Grace and Peace
2Peter 1:1,2 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
In both of his epistles Peter starts off with his credentials, as Paul also does. To reject what Peter teaches is to reject the teachings of Jesus Christ. The letter was written to believers, those who had obtained saving faith.
The knowledge of Jesus Christ leads to the abundant experience of grace and peace. Grace is undeserved mercy, such as we experience in the forgiveness of sins. There are two aspects to peace. One is the ending of hostility between us and God as it says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Rom 5:1 The second is the experience of tranquility as a consequence to our being reconciled with God. "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 So "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Php 4:6,7
2Peter 1:1,2 Simon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who through the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ have received a faith as precious as ours: Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.
In both of his epistles Peter starts off with his credentials, as Paul also does. To reject what Peter teaches is to reject the teachings of Jesus Christ. The letter was written to believers, those who had obtained saving faith.
The knowledge of Jesus Christ leads to the abundant experience of grace and peace. Grace is undeserved mercy, such as we experience in the forgiveness of sins. There are two aspects to peace. One is the ending of hostility between us and God as it says, "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ" Rom 5:1 The second is the experience of tranquility as a consequence to our being reconciled with God. "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 So "be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Php 4:6,7
