Grace and peace grow the more we walk closely with God
1 Peter 1:2b(AMP) May grace and peace [that special sense of spiritual well-being] be yours in increasing abundance [as you walk closely with God].
This passage tells us that, special sense of spiritual well-being is possible. And second of all, it tells us how to go about it, how to get more of God’s grace and peace. It happens when we get to know, more intimately, God and Jesus as our Lord and Saviour.
Paul mentions grace first, and then peace, for good reason—because peace flows from grace. We receive well-being and wholeness after having received grace from God.
Grace, as Paul stated, come from God the Father and Jesus Christ. Paul understood that it is a divine attribute.
Grace is about receiving what we don’t deserve. Unlike mercy, grace is about receiving blessings and favour without any merit on our part.
Ephesians 2:8-9(AMP) For it is by grace [God’s remarkable compassion and favor drawing you to Christ] that you have been saved [actually delivered from judgment and given eternal life] through faith. And this [salvation] is not of yourselves [not through your own effort], but it is the [undeserved, gracious] gift of God; not as a result of [your] works [nor your attempts to keep the Law], so that no one will [be able to] boast or take credit in any way [for his salvation].
The Greek word for grace is charis, which can mean favour, kindness, or goodwill. It emphasises the freeness and abundance of God’s favour towards people.
Romans 5:20(NLT) God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant.
God’s grace equips Believers to serve Him and to overcome challenges in life. The Apostle Paul speaks about this empowering aspect of grace in
2 Corinthians 12:9(NLT) Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.
According to the Bible the meaning of peace, the peace of the heart and mind, even amidst life’s storms.
Philippians 4:7(AMP) And the peace of God [that peace which reassures the heart, that peace] which transcends all understanding, [that peace which] stands guard over your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus [is yours].
Through faith in Jesus Christ, we can have peace with God.
Romans 5:1(AMP) Therefore, since we have been justified [that is, acquitted of sin, declared blameless before God] by faith, [let us grasp the fact that] we have peace with God [and the joy of reconciliation with Him] through our Lord Jesus Christ (the Messiah, the Anointed).
A close relationship with God and Jesus Christ is the pathway to experiencing profound grace and peace. We understand that grace is a free gift from God, and we cannot work for it. Peace is knowing that God is in control, no matter what we go through.
We are consistently encouraged to draw near to God, to seek Him, and to deepen our relationship with Him. As we do it, we experience an increase in the manifestations of His character in our lives, including the gifts of grace and peace.