Grace and peace to you from God our Father.
Summary: It is easy to dismiss Paul’s words in this passage as a “Christian greeting,” but it is much, much more than that.
One of the things about being the Lord’s Apostle (capital “A”) is that Paul speaks for Jesus.
On the surface, that is an astounding thing to consider. Paul actually speaks for Jesus! Whatever Jesus wants us to hear, he tells Paul, and Paul writes it down for us to read two thousand years later.
Amazing!
When Paul writes, “Grace and peace to you from God our Father,” you can be certain that the Father is sending his grace and peace.
So what does that mean?
Grace, in this case, can be translated as “God’s favor.” Peace is the very real sense of well-being and security that comes from knowing God personally.
It is one thing to wish someone well. It is something else entirely to be authorized as an ambassador for a king and bear the authority to distribute gifts from the king.
Of course, Jesus is not just a king, he is THE King. He is, in fact, the King of kings (Revelation 17:14). Being God’s Son, we have a direct line through Jesus to the Father.
When Paul sends grace and peace from the Father, he sends it to all his readers who accept Jesus as Lord, not just those in Colossae. Paul is writing at the command of Jesus, and Jesus, through Paul and others, is writing the New Testament.
What does this mean for us today?
Jesus died so that all who believe in him can enjoy God’s grace and peace. It is hard to quantify the value of these gifts. Sometimes, it is hard to even understand how they can exist.
Accepting Jesus as Lord of our lives opens the door to receiving a gift of immeasurable value. God’s grace is a gift that shows up in a variety of ways. Sometimes, it is obvious that God has touched our lives, and other times, his touch is as subtle as a shift in the wind.
God’s peace is something else. His peace is like the absence of noise. In a world of voices competing for attention, God’s peace is like pulling a curtain across an open window. The outside world fades into a soft blur of light, and the sharp voices of people demanding attention blend into a muted hum.
Wrapped in God’s grace and cradled in his peace, we find there is nothing to fear.
Application: Take a moment to be aware of God’s gifts and then say “Thank you!”
Food for Thought: How do you explain God’s grace and peace to someone who doesn’t know Jesus?
I find one has to offer a definition that counters the world’s definition of those two things.
People often associate grace with “grace period.” Meaning to allow transgression for a set period, with a penalty at the end of the period. People often approach relationships with that understanding too; “I will ignore what this other person is doing, until I can’t stand it anymore.” “If you don’t stop doing this, I will do that.”
I think that is the crux of God’s grace, in the relationship. His grace is not ignoring or allowing for transgression, only to simply penalize us at the end. The transgression has already been done, the penalty already enacted, the relationship already severed. His grace is to offer restoration in the relationship and guide us throughout the relationship, so that the relationship grows stronger and stronger. For those that will place their faith in Him, in Christ, He removes the penalty, and works within us to remove the reason for the penalty. (I find “penalty” is really such a bad euphemism for death; being separated from our Creator for all eternity). God created us in His grace, and despite our rebellion against Him, His grace toward us never changed.
I think the world defines peace as “the absence of hostility” and confuse circumstantial “feelings” with true peace. True peace is knowing that whatever the circumstance, for those that place their faith in Christ, we are safe in Christ. The power behind death, self-centeredness, and destruction is lost, and the power behind life, love, and renewal is gained. Some might call that “inner peace,” and I wouldn’t disagree. The inner peace that Christ brings in the peace in knowing that He is alive, He has provided us restoration and eternal life, and that beyond that nothing in this life can harm us beyond eternity. Even more so, in Him, He has promised life more abundant, greater than what the world has to offer. That the love you give comes back to you in greater measure.
Chris,
Well said! Your distinctions between the world’s view of the words and that of a mature believer is helpful. Words often have double meanings and it is good to be reminded of that!
Thank you!
Well stated CH.
The word peace is hard as I think the world tends to see it as an absence of hostility. And then they don’t realize their need for peace with God. Since they may not realize their need, there needs to be an understanding of their sin and its consequences. We are not at peace with God until we come into relationship with the Prince of Peace and His work on the cross for us. Ironically, they may not fully understand the gift of God which is grace until they understand their need for peace with God.
Thank you, Rich.
Interesting! You make a great point! The double irony is that if a person comes to understand their need for peace with God, it is because of God’s grace! 🙂
Amen
How do you explain God’s grace and peace to someone who doesn’t know Jesus?
Philippians 4:7 “the peace of God which transcends all understanding.”
The peace offered by this world is an empty promise much like a drug, which will only bring temporary comfort, euphoria, and an addiction to more as it leads to a premature death.
The term peace is described in Scripture as a gift from God, fully consistent with His character. Peace is a state of tranquility or quietness of spirit that transcends circumstances, beyond human understanding and must be fully received to be understood.
It is the total removal of all concerns for matters of this world and a restoration of true spiritual sight which daily, increases in focus as we grow in Christ, as we see and exist in our created God, in harmony with His creation which surrounds us.
It is an increased awareness of Gods concerns for those surrounding us along with an increased desire and the power to help others in need, according to the power given us by our creator. Living in God, according to His sovereign will brings total peace to our being irregardless of the circumstances He has ordained for our good.
Walk with God, separated from, independent of this this world around us, and we will overcome all the sadness, the traps of this world as we walk in His righteousness..
1 Thessalonians 5:23, Galatians 6:16, 1 Peter 1:2, Hebrews 13:20
Thank you, Ron.
Your comparison of the peace of this world to a drug is powerful. As you say, it is an “empty promise.”
Where drugs leave people dead in the gutter, God’s peace brings life — the kind of life that wells up inside and makes every morning seem like Christmas morning.
Great Summery!
Ron