Grace and Peace

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be the glory forever and ever. Amen. (Galatians 1:3-5 ESV).

Our reading today is the beginning of Paul’s address to the Galatians who have wandered away from the truth. He simply says, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” The emphatic subject is “Grace.” He’s commending God’s grace and Jesus’ grace to his readers who are being beguiled by legalists. They are coming with law to them. Imagine them greeting the Galatians from their gospel (which is not a gospel at all). It would say “Law to you.” It argues that God and Jesus send us law to live by through which we can win God’s favor and acceptance. The phrase might be “Law to you, and strife, or stress, or anxiety, from God the Father and Lord Jesus Christ.” Relating to God on the basis of law is a relationship that is totally unsettling, uncertain, and unloving. It feeds a miserable life. Paul’s desire is for them to consider the difference between what is being offered by the legalists and what he has preached to them which is what is being offered from God through Jesus Christ. With Grace comes peace from God. Peter begins his second letter with an even stronger greeting regarding grace and peace. It took Peter some time to comprehend the extent of God’s grace with which He would deal with sinners. But once he got it, grace and peace became the central theme of Peter’s life as well. It’s not a righteousness earned through obedience to a law. People don’t need law. People need God’s grace and peace. Most people are well aware of their failures and shortcomings, even if they are unwilling to admit it. They know they have a need for help. I’ve heard people say they don’t want grace they want justice. What we want and need from God is grace and mercy. God extends his gracious hand to his children from the cross. And he seals it trough the resurrection and the coming of the Holy Spirit. In the coming days I’m going to highlight some things that the grace and peace of God allow us to be and do. These things are not the prerequisites for our redemption. They are the result of it. Jesus has indeed finished that work of grace. Peace has come to us. Now the work of peace can go out from us. Today, I want you to simply bathe in the wonder of forever forgiveness. Stop holding your breath waiting for the next crisis. A crisis may come, however, it is no match for the grace and peace we have been given!