1 Peter 1:2, "according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, to obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with his blood. May grace and peace be yours in the fullest measure."
As I was memorizing, reading, and studying 1 Peter, I noticed the phrase Peter writes at the end of chapter 1 verse 2: "in the fullest measure."
Grace in itself is full. Grace is love that stoops. Grace is God's act of love toward sinners that keeps them from His holy wrath and gives them eternal life.
The peace is peace with God. Apart from this God-given peace, we are all His enemies. With this peace, we are adopted as sons.
Not only does Peter pray that these people receive grace and peace, but he adds "in the fullest measure." This reminds me of that song--"dayanu." You remember, the one at seder? "Da da yanu, da da yanu, da da yanu, dayanu dayanu dayanu." You get the point.
It's Hebrew for "it would have been enough." Put it this way: it would have been enough if God had made peace with us so that we would no longer be enemies. Dayanu. But, in the fullest measure, God has given us peace by adopting us.
It would've been enough if God had given us grace so that we would not experience His eternal wrath. Dayanu. But, He has given us grace in the fullest measure--He has given us eternal life with Him in heaven.
Praise God, who gives us grace and peace--in the fullest measure!
Luke
Note: Sorry it took so long to post. I just kept procrastinating.
