therefore gird up the loins of your mind, vigilantly setting your hope completely to the extent of the grace brought to you in revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:13)
the word for gird up, is ἀναζώννυμι (anazōnnymi) from ana "up" and zónnumi "gird." It is similar to the word "girding about" in Ephesians 6:14, "stand therefore girding about your waist in truth..." this word is περιζώννυμι (perizōnnymi) from peri "about" and zónnumi "gird." Gird about your waist with a belt of truth seems appropriate use but gird up the loins of your mind seems a strange thing to say. "Gird your loins" has similar meaning in most dictionaries; to prepare oneself for something difficult or challenging. Prepare yourself, your mind, be vigilant setting your hope completely on grace that was revealed to you. Let us prepare our minds.
"Because the Law was given to Moses, grace and truth came through Jesus Christ" (John 1:17).
Paul was a devote Jew, a Pharisee of Pharisee, who was blameless when it came to to the Law then he met Jesus whom John writes came from the Father full of grace and truth. It was revealed to Paul grace and truth from God. Grace embodies the idea that we are released from the Law, I believe this Paul, who was zealous as a Pharisee, found to be challenging and difficult, but God revealed, made it known the mystery of grace foretold. And Paul preached this gospel of grace even convincing the other apostles. As Gentiles who were not under the covenant of the Law we are brought into the new covenant, and share in this grace.
setting your hope completely to the extent of the grace brought to you in revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:17)
Grace brought to you in revelation of Jesus. In Christ grace and the gift that came in grace overflows to many (Romans 5:16). Grace was given and the gift through the grace came. What gift? "... much more reigning the ones receiving abundance of grace and the gift of righteousness, reigning in life..." (Romans 5:17). We will reign not under the Law but under grace. The righteous act of Christ brought justification and life for many, by one man's obedience many are made righteous (Romans 5:19-20). Paul writes the Law came so transgression increased but where sin increased grace super-abounded "so that" just as sin reigned in death "so also" grace reigns through righteousness to the extent eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 5:20-21).
So under the Law sin increased, but Jesus came, born under the Law, to give the gift of grace and the gift that came through grace. By grace we are saved. Here we see justification, righteousness, eternal life. In Ephesians Paul writes of things we receive from the riches of God's grace, "... to demonstrate in the ages to come the incomparable riches of his grace in kindness to us in Christ Jesus" (Ephesians 2:7). It is an amazing idea we see in the scriptures, that what we receive in Christ flows from grace and grace is very interconnected to God's love and kindness.
When we were dead in our trespasses he made us alive, he was rich in mercy through his great love, and by grace we are saved, not of works lest we boast (Ephesian 2:4-8). The Law exposed sin, "for by works of the law no human being will be justified in his sight, since through the law comes knowledge of sin" (Romans 3:20, ESV; Romans 4:15; Romans 7:7). It was a ministry of condemnation and death, written and engraved in stone (2 Corinthians 3:7-9). The Law was holy and just but man was found in weakness of sinful nature not able to submit to the the laws of God. Paul writes the law was spiritual, and part of the mystery of how God solves this issue is by putting his Spirit within us, so we become a new creation, and through being a new spiritual being we can fulfill the spiritual law. Thus the righteous requirements of the law are not done away with just the letter of the law, the hand writings that were hostile to us.
"now myself lived apart from the Law but when the commandment came, sin
came to life and I died. And I found the very commandment that promised
life brought death to me" (Romans 7:9-10).
It is interesting that Paul writes this. Paul was born under the Law, circumcised on the eight day, a Jew of Jews. Think about this, when was he ever alive and apart from the Law? Is he talking of Jews in general or of himself that he went back to the Law after becoming a believer. I believe it is more evidence that Romans 7 speaks of him as a believer and think his writings to the Galatians support that idea that one can go back to the Law, "you are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the Law; you have fallen from grace" (Galatians 5:4). Though, these false brothers bring the Galatians back under the Law beginning with circumcision, it doesn't matter what is used, tithing, obedience to rules and regulations, religious festivals and sabbath days, offerings, serving in the temple... it has the same result (Colossians 2:16; Galatians 1:6-9; Galatians 2:21; Hebrews 4:1; Hebrews 12:15; Romans 4:4,5; Romans 11:6). None of these things will bring life.
and existing dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your flesh, you were made alive together with Christ, forgiven all your trespasses, blotting
out the handwriting of ordinances against us, which was hostile to us, carrying it away from, nailing it to the cross; (Colossians 2:13-15)
Jesus nailed to the cross our sin and the handwriting that was hostile to us. Is this not grace? But much more, from the riches of his grace Paul mentions we have received redemption, the forgiven of trespasses (Ephesians 1:7). "They are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). And "to the praise of his glory, the grace like as highly favoring us in the beloved" he chose us "in love" and "predestined us unto adoption as his own" (Ephesians 1:6). These spiritual blessings, which Paul calls them, came from his grace, as does our salvation, for by grace you have been saved, it is a gift from God! (Ephesian 2:8). It is an amazing thing to be realized.
