This week we would like to continue our study on the topic of True grace of God. Last week we had seen that the true grace will help us to lead a truly godly family life on this earth itself. True grace helps us to behave in a godly way in all circumstances. True grace of God is helping us to be a blessing to all around us.
1 Pet 3:16, 17 and keep a good conscience so that in the thing in which you are slandered, those who revile your good behavior in Christ will be put to shame. For it is better, if God should will it so, that you suffer for doing what is right rather than for doing what is wrong.
When we lead a godly life there will be lot of opposition and torture from all others. Humanly speaking we may lose heart when others do every evil against us as a response to good and righteous deeds. But true grace will help us to keep a good conscious in all those circumstances. It will help us to understand that it is good to suffer by doing right; rather than doing what is wrong.
1 Pet 3:21 Corresponding to that, baptism now saves you—not the removal of dirt from the flesh, but an appeal to God for a good conscience—through the resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Water baptism is not a ritual but an appeal to God for a good conscience. True grace will help us to live in the experience of water baptism – experiencing the salvation power through the resurrection of Lord Jesus Christ at all times.
1 Pet 4:1 Therefore, since Christ has suffered in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same purpose, because he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin
Many believers often think about the suffering Jesus had on the cross of Calvary. But they are not aware of the life Jesus had on this earth. He overcame all temptations by saying NO to His will and suffered in His flesh. He was doing this all the time and lived without a single sin. Jesus told His disciples “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me” (Luke 9:23). So we also have to deny our self-will and suffer in the flesh to overcome temptations in our life. True grace is helping us to do that and God’s power is available in our time of need (Heb. 4:16). When we are ready to say “NO” to sin by depending on God’s power there is no provision for sin in our life. This is the fruit of the true grace of God.
1 Pet 4:2 so as to live the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.
When we experience the true grace we will be living for God by doing His will. Our path of life and aim of life is to do the will of God. “So then, brethren, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh-13for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die; but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the deeds of the body, you will live.14For all who are being led by the Spirit of God, these are sons of God”.
1 Pet 4:3 For the time already past is sufficient for you to have carried out the desire of the Gentiles, having pursued a course of sensuality, lusts, drunkenness, carousing, drinking parties and abominable idolatries.
True grace is always exhorting us that sin we committed is more than sufficient and desire only to do God’s will. Every time Jesus forgives our sin, He encourages us “From now on sin no more” (John 8:11).
1 Pet 4: 7-10 The end of all things is near; therefore, be of sound judgment and sober spirit for the purpose of prayer. Above all, keep fervent in your love for one another, because love covers a multitude of sins. Be hospitable to one another without complaint. As each one has received a special gift, employ it in serving one another as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.
True grace always reminds us about the coming of our bridegroom. It encourages us to get ready to receive Him. True Grace enables us to love one another, be hospitable to one another without complaint. Our God is full of Grace to meet all our needs. We all have received a special gift from God and through that special gift we are becoming the channel to flow God’s grace to all others around us. We are not supposed to imitate others gift but to exercise our gifts to help, encourage and serve others.God gave that gift to all of us to serve others without any reservation so that they experience God through us.
1 Pet 4:11 Whoever speaks, is to do so as one who is speaking the utterances of God; whoever serves is to do so as one who is serving by the strength which God supplies; so that in all things God may be glorified through Jesus Christ, to whom belongs the glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.
When we allow true grace to work through us, it will reveal the same work of God. We should always long to do things in the way God is doing it. True grace will help us to fulfil it.
1 Pet 4:12-13 Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you; but to the degree that you share the sufferings of Christ, keep on rejoicing, so that also at the revelation of His glory you may rejoice with exultation.
God allows for the testing of believers through sufferings and tribulations. This is the only way God can purify us and make perfect. So when these things happen in our life do not be surprised. True grace will help us to rejoice when we share the suffering of Christ. Sharing the suffering of Christ will lead us one day to share His glory.
1 Pet 5:1 Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed
Peter suffered a lot for Christ in his life but he experienced true grace in his life and that is why he tells about himself as the witness of Christ’s suffering (He does not mention about any of the sufferings he faced). True Grace made him a partaker of the glory that is to be revealed.
1 Pet 5:2-3 shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock.
A shepherd who experience true grace won’t be doing his responsibility under compulsion but voluntarily according to the will of God. He will not lord on his flock but be a true example to them to follow. This is opposite to what we experience in this world where leaders lord over the flock. We become servant leaders by sharing the burdens of the flock.
1 Pet 5:5 You younger men, likewise, be subject to your elders; and all of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for God is opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble.
It is the very nature and law of God that He opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble. So to experience the true grace the prime necessity is to remain humble.
1 Pet 5:8-9 Be of sober spirit, be on the alert. Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.
Devil always wants and is waiting for an opportunity to attack the believers. But true grace will enable us to remain in faith and resist the devil. It also shows us many examples around us for our encouragement.
1 Pet 5:10-12 After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you. To Him be dominion forever and ever. Amen.
Through Silvanus, our faithful 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!
Our God is a God of all grace. God called us to His eternal glory in Christ Jesus. True grace of God will perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish us in the face of all suffering by showing our calling to the eternal glory in Christ Jesus.
After exhorting and testifying the true grace, Holy Spirit is commanding us to stand firm in true grace.
May God bless all of us to experience the true grace of God in our life.
