“But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Chris Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

We now come to the conclusion of 1 Peter (vv. 10-14). This is one of the great benedictions of the Bible. Note other great benedictions found in Numbers 6:24-26; Romans 15:5,6, 13; 16:25,27; Ephesians 3:20,21; 1 Thessalonians 3:12,13; 2 Thessalonians 2:16,17; 3:12,13; 1 Timothy 1:17; Jude 24,25; Revelation 1:5,6.

But may the God of all grace

Peter concludes his epistle with a prayer in honor of God’s grace.

We now come to one of God’s great names — “the God of all grace.” In 2 Corinthians 1:3, God is called “the God of all comfort.” “All” carries the idea of comprehensiveness and universality. God’s grace is comprehensive and universal for any need of any believer at any time. “All grace” means that God has a plan for every situation you face in life and every problem you encounter. He has a solution for it. God has the asset that you need.

God has cornered the market on grace. He has all kinds of grace for any situation we may face. God has cornered the market on grace and comfort. He is the God of all grace both as far as the quality of it and as far as the quantity of it.

“The God of” means God is the source of all grace.

And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8).

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says:
‘God resists the proud,
But gives grace to the humble'” (James 4:6).

In 1 Peter, God’s grace is God’s provision for suffering. God provides for any contingency we may face.

PRINCIPLE:

God’s grace is comprehensive and universal for any need of any believer at any time.

APPLICATION:

Should a catastrophe come upon you, what resource would you draw upon? Would you draw upon yourself?

We are often not aware of our needs. We think we require one thing, whereas we need something else. Sometimes we think God must heal us when what we need is the grace of God to sustain us without being healed (2 Corinthians 12:7-10). Healing is not always our highest good. Sometimes the highest good is God’s glory that sustains us in our suffering. We glorify God by making known to others how He sustained us in our predicament.

God is all-sufficient for any contingency that may come our way. He has grace sufficient for any occasion or need (2 Corinthians 1:3; 12:9).

Do you view yourself as respectable? Sooner or later, we all have to come to the place where we recognize that we all fail the Lord. Think of all the sins you have committed over the last few months. Do you think you have earned or deserved the right of deliverance? Yet, God is the God of all grace. He knows every sin we have committed or ever will commit.

Christians can go right into Heavenly Headquarters for their grace. They go directly to the manufacturer. They need no middle person. There is no black market on grace. We have the right to go right to the producer of grace. God’s grace is adequate for us, no matter our dilemma or pain. The manufacturer will give us grace if we ask Him (Hebrews 4:16).

God provides grace for the non-Christian. God offers people salvation through Christ with no strings attached.

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, ⁹not of works, lest anyone should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).

Will you accept God’s offer of grace today? Will you believe Jesus paid on the cross all of the suffering you need to pay for your sins?