What did I do to receive such a gift? Add to this question, other scriptures like Jesus is the author of faith and no one can come to him unless the Father grants it, the Holy Spirit draws them, and how God gives us new birth (Hebrews 12:2; John 6:44; John 1:12-13; John 3:6). And you begin to see grace, and how much you did to be saved. Paul speaks of this, "but when God, who had set me apart from my mother’s womb and called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his son in me so that I preach him among the nations... " (Galatians 1:15-16). "... who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time eternal," (2 Timothy 1:9).
... in love, predestining us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glory, the grace which he highly favored us in the beloved... (Ephesians 1:4–5)
Look closely at this verse, to the praise of his glory he predestined us for adoption. It is according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glory which is connected to his grace, "the grace like as highly favoring us in the believed." I think this latter part is why many people define grace as being favored, and that is what happened in Christ. To be highly favored by God it had to be through Jesus and we see earlier "just as he chose us in him (Christ) before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his presence, in love" (Ephesians 1:4). Now. to be blameless in God's presence and holy and loved (because he is holy and hates unrighteousness) something needed to happen. It was grace, for God so loved the world he gave his Son, who came in the fullness of the Father, of grace and truth, thus the blessings and favor we receive in Christ are from the riches of his grace. Grace is an amazing thing.
Through him we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the nations on behalf of his name (Romans 1:5)
What? grace that brings about obedience? Grace brings about obedience through maturity, as grace is sufficient for his power to work. "... to edify the body of Christ until all attain unity of faith and the knowledge of the Son of God, unto mature adulthood, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ" (Ephesians 4:12-13). And maturity comes through growing in grace, "now, grow in grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ..." (2 Peter 3:18) The growth happens when there is a realization of truth in love. The bond of love leads to maturity, as we are rooted and founded in faith and love. There is a connection here between truth and faith; grace and love.
If this is true without grace the church will not grow in Christ, and if it forfeits
grace many will be defiled by a root of bitterness (Hebrews 12:5). And we know that falling from grace is a severing from Christ that forfeits grace in an attempt to be justified by the Law (Galatians 5:4). Obedience comes through maturity, as our faith increases through abiding in the word of God, and in love, growing in his grace.
Through this the promise is from faith, so that according to grace to the extent existing firm to all his descendants, not only to
those from the law, rather also to the one from the faith of
Abraham, who is the father of us all (Romans 4:16)
The promise given to Abraham was before circumcision and the Mosaic Law so it doesn't have a basis on these, but on faith that it might be according to grace, so that it comes to all peoples of all nations. Being born into the kingdom of heaven is foundational to the new covenant, and the means of how the promise is fulfilled through Christ, Paul calls the promised Holy Spirit. We receive a Spirit of adoption testifying we are his children. There are three that testify, Spirit, blood and water. When we heard the word of truth, the gospel of our salvation and believed, we were sealed with the
Holy Spirit of promise as pledge of our inheritance, until God takes possession of his own people (Ephesians 1:13-14).
The Holy Spirit is of the promise. The promise given to Abraham, that all nations and people would be blessed through the Seed, Christ, that God would have a people of His own, and would put his Spirit within us and write his laws our our hearts and in our minds. These were prophesied of. Because of Jesus, the new covenant in his blood, that took his death to establish, we receive much from the riches of God's grace.
For sin rules, not ruling you for you exist not under the Law but under grace (Romans 6:14)
It is a profound verse, if you want sin to rule go back to the Law. If God's grace is sufficient for his power to mature us in our weakness then no grace, no power, no power, no maturity, no maturity no fruit. Grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus unto maturity. "So also in the present time coming into an existence a remnant chosen by grace and if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace would no longer be grace" (Romans 11:6). If one could gain righteousness through following laws grace would be nullified, "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness could be gained through the law, then Christ died for nothing!" (Galatians 2:21).
"For by the grace given to me I say to every one who is among you
that he should not think of himself more highly than he ought to think;
but to think with sober judgment, as God has assigned to each · a
measure of faith" (Romans 12:3).
People who understand grace understand humility and lowliness. For God gives more grace to the humble and exalts them (Mathew 13:2; James 4:6; 1 Peter 5:6). I believe the exaltation spoken of is related to maturity, being great in the kingdom of God, which is related to lowliness, like as Jesus said, the great are servants of all (Mathew 20:25-26). Even our gifts given to us for the work of ministry to mature the body, are given according to grace (Romans 12:6). There is no boasting in such and why lowliness should characterize those who have the greater gifts.
