Grace and Peace

“Grace and peace be multiplied to you through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, according as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who has called us to glory and virtue, through which He has given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, so that by these you might be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust.” (2Peter 1:2-4)

The promise of God given by Peter involves three verses. We cannot just isolate the promise from what Peter gives as a prerequisite for the promise. What are the prerequisites? Many say there are none and in a way that is true. All human effort to obtain God’s promises cannot do what God Himself does for us. It is a gift from God to us, but it does depend on our quest for the “...knowledge of God and of Jesus...” Can we put it in terms that we can understand? Let’s say for some tragic reason, as a baby you were separated from your royal parents. All along you would be royalty, but unbeknown to you, who was adopted by a humble and poor family in comparison to your real royal family. You considered yourself according to your adopted family status because you had no knowledge of your true heritage. That’s like the child of God who doesn’t have knowledge of God, our heavenly Father and Savior Jesus our Lord. There are children of God who are walking, speaking and thinking like their old family because they don’t know their true heritage and Who our Heavenly Father and Savior, the Lord Jesus are. They haven’t grasped the immensity of their heritage and responsibility as royal children of the Most High God. “But you are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for possession, so that you might speak of the praises of Him who has called you out of darkness into His marvelous light;” (1Peter 2:9).

Peter also states that as we grow in “...the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord...” grace and peace is multiplied to us. Grace and peace come to us as we grow in “the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord...” It’s not our effort. It’s fruit from growing in “...the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord...” It’s a God thing. It’s a work of God.

But what is that grace and peace? Grace defined is God’s unmerited, undeserved favor. Things work out the best for us, even when we go through unspeakable storms, temptations and trials. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” (Romans 8:28)

 That’s God’s grace, God’s undeserved favor. We can’t work for it nor earn it of our own effort, sacrifice or benevolence. And knowing we have God’s undeserved favor brings us peace in every circumstance of our lives here on this earth. “Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

In the last verse in our Scripture of study we have the promise for eternity. Here on earth, we can only imagine, but in truth, we have no idea how splendid our eternity will be. The Gospel has given us hints and clues, but our limited minds can’t even conceive how magnificent it will be. “But as it is written, "Eye has not seen, nor ear heard," nor has it entered into the heart of man, "the things which God has prepared for those who love Him." (1Corinthians 2:9)

The Lord has given us, here on earth, everything we need to partake of His divine nature. But we haven’t obtained it. It’s the reality of heaven on earth. “...Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done here on earth as it is in heaven...” It’s a reality of the Lord more true than life here on earth. I don’t think we come to that reality here on earth ever, but as we grow in “...in the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord...” we can come close. It’s a reality that we are only travelers through this world on our way to our true home in heaven. Jesus prayed, “They are not of the world, even as I am not of the world.” (John 17:16) Peter exhorts us, “Dearly beloved, I exhort you as temporary residents and pilgrims to abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul, having your conduct honest among the nations, in that which they speak against you as evildoers, they may glorify God in a day of His visitation, seeing your good works.” (1Peter 2:11-12) And Paul declares to us, “For our citizenship is in Heaven, from which also we are looking for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 3:20)

The very last phrase of our Scripture, “...having escaped the corruption that is in the world through lust,” tells us about this divine life here on earth.  Peter uses the word escape, an escape from the world and its lusts that pulls at us. “Do not love the world, nor the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him, because all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passes away, and the lust of it, but he who does the will of God abides forever.” (1John 2:15-17) The things of the world are corruption. When we look at it that way, we don’t want anything to do with it. It’s death. We need God’s Spirit to help us recognize those dead things to stay away from. The world can be so enticing, even disguising itself as pious. We must refuse and denounce them. What would these things be? ...just an example, comfort over sacrifice for the love of Chrit.  It is denial of self for the love of Chrit, denial of our comfort, our way and recognition.  It’s a hard thing. And if you don’t think it’s not hard, tell women not to wear makeup. Even that simple thing is vanity and of this world. But it's a personal thing. Why do we want to look our very best in this world? Whom are we trying to impress? Now I’m not telling women not to wear makeup. I’m saying that this is an example of how we’ve been accepting the world lusts. And let me be clear, wearing makeup isn’t sinful. We have to live, work and get things accomplished in this world where first impressions are everything. But our hearts have to be blameless.

In summary, we have everything we need to be partakers of our Father’s divine nature here on earth and escape the corruption of the world. It’s dependent on our growth in “...the knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord...” It’s growing in the knowledge of Who God and Jesus are and growing in the knowledge of who we are in Jesus. This gives us the grace and peace in all circumstances here on earth.

Let us pray:

Father, I confess that the things of this world have drawn me away from Your grace and peace. I renounce all things of this world, what looks good in my eyes and what feels good to my body and ego. I affirm my allegiance to You Father and Jesus my Lord. I take up my cross and follow You my Lord whatever the cost. I know that I am only passing through. I allow the Holy Spirit to interrupt my words, my thoughts and my deeds that don’t line up with You and Your life in me. Be glorified in me and not the other way around. Help me to hear Your direction and to obey You in all things in the joyful times and in the trials, temptations and hardships of this world. Help me to grow in the knowledge of You and Jesus my Lord. Help me to express my love and devotion to You in obedience to Your Word. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.