QT 24 Oct 16, 2 Pet 1:1-2, Leaders and laity have equal standing with God

2 Peter 1:1–2 (ESV) — 1 Simeon Peter, a servant and apostle of Jesus Christ, To those who have obtained a faith of equal standing with ours by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: 2 May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

NOTE: I don’t usually spend much time in the greeting, but in scripture, all scripture is God-breathed …. So, I wonder if Peter is making a couple of subtle points which may turn out to be important later in the letter. His first letter showed a depth of thought which was not evident when Peter followed Jesus during his earthly life. The thirty plus years have added wisdom to his soul. Here, Peter says that the recipients have obtained a faith of equal standing. This is key, because religions want to separate the leaders from the laity, and put some "holy" crown upon leadership. But Peter reiterates the scriptural truth: in Jesus, we are all equal before God. Secondly, a truism for all believers is that grace and peace is multiplied to us as we deepen our relationship with God. And that primarily happens in the word, in prayer, and in applying God's word to our life. It is true of leadership as well as laity. The secret of the Christian life is that we are all accepted in the savior, but that our relationship is deepened by time with God, and obedience to truth. We can grow in our relationship with God but we cannot grow in our favor or standing. The latter is completely the work of Christ.