"According to the grace of God given to me like a skilled worker I laid a foundation..." (1 Corinthians 3:10).
Paul writes by the grace of God he was able to work hard at ministry. "But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. No, I worked harder than any of them—yet not I, but the grace of God that is with me" (1 Corinthians 15:10). According to grace he was able to write boldly to the church on certain matters (Romans 15:15). "... not with earthly wisdom but by the grace of God, we conducted ourselves in the world, and all the more toward you" (2 Corinthians 1:12). And Paul writes God is able to make all grace abound to us so that we too may overflow in every kind of good work (2 Corinthians 9:8).
For all these things are for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people, it may increase thanksgiving to the glory of God (2 Corinthians 4:15)
Thanksgiving and grace are interconnected, as we realize grace in increasing measure we increase in thankfulness. The church grows in grace and something amazing happens, people do not continue in sin but they grow into maturity and this causes increase in thanksgiving to God. Growing in grace and knowledge of Jesus extends thanksgiving to God. Like as plants, you can't expect fruit from immature people. Nor do you put expectations upon children to do mature things without a giving them a proper foundation.
now, working together and urging you do not receive the grace of God in vain (2 Corinthians 6:1)
How would one receive the grace of God in vain? Lets look at the next verse "for he says, at the right time I heard you and in the day of salvation helped you. Behold at the present is the
gracious time, behold now is the day of salvation, today is the day of salvation" (2 Corinthians 6:2-3). These verses are often used as an evangelistic message but Paul uses it as a reminder to the church that they had received God's grace, he showed them favor in the day of salvation and he helped them. It is good for us to remember God's salvation through grace, to remember how he helped is our day of need, how we escape wrath and condemnation, how we have a living hope.
For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he
was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you by his poverty
might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)
Paul writes, Jesus though existing in the form of God, did not consider equality with God but emptied himself becoming a servant being made in human likeness and being found as a man, he humbled himself even to the point of death on a cross (Philippians 2:7). "The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life as a ransom for many" (Matthew 20:28). We connect the idea of humility and serving to such passages but Paul also connects it to grace "for do you know the grace of our Lord..." Because he became poor, and because we are in him, we receive from the riches of his grace the many spiritual blessings from heaven.
thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift (2 Corinthians 9:15)
Earlier we read that grace is a gift and there are gifts that come through grace. This whole chapter is usually taken out of context and translations have become biased toward the giving of money when the real gift expressed here is that of growth though truth. We work according to the measure of the gift of grace and faith which increases in the sowing of God;s word, thus if we sow sparingly we will reap sparingly and if we sow generously we will reap generously. What is overflowing from the sowing of seed is fruit of righteousness. Giving money by no means provides fruit of righteousness no matter how you try to justify such. Jesus relates sowing to the word of God, and so does Paul here, and to the Spirit of God. The seed that we sow into the lives of others, produces fruit and he who sows generously will reap generously. And when people grow up in grace and in knowledge of Jesus, who is the word of God, they bear fruit of righteousness and they overflow with many thanksgiving to God because of the surpassing grace of God has been bestowed upon them (2 Corinthians 9:10-15). Those who sow reap, and those who provided seed to the sower reaps. The teacher taught, sowing into the the student, who now becomes mature and sows and the teacher receives back and both reap.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my
power is fulfilled in weakness.” Therefore I will most gladly boast in my weaknesses, in order that the power of Christ may dwell in me" (2 Corinthians 12:9)
The power of Christ is fulfilled through grace, not by works lest we should boast in our own strength. It is fundamental of how we grow in grace. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all" (2 Corinthians 13:13). Here we see the power of Christ and the Spirit working through grace. "Of this gospel I became a servant according to the gift of God’s grace, which was given to me by the exercise of his power" (Ephesians 3:7). And to each is given grace according to the measure of the gift of Christ (Ephesians 4:7). There is a bond that is shared in the grace of God (Philippians 1:7; Philippians 4:23; 2 Corinthians 12:14)
through the hope laid up for you in heaven, which hearing in the word of truth, the gospel, that coming to you just as also in the entire world existing bearing fruit and growing just as also among you from the day you heard and understood the grace of God in truth (Colossians 1:5-6)
We receive a spirit of wisdom and revelation in knowing Christ to the extent we know of the hope of our calling, the glory, the inheritance among the saints, and the power that is available to us as believers, as Paul writes in Ephesians. I take this to mean these all flow from the riches of his grace thus how important it is in understanding the grace of God in truth. "So that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ" (2 Thessalonians 1:12). The name of the Lord is glorified in us according to the grace of God and Jesus.
