 1: 1-2, “Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure.”

Peter goes on in chapter 1, to praise the Father and the Son for so great a salvation and to warn against falling back into things they have been saved from. I am suggesting that the true grace here is this great salvation.

After Peter explained this great salvation, how it came about, and what we need to do to Honor this salvation. He goes on in chapter 2 in a little more detail about the things we need to put off, and how Christ was the stone laid in Zion, the rock that was rejected, a stumbling stone. When we get to verse 9, we read,

“But you are A CHOSEN RACE, A ROYAL PRIESTHOOD, A HOLY NATION, A PEOPLE FOR GOD’S OWN POSSESSION, that you may proclaim the excellencies of Him who called you out of darkness into His marvelous light.”

Is this not God’s true grace? Peter goes on in chapter 2, to explain how they were once not a people but are now a people of God. He explains they should submit themselves to their authorities, how being punished for doing right is better than being punished for doing wrong. He explains how being punished for doing wrong brings no reward, but how being punished for doing right glorifies God and silences the ignorance of men. Then Peter uses our suffering Christ as an example of what he has been teaching. Again, I ask you is this not the true grace of God.

In chapter 3, Peter goes on to give examples of submission using the relationship between a husband and a wife. The rest of chapter 3 is a summary or reexplanation of what he went over in the first two chapters.

Chapter 4 is the application of the truths, or should I say true grace, that Peter has been teaching us how we should live and respond to this truth. In the last part of chapter 4, Peter exhorts us to share in the sufferings of Christ. I believe to the extent we receive this true grace that Peter has been teaching us about, we can share in the suffering of Christ. The more we strive in sanctification through the Holy Spirit. The more we will be able to share in the sufferings of Christ through this true grace received in Christ.

In chapter 5, Peter exhorts the shepherds of the local flocks, on how to deal with their flocks. He exhorts young men to be in subjection to their elders, and how we should all humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God. He explains how we should resist the adversary. But soon we are back to verse 12,

“Through Silvanus, our good brother (for so I regard him), I have written to you briefly, exhorting and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it.”

I hope this was not to dry for you, and that you held on to the end. I have only a couple of remarks left for you to consider.

1)     This true grace that Peter wrote about was to and for believers. He was not writing to any unbelievers with this epistle. 

2)     This true grace that believers receive brings salvation, sanctification, and eventually glorification.

3)     This true grace that peter speaks of informs us how to live and why we should live that way.

Lastly, I did not write this because I felt like I was under attack from anyone. I wrote because when people you respect question you on what you have written, it is best to take precaution and restudy what you think you know. I have not changed my position on common Grace. I still believe that common grace is confused with the manifold mercies of God, spoken of in Psalm 145:9, NASB,

“The Lord is good to all, and His mercies are overall.”

After a word study of grace, gracious, and Graciously, I believe I understand the misconception. The definitions lead one to believe that grace is or can be applied like mercy is applied. However, in reading the scripture, I only find where grace is applied to the elect of God. The way Peter applies true grace in his first epistle.

I want to remind everyone that I added the emphasis on true grace, and this was not written to be argumentative. I hope this is a blessing to those who read it.