1:3 Grace be unto you, and peace, from God
our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
Grace is unmerited favor, kindness expressed toward someone who
does not deserve it. God has extended grace to us and continues to do so. It is
His perfect will to save all men and women but it is His permissive will which
allows men to reject His rule over them.
Romans 5:8 But God commendeth his love toward us, in
that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
1Timothy 2:4 Who will have all men to be saved, and to
come unto the knowledge of the truth.
Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation
hath appeared to all men,
We are to extend grace toward each other and to all men and women.
Romans 12:18 If it be possible, as much as lieth in you,
live peaceably with all men.
Galatians 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do
good unto all men, especially
unto them who are of the household of faith.
1Thessalonians 3:12 And the Lord make you to increase and abound
in love one toward another, and toward all men, even as we do
toward you: 13 To the end he may
stablish your hearts unblameable in holiness before God, even our Father, at
the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ with all his saints.
1Thessalonians 5:15 See that none render evil for evil unto any man; but ever follow that which is
good, both among yourselves, and to all men.
2Timothy 2:24 And the servant of the Lord must not strive;
but be gentle unto all men, apt
to teach, patient,
Titus 3:2 To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto
all men.
Hebrews 12:14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord:
You see, God did not just refrain from punishing us eternally for
our sins against Him. He extended eternal life to us, eternal life with Him.
Mankind has been at war with God since Adam disobeyed Him and
deserving of judgment. In fact, an
eternity of suffering is our choice by refusing to accept God’s free gift of
grace and peace. It is in our nature, a character trait, to be rebellious. God
created the conditions for peace between we and Him. In fact, the Bible, more
than anything else, is a record of God’s ministry of reconciling mankind to
Himself. He doesn’t talk at great length about what we will be doing in
eternity or make much mention of so-called great men of the past and the ones
He does mention are only in passing. Alexander the Great is only the king of
Grecia in Daniel 8:21. A couple of Caesars are mentioned by name in the gospel.
But we have a great deal of information about what God has done and how certain
people responded. Much of the world outside of the Near East is excluded,
ignored. Great civilizations are not talked about other than the ones pertinent
to the story.
But, we have a great deal of information about God’s work in reconciling
humanity to Himself. He has made a way to have peace with each other and to
have peace with Him.
Romans 5:1 ¶ Therefore being justified by faith, we have
peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2 By whom also we have access by faith into this
grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Ephesians 2:11 ¶ Wherefore remember, that ye being in time past Gentiles in the
flesh, who are called Uncircumcision by that which is called the Circumcision
in the flesh made by hands; 12 That at
that time ye were without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel,
and strangers from the covenants of promise, having no hope, and without God in
the world: 13 But now in Christ Jesus ye
who sometimes were far off are made nigh by the blood of Christ.
14 ¶ For he is our peace, who
hath made both one, and hath broken down the middle wall of partition between us; 15 Having abolished in his flesh the enmity, even the law of commandments contained in ordinances; for to make
in himself of twain one new man, so
making peace; 16 And that he might reconcile
both unto God in one body by the cross, having slain the enmity thereby: 17 And came and preached peace to you which were
afar off, and to
them that were nigh. 18 For through him we both have access by one
Spirit unto the Father. 19 Now therefore
ye are no more strangers and foreigners, but fellowcitizens with the saints,
and of the household of God; 20 And are
built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ himself being
the chief corner stone; 21 In whom all the building fitly framed together
groweth unto an holy temple in the Lord: 22 In whom ye also are builded together for an
habitation of God through the Spirit.
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