Message Three

The Book of First Peter: Message Three
By Dr. Michael Guido, D.D.

Years ago a ship was in distress on the high seas because the supply of fresh water had run out. The sailors were afraid, and each one cried desperately for water. Just as they were about to give up hope they sighted a ship in the distance. At once they signaled for water. The only answer they got was, "Dip it up." What heartless mockery! Dip up salt water? They signaled again. Back came the same answer. In despair, they did dip it up. To their happy surprise they discovered fresh water. They thought they were in the high seas, but they were at the mouth of the Amazon River. Are you in the same boat? Does life all around you seem dull, disappointing and despairing? Are you about to give in to hopeless hopelessness? Don't! God's grace and peace are around you. All you need to do is to draw on Him.

"Grace," you ask, "what's grace?" Grace is an attribute of God. He declares in Exodus 22:27, "I am gracious." That's why Peter called Him, in 1st Peter 5:10, "the God of all grace." Now the word "grace" in classical Greek referred to a favor conferred freely, but only to a friend, never to a foe. But that's not the case with the grace of God. It's written in 1st John 3:1, "Behold, what manner of love the Father bestowed on us, that we should be called the children of God." The expression, "what manner of" means "what foreign kind of." The love of God shown by Christ on the cross is foreign to the human race. Man doesn't act like that. But God does. For Christ died not only for His friends, but also His foes. The Bible says, "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly . . . God commendeth His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."

A chaplain went into a government hospital to speak to a dying soldier. He was arrogant and angry, and he asked the chaplain to leave. He stayed out of his room for several days, then one morning he came in, bringing beautiful flowers. Weeping, the soldier said, "Thank you, sir, I'm fond of flowers." "Yes," answered the chaplain, "God knew we'd have days of suffering and sorrow, so He gave us such beautiful things as these flowers to brighten our way." The dying man was silent for a moment, and then he said, "Chaplain, I'm sorry for the way I treated you. I know I ought to trust God. But I'm such a wretched sinner that I can't believe God could forgive me. I'm guilty of every wicked thing a man could do. If you wrote a list of all my sins on the wall, not an inch of space would be left." Answered the chaplain, "Go ahead, write your sins on the wall. Write all of them. Write until the wall becomes a catalog of your vile sins. Then over all of them I'll write in flaming letters one sentence from God's word, and by it all your sins will be canceled. This is the sentence - 'the blood of Jesus Christ, His son, cleanseth us from all sin.'" That day the dying man was saved by the grace of God. But grace is also an aid of God. Our Lord says, "My grace is sufficient for thee." God's grace will never give out. That's why we're encouraged to "come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." In speaking on this verse, Dr. Morgan said, "I'm never tired of pointing out that the Greek phrase translated, 'in time of need,' means 'in the nick of time.'" Thus you may have grace to help in the nick of time. You're troubled, you're tempted, you're tossed; and at that moment of assault you look to Him, and you'll find God's grace is there to help you "in the nick of time." Just when and where you need it.

"My grace is sufficient, O lost one! Thy soul to redeem from its woe,
To give you a perfect salvation, to keep you wherever you go.
"My grace is sufficient, O tried one! To meet every testing and need;
Whatever may be the requirement, my grace is sufficient indeed."

The grace of God not only brings you pardon and power, but also peace. For pardon from sin brings peace within. First there's peace with God, and then there's the peace of God. The Bible says, "Casting all your care upon Him, for He careth for you." When you do this, then "the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds thru Christ Jesus." A woman phoned Dr. Wilson for an appointment. After checking her, he said, "You have cancer. I'm sorry to tell you, but it's a fast growing cancer, and you don't have many more weeks to live." She said, as she looked to heaven, "Lord Jesus, You're the Great Physician. I thank you for letting me have this cancer. You're so wonderful to me. I thought I was going to have to live to be an old woman before I saw You. Now I'm going to see You soon. I'm so glad . . . You died for me. I want to see You and tell You I love You for it. I want to fall at your feet and worship and adore You." She had the peace of God. Do you have the peace of God? Accept His pardon, believe His word and you'll enjoy His peace.

copyright 2000 Guido Evangelistic Association
All Scripture verses are quoted from the New King James Version.

This series of messages on the books of the Bible were originally written for broadcast on Dr. Guido's radio program, "The Sower." They are collected and reprinted here for your enjoyment and spiritual edification. Go to the Sower's site for more at www.TheSower.com.