“May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” (2 Peter 1.2).¹

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¹Every New Testament writer desired the same thing: grace and peace for all those in Christ Jesus (Rom. 1.7; 1 Cor. 1.3; Gal. 1.3; 2 John 1.3, etc.). However, for one to have grace and peace it must first be rooted “in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.” This means that one cannot have grace and peace when what he believes or teaches is established in false doctrines. Therefore, the result is one will be anathema and without “the Father and the Son” (Gal. 1.6-9; 2 John 9). Fortunately, God has given us His truth (John 17.17) and “all things that pertain to life and godliness” (2 Peter 1.3), and as we increase in this truth, that is, “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3.18) then grace and peace is multiplied to us.

If you desire to know more about God and enjoy the increasing grace and peace only found in His precious book, e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

"And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you." (1 Peter 5.10, ESV)¹

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¹Contextually, Peter wrote about the suffering that his readers were experiencing and would continue to experience. Though these saints were being grieved by various fiery trials, their genuineness of faith was being tested (1 Peter 1.6-9; 4.12, etc.). In other words, remaining faithful in a dark world will involve hardship, and even more so, remaining faithful through suffering proves our commitment to God. In reality, it separates those who love the Lord and those who give Him lip service.

However, to help these suffering saints endure these trials Peter instructs them how to conduct themselves throughout their life here on earth and builds them up by reminding them of the promises of God to deliver them in the end (please read both 1 and 2 Peter for these instructions and promises). This helps explain our text at hand. Simply put, Peter's point is after we have been tested and found to be genuine that the God of all grace will Himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish us. In other words, we will receive the end of our faith - the salvation of our souls (1 Peter 1.9). What great promises! We may have many hardships that we must endure, but our Father who calls us to His eternal glory in Christ says this is just for a little while, and does not compare to the eternity that awaits us (see 1 Peter 1.6; 2 Cor. 4.17; Rom. 8.18).

Are you in Christ (Gal. 3.26-27)? If we suffer, Peter instructs us not to suffer as a sinner, but as a Christian who has entrusted himself to a faithful Creator (1 Peter 4.12-19). If you want be comforted with the peace that only Christ can give you, e-mail Bryan Garlock or text 903.308.4905.

Matthew 5.8, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God”.¹