Overflowing in God’s Grace and Peace
Happy New Year, my friend! I trust that as you begin this New Year that God’s abundant grace and peace will fill your life and your 2024. Below are my reflections on the Apostle Peter’s welcome to suffering followers of Jesus in the first century. Be encouraged today.
Jorge
Scripture:
Peter, an apostle of Jesus Christ, To God’s elect, exiles scattered throughout the provinces of Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, who have been chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood: Grace and peace be yours in abundance.
1 Peter 1:1-2 (NIV)
Observation:
For as “front and center” as Simon Peter was in the four Gospels, you might assume that he would have dotted the New Testament landscape with several letters when in fact, we only have two letters written by him. His first letter is divided into five chapters and his second letter only has three. By contrast, Paul wrote thirteen New Testament letters or eighty-seven chapters! Remember that Peter was called “the Rock” by Jesus, walked on water (for a few steps), had a front row seat at spectacular healings, unexplainable transfigurations and death-to-life resurrections. He got invited to pray with Jesus in his most desperate hour and shortly afterwards denied even knowing Jesus on three painful occasions. After encountering the resurrected Jesus, Peter was restored at a beachside lunch. He was also present at Jesus’ mysterious ascension and then tapped by the Holy Spirit to preach a powerful message that led to 3000 new converts. This is some resume. With so few writings coupled with his face-to-face encounters with Jesus, my impulse is to pay very close attention to his few writings.
His greeting in this first letter is to a constellation of Christ followers in house churches scattered throughout five Roman provinces in current day Turkey. The NIV translates Peter’s recipients as those “…who have been chosen…” Other translations address Peter’s letter to “God’s elect.” All kinds of theological debate have ensued for centuries around “divine election.” It’s pretty simple for me. Whenever something is unclear in a New Testament letter, I look for clarity in the Gospels. What Paul or Peter leave fuzzy in one of their letters, I look to the life and teaching of Jesus for accuracy. Election or being chosen cannot mean that God predestines some for life in God to the exclusion of everyone else. Jesus welcomed everyone. Just read Luke’s biography!
These chosen ones are described by Peter as “exiles.” Some historians believe that the audience to whom Peter is writing in these five provinces are living on the run because of Roman Emperor Nero’s vile persecution of Christians. To these suffering followers of the Rabbi Jesus, Peter speaks a benediction or “good word” of God’s overflowing grace and peace. God’s unconditional, unmerited love (grace) coupled with a soundness of soul (peace) are just what these beaten and battered apprentices of Jesus desperately need.
Sandwiched between Peter’s salutation and this “good word” is a trinitarian statement to these “chosen” ones: …according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, through the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to be obedient to Jesus Christ and sprinkled with his blood…The Father’s inheritance is his choosing of them. The Spirit’s blessing is the “from one degree of glory to another” work of making them holy. And the Son’s kindness is the gift of redemption through his blood that spurs on a life of obedience for the suffering saints. The triune God mysteriously cooperates together to bestow upon them these gifts leading to life of overflowing grace and peace.
Application:
One of the challenges for contemporary Christians especially those living in the luxury of the United States is making sound and accurate application of biblical texts. One of the most egregious hermeneutical sins is to equalize the suffering of first century Christ followers with the petty inconveniences of most twenty-first century Americans. For example, during the height of the Covid epidemic, I heard some American Christians crying “Persecution!” because they could not gather in church buildings for worship. Sitting in my paid for, 3000 square foot home on a small pond with a swimming pool in my gated community is not the same context of scattered Christ followers, hiding from a hateful Roman Emperor in Asia Minor.
So, what is the application for my comfortable life? What I can affirm from this text is that like my first century forebears in the faith, I too am chosen by God. The Father calls me “his beloved.” The Son calls me “his friend.” The Holy Spirit calls me “his companion.” The Trinity invites me into the “sacred dance.” This defines me. I am not defined by my checking, saving, and pension accounts. Even the qualifications hanging on the wall right in front of me as I type this, from my advanced degrees to my awards to my ordination credentials, do not ultimately define me. The number of my blog subscribers or my Facebook “friends,” do not determine my value. How many pastors I coach, the number of books I write, or the speaking engagements I get are not my ultimate worth. That God chose and still chooses me is the supreme assessment of me.
I can also affirm that Peter’s blessing of God’s overflowing grace and peace from the triune God for his first century audience is for me as well. This has been a hard year for me. Natural disaster, unexpected divorce, unwelcomed death and vocational disorientation, all knocked at my door this past year. I need this “good word” that God’s unconditional love and deep, inner contentment and joy are mine. It is good for my soul to be reminded that the Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are cooperating together for me to know God’s inheritance, blessing, and kindness for me in the midst of disaster, divorce, death, and disorientation.
Prayer:
God, I am humbled by the invitation to live my life in the abundance of your grace and peace. These days are filled with heavy challenges and fantastic opportunities for me. It’s very easy for me to lose my primary identity. Being grounded in my chosen-ness as beloved, friend, and companion is essential. Help me to live in this sweet spot. Amen.