Now, that our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, the one raising us and giving eternal encouragement and good hope, in grace encourage your hearts and establish you in every good work and word (2 Thessalonians 2:16-17)
Grace is something we stand in, as we have access to it by faith (Romans 5:2). Is it good hope in grace or in grace be encouraged? It doesn't matter, God has loved us, given us eternal encouragement and hope and grace to encourage our hearts and establish us. In Peter's letter this is a central theme of grace, what he calls true grace that we stand fast in (1 Peter 5:12). God's power works through grace, to establish us. "And the God of all grace, the one who has called you into his
eternal glory in Christ, will, after you have suffered a little while,
himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you" (1 Peter 5:10). A sign of grace at work Peter writes is humility, "clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, for · “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble” (1 Peter 5:5). He writes grace and peace is something that increases in measure (1 Peter 1:2). Maybe this is what John means when he writes, "from his fullness we all received also grace upon grace" (John 1:16).
Concerning this salvation, the prophets who prophesied of the grace that would come to you investigated diligently and examined with care, (1 Peter 1:10)
Peter writes we are good stewards of grace when we serve others just as the gift received (1 Peter 4:10). It amazing that most of the scriptures write of grace being a place in which we stand so that God's power is strengthening us, so that we grow and bear fruit of all kinds of good works and work harder for the kingdom of because of the grace bestowed upon us. Paul does address the issue in Romans 6 of continuing in sin so that grace will abound, by no means he says how could one who died with Christ continue to live in sin. And in Jude we see some men use grace as an excuse to blatantly sin (Jude 1:4). But we also see warnings of forfeiting grace, and falling from grace. Grace is part of the "mystery" of the gospel being made known to us in Christ, that even the prophets desired to understand it. It is a challenging concept that must be revealed to us, so we must prepare our minds and pray for revelation.
Now the grace of our Lord overflow together with faith and love that are in Christ Jesus (1 Timothy 1:14)
Grace is connected to faith and love, as truth and faith are to truth and love. We grow up in Christ, truth in love. Children are to be established on a foundation of faith and love. Faith in love is what strengthens us. Paul also writes be strengthened in grace, "you, then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus," (2 Timothy 2:1).
"who saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works but because of his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time eternal," (2 Timothy 1:9).
According to his own purpose and grace God chose us and called us to a holy calling. This verse sums up to me what Peter describes as the true grace of God. "For the grace of God appeared to all men, teaching us so that denying the ungodliness and wordily passions, living rightly minded and justly and piously in the present age" (Titus 2:11). For the grace of God appeared teaching us to be holy. There is much to grace.
"So that having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life" (Titus 3:7).
We are justified by his grace? We are justified by grace through redemption, which he bought with his blood, and we receive by faith, (Romans 3:24), "in Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace" (Ephesians 1:7). From the riches of grace comes redemption, the forgiveness of sin and justification. We escape God's wrath, being cleansed by his blood, given the gift of grace and righteousness and eternal life, we are freed from the law of sin and death through the Spirit of life, therefore there is no condemnation in Christ. Grace.
The result of Adam's sin led to judgement and condemnation, and death reigned, but the ones receiving abundant grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man Jesus (Romans 5:16-17). Thus grace reigns through righteousness to the extent of eternal life (Romans 5:21). One "gift" brought death and condemnation, the other "gift" through grace brought justification and life.
But we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor (Hebrews 2:9)
By the grace of God Jesus tasted death for all. The word all is not used in Greek as all inclusive of all men, but is directed toward an audience of whom it is being spoken. All of the group, all of the elect for example. As we see in context he is speaking to "all" believers. "For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness..." Are all men saved? No. But to "all," to those the grace of God has been bestowed upon. All the elect are chosen by grace (Romans 11:5-6). And his calling is irrevocable. We have access to the grace in which we stand by faith (Romans 5:2). Thus without faith, whose author is Jesus, men are not under God's grace but condemnation.
May grace and peace be yours in ever increasing measure through knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord (2 Peter 1:2)
Grace and peace was the common greeting in the early church. We have peace before God and stand in grace (Romans 5:1-2). We can boldly approach his throne of grace and receive grace and mercy in our time f need (Hebrews 4:16). This is a huge change in the new covenant. We receive grace and grace is spoken as increasing in measure. We are given a measure of faith and grace, and each increase in measure, so we walk in what we have attained and grow in grace and knowledge of Jesus (Philippians 3:16; 2 Peter 3:18). "May the grace of the Lord Jesus be with you all" and may it be revealed in increasing measure, so that we reign in grace through our Lord Jesus Christ.