Encouragement and TeachingSample

A meaningful greeting

After the long introduction about election, sanctification, and obedience, Peter now greets his readers: “May grace and peace be multiplied to you”. This greeting is often used by Bible writers. It has a deep meaning.

Grace and peace are two important gifts of God. We can’t do without them. And they are not dependent on our circumstances. In the first verse of this letter, Peter addressed his readers as “exiles in the dispersion”. But being exiles who are away from their “real home” does not prevent Christians from experiencing grace and peace. These blessings do not come from our circumstances, but from our heavenly Father who has loved and known us from the foundation of the world.

Grace and peace are not gifts that we receive only once. We need them every day of our lives. Peter’s readers knew God’s grace — they were elect, they had been saved by faith, they were sanctified by the Holy Spirit. These are all results of God’s amazing grace. But Peter nevertheless wishes them that this grace and the peace that flows from it will be multiplied in their lives.

Do you experience God’s grace and peace today? If not, what prevents you from enjoying it?