To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
If you have been keeping up with this blog, you will be aware that we have previously established the historical context of the Colossian church to provide background for this letter. We also delved into the biblical definitions of an apostle and a saint.
As we have learned, Paul begins his letter by affirming his authority to address Colossae’s church leaders and members, introducing himself as an apostle of Jesus Christ. He then identifies the recipients of his letter as saints, individuals consecrated by God through their devotion to Jesus Christ and the purifying influence of the Holy Spirit. As saints, they are holy and set apart to exemplify God's love through their good deeds.
But there’s more because Paul’s greeting also includes the phrase;
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
This statement highlights the fundamental message of the gospel and emphasizes the significance of the phrase "grace and peace" in Paul's letters. In every authentic epistle, Paul uses this phrase as part of his introduction, which underscores its importance. Therefore, it would be interesting to examine all the instances in the New Testament where Paul uses this phrase:
Romans 1:7 - "To all those in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Corinthians 1:3 - "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
2 Corinthians 1:2 - "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Galatians 1:3 - "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Ephesians 1:2 - "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Philippians 1:2 - "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
Colossians 1:2 - "To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father."
1 Thessalonians 1:1 - "Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace."
2 Thessalonians 1:2 - "Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
1 Timothy 1:2 - "To Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
2 Timothy 1:2 - "To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord."
Titus 1:4 - "To Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior."
Why grace and peace?
Why is it always 'grace and peace' and never 'peace and grace'? Is there a specific reason why the order of these words matters? Could the phrase ‘grace and peace’ hold a deeper significance in the gospel message we have yet to understand fully?" Let’s give pause to contemplate these questions.
We are natively enemies of God!
It is crucial to comprehend that we are born enemies of God. Before we understand the significance of the phrase "grace and peace." This may come as a surprise to some, but the Bible is explicit in stating that every person born under Adam is in enmity with God.
As Paul wrote in Romans 5:10:
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life."
This passage makes it clear that we were once enemies of God, but through the death of Christ, we have been reconciled to Him. This is where grace comes in.
In Romans 5:8, Paul states,
but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Despite our enmity with God, He loved us enough to send His Son to die for us.
The concept of the righteous dying for the unrighteous was scandalous in the first century and still challenges the modern mind today. However, this is precisely what Christ did for us on the cross. As 1 Peter 3:18 states, "For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God."
Enemies of God incur his wrath.
Many of the sermons I've heard today suggest that the concepts of God and wrath are incompatible, which I believe is due to an excessive focus on God's love without a proper understanding of the need for His wrath. The truth is that God's love only makes sense in light of His wrath.
For instance, in John 3:36, Jesus states, "Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life; whoever does not obey the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God remains on him." This passage makes it clear that those who do not obey Christ will experience the wrath of God. In Romans 1:18, Paul writes, "For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth." Here, Paul emphasizes that God's wrath is directed toward those who are ungodly and unrighteous.
In Ephesians 2:3, Paul also describes how all people were once "children of wrath" because of their disobedience and sinfulness. This highlights that God's wrath is not limited to a select few, but all who disobey Him are subject to it. Lastly, we find in Revelation, the wrath of God is depicted in vivid detail as a series of catastrophic events that will befall the earth during the end times. This further proves that God's wrath is a significant aspect of the New Testament message.
Hence the need for Grace
It is undeniable that humanity has been guilty of rebelling against the Creator of the universe, a sin passed down from generation to generation. Throughout history, this has been evident in how people have responded to the prophets God sent to warn them of their sinfulness. Even when God sent His only Son, Jesus, in the hope that He would be recognized and accepted as the world's Saviour, the response of many was represented in the despicable words, "Release Barabbas to us!" and "Crucify Him, crucify Him!" These heinous statements reveal the depth of our collective guilt and the seriousness of our rebellion against God.
So, as we have discussed, understanding that we are enemies of God by nature is crucial in comprehending the depth of God's grace towards us.
his brings us to the good news, the reason for our peace.
In Romans 5:20 Pauls writes to that church states, "where sin increased, grace abounded all the more." Despite our sin and enmity with God, He has provided a way for us to be reconciled to Him through His grace and the sacrifice of His Son.
Wrapping it up
So, let’s wrap this up Paul begins his letter to the Colossians by affirming his authority as an apostle and identifying the recipients of his letter as saints. He greets them with the phrase "grace and peace," which introduces all of Paul's authentic epistles in the New Testament. It is crucial to comprehend that we are born enemies of God and incur his wrath. However, through the death of Christ, we have been reconciled to Him, and we now have access to His grace and peace. The phrase "grace and peace" holds a deeper significance in the gospel message, reminding us of God’s love and the sacrifice of Christ. We must recognize our enmity with God and our need for His grace and peace. And for this reason, every time Paul picks up his quote right, he reminds the saints of the need for God’s grace and peace!
Today I pray that we all experience God’s grace and peace!
コメント