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10.20.2009

Grace and Peace

"Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 1:2, NKJV

The Greek word for grace is charis, meaning unmerited favor. It is an undeserved acceptance and love received from another (Holman Bible Dictionary).

Paul very often pairs the concept of grace and peace together in his writings. Why? Because as a former persecutor of the church and an opposer of all things Godly- as one who considered himself to be the chiefest of sinners and as one whose heart, mind, and soul raged within him keeping him from any kind of peaceful life- Paul understood full well that once a person received and accepted God's grace, he/she would also be filled with God's peace, a peace that passes all understanding.

Peace comes from the Greek word eirene which means exemption from the rage and havoc of war; peace between individuals; security, safety, prosperity (Thayer Dictionary).

Again, Paul understood fully that this grace, this undeserved favor, this undeserved love and acceptance which had been lavished upon him, leading to a life that dispelled the raging war within his being came only from God through His Son, Jesus Christ. Nothing Paul had ever done, nothing he could ever do would make him deserving of God's favor. God had been gracious to Paul by calling him to Himself and granting him salvation.

Paul's embracing of God's grace opened the doors to a life of peace with the Almighty God. Read what he says in Titus 2.

"For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing
us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and
godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the
glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to
redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His
own possession, zealous for good deeds."
Titus 2:11-14, NASB

Do you see the grace and peace in these verses that Paul speaks of? "For the grace of God has appeared," here is God's grace, Jesus Christ in the flesh, appearing to all men in order to bring them salvation. "Who gave Himself for us to redeem us," and here is God's peace, brought about through the redemptive work on the cross. Christ's death on the cross redeemed us or released us from the debt we owed because of our sin. His blood paid our ransom and restored us to peaceful fellowship with God.

Grace and peace. You can't have one without the other.

Grace and peace. Grace given by God. Peace made possible through the shed blood of Christ on the cross.

Grace and peace. Both undeserved by fallen mankind; but both abundantly lavished upon fallen mankind because God desired relationship with the people He created.

Grace and peace. Acceptance by God. Secure in His hands.

Grace and peace. Beautiful. Abundant. Undeserved. Freeing.

Precious one, grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Rest in His grace and peace this day.


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