The True Grace of God

Call to Prayer:

Title: The True Grace of God

Date: 15.01. 2023

By: Daniel Peter

With the help of Silas, whom I regard as a faithful brother, I have written to you briefly, encouraging you and testifying that this is the true grace of God. Stand fast in  1 Peter 5:12 NIV

In the early Church, a lot of dust was raised by the letters of Apostle Paul, because of the revelation of grace God gave to him. Because he revealed the mercy, forgiveness, and free favour that was in the Gospel, many people misunderstood him to mean that there are now no consequences of sins.

One of the people God used to bring order in the early Church was Apostle Peter, who commented on Apostle Paul’s letter and addressed those in error. He made comments like “‭‭And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you; as also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction (2 Peter 3:15-16 KJV)“, which highlighted the challenge in the early Church and his attempt to address it.

Now, when in 1 Peter 5:12, Apostle Peter said “… This is the true grace of God“. From this statement, we can understand that there was a false grace of God that was accepted by some in his days. Like in the early Church, the message of grace has been misunderstood by many in our day, and there’s a need for order in the Church. This false grace teaches that one can sin without consequences; it highlights the goodness of God and waters down on His severity (Rom. 11:22). So, what then is the true grace of God? Apart from the fact that there are consequences of sin in the New Testament (Rom 6:23) and grace is riches at Christ’s expense (2 Cor. 8:9), grace endues us with the ability to endure the same suffering like Christ did (1 Peter 2:21-23, Rom. 8:17). This was what Apostle Peter was inferring when he said “this is the true grace of God” because he had earlier written about Christian suffering and the glory afterwards. This suffering is not the end in it self, but it qualifies us to share in the glory of Christ (Rom. 8:17).

As we expect the coming of the Lord, let’s seek to know and abide in the truth so we won’t be found wanting at His appearing. Your garment can’t be without blemish if you continue in sin (Eph. 5:26-27). One way He purifies us is through the trials of life He allows us to experience (Dan. 11:35, James 1:2-4)

Prayer Point.

Let’s thank God for His word today. Let’s ask Him to help the Church gain an understanding of the true grace of God.