GRACE and PEACE

“May God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ
give you grace and peace.”
1 Corinthians 1:3 NLT
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Pastor Jared may have been doing this all along, but I just recently noticed that he closes his letters to the church with “grace and peace.” The phrase is used by Paul in his letters as part of his greeting to his churches and co-workers. Peter used it, and so did John.

“Chairein” -“Grace to you” and “Shalom” - “peace” were the standard Greek and Jewish greetings. “Chairein” sounds like “Charis”- “grace” and Paul connected a deeper theological meaning to it.

“Grace” is commonly referred to as “unmerited favor.” It is God showing us kindness – giving us gifts which are totally undeserved. Everything that God does and gives to his children is “grace.”

Salvation is a gift of “grace” which is ours through faith in Jesus Christ, and even that faith “is the gift of God.” It’s by his “grace” that “God shall supply all our needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.” No matter how difficult our situation in life may be, his promise is, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.”

By God’s “grace” we experience “peace” with God – with others and ourselves. The Hebrew word “Shalom” translated “peace” means a lot more than what comes to mind when we use the word. According to Strong's Concordance it means, “Completeness, wholeness, health, peace, welfare, safety, soundness, tranquility, prosperity, perfectness, fullness, rest, harmony, the absence of agitation or discord.” WHAT A RICH GREETING!!

“GRACE AND PEACE” TO YOU AND YOURS!!!