It’s easy to gloss over the opening greetings in the various New Testament Epistles, but to do so risks missing out on some enormous treasures. Take, for example, the opening verses of First Peter: “Praise the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. According to His great mercy, He has given us a new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead and into an inheritance that is imperishable, uncorrupted, and unfading, kept in heaven for you.
You are being protected by God’s power through faith for a salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.” (1 Peter 1:3-5) Take your time and read it again and notice all the essential, consequential, and unquantifiable eternal gifts that are ours because of God’s great mercy.
It’s quite a list. First, He gives us a new birth. No matter what you’ve done in life, no matter how badly you’ve messed up, Christ gives you the chance to begin again. Forgetting what is in your past, you are now a new person. (2 Corinthians 5:17; Philippians 3:13) All the old stuff is dead, and you are now free and equipped to do everything the Lord gives you to do. (Romans 6:4; Ephesians 2:10) Only God’s great mercy is powerful enough to transform your heart, soul, and mind. (Ezekiel 36:26)
Second on the list is hope. We all need hope in this dark and deviant world. This life drips with discouragement, evil, and feelings of helplessness. We find genuine hope only in Jesus, and by God’s great mercy, it is in plentiful supply. (Romans 15:13)
The next item on the list blows my mind. Even though we have done everything we can think of to reject Him and live our lives as we want to, He gives us an eternal inheritance. God sees us as His children. (1 John 3:1; Romans 8:15) We are brothers, sisters, and co-heirs with Christ. (Romans 8:16-17) That is the epitome of God’s great mercy.
Next, God promises to give us protection, and it is a protection far greater than what we tend to think about. This isn’t protection from scraping our knees, making dumb decisions, or falling victim to a crime. No, this is protection from the very wrath of God. (1 Thessalonians 1:8-10; Romans 5:9) It’s protection from the abyss of Hell as He keeps our souls secure in Heaven. (John 10:28-29; 1 Peter 1:5) Only God can do that.
Perhaps saving the best for last, Peter tells us that in God’s great mercy, He offers us salvation. We don’t have to fight these battles alone. (Romans 8:31; Hebrews 13:5) We never have to worry about measuring up. The price has been paid, and we have been washed clean by the blood of Christ. (1 John 1:7) He forgives us, and we are free, saved from all that we deserve. (Colossians 1:13-14; Romans 8:1)
How great and awesome is our God? In His great mercy, He loves us, though we are unlovable. He saves us in spite of our sin. There are no throwaway or wasted words in the Bible. Every letter is God-breathed and inspired by His Holy Spirit. (2 Timothy 3:16-17; 2 Peter 1:20-21) Thank God for His mercy, love, sacrifice, and salvation. Never read His Word with disinterest or without intention. He has so much for us on every page, even in a simple greeting. Rejoice and thank Him for the incredible riches of His Word. (Psalm 119:18; Colossians 3:16)