Grace & Peace to You

 

Grace and Peace to You

    Of the twenty letters written to churches and people, there are only sixteen salutations which include this phrase in the beginning of each letter. Of these sixteen, twelve are written by Paul. The other four are written by Peter, John, and Jude.

Paul:

1 Corinthians 1:3

2 Corinthians 1:2

Galatians 1:3

Ephesians 1:2

Philippians 1:2

Colossians 1:2

1 Thessalonians 1:1

2 Thessalonians 1:2

1 Timothy 1:3

2 Timothy 1:2

Titus 1:4

Philemon 1:3

Peter:

1 Peter 1:2

2 Peter 1:2

John:

2 John 3

Jude:

Jude 1:2

    It is more than just a lovely greeting. It is a glorious reminder from the pen of the church-planter to the churches. From the pen of a brother in Christ to other brothers in and sisters in Christ: 

    When Paul writes to Titus, he writes to his 'son of common faith'. A Gentile Greek whom Paul had led to Christ. This son he entrusts the care and setting up of the churches in the area where he left him. Titus is both a brother in Christ and a son in the faith in which they had in common: faith in Jesus Christ "our" Lord and Savior.

    When Paul writes to Philemon, he writes also to Apphia, Philemon's wife, and Archippus (fellow soldier of Christ), and the church in their house. He writes regarding Onesimus, who at one time was not of the faith but now is through Paul's ministering to him. This Onesimus is now a son of faith and Paul is sending him back to Philemon and the house church to be received as man of faith, and not as a runaway, thieving servant. 

    Peter writes to "the strangers scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia". Strangers, perhaps, to Peter, but definitely strangers set apart from the world. For we know that this world is not our home, that our home is in heaven. We are the 'aliens', the 'foreigners', lights shining the love of God through Christ into a rapidly darkening world. To us, as well as them in their day, this letter is sent. 

    In 2 John 3, the aging John addresses his letter to 'the elect lady and her children'. To a woman who has chosen to belong to Christ and to her children, whom she has raised in this faith in Christ for their own. A short letter encouraging them to continue to walk in this faith, to be aware of deceptions and to avoid people who profess not that Jesus Christ is Lord. 

    Although Jude does not send greetings of Grace and Peace, he does, however, send "Mercy and peace and love, multiplied". And to whom does Jude send this greeting? To them that are sanctified by God The Father, and preserved in Jesus Christ, and called. (v1)

    Why do I bring up to whom these letters are written? Because if the person reading any of these letters, these Epistles, is not a son or daughter of the common faith, they will not receive said letters. If the woman reading is not a woman of faith who is raising her children in The Lord, she won't receive it. 

    If the person reading is not a stranger to this world, is not a foreigner or alien, they won't receive the letter written to such. If the one reading is not sanctified by God The Father, not preserved in Jesus Christ, and not called, then that person will not be able to receive the letter written. 

    From the pen of one who is a stranger, a daughter of faith, in an alien world; from the heart of one who is sanctified by God The Father and preserved in Jesus Christ, who has been called not only to salvation but in the service of God through Christ Jesus, I, too, send Grace and Peace to you who also are of our  common faith in Jesus Christ. I send Mercy and Love multiplied. 

    Grace: the favor of God extended outwards from Himself to anyone who wants to receive it [John 1:16]

    Peace: the gift of God in wholeness, completeness in Him through Christ and His Holy Spirit [Romans 5:1]

    Mercy: God gives us new birth into a living/lively hope in the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead [1 Peter 1:3; Ephesians 2:8]

    Love: the love of God revealed in Jesus Christ and applied to the hearts of believers by The Holy Spirit [Romans 5:5; John 1:14] 

THE WORDS OF JESUS - Indie Folk Worship Set

    

Deep Well

John 4:1-42 tells us of the Samaritan woman at Jacob's Well and her encounter with Jesus Christ. 
Here we focus on 10-14, their conversation at this well. 

When we first meet Jesus, it is not the water that is murky, but the veil covering our eyes that makes it difficult for us to see Jesus clearly. It is only when we believe what we are hearing, that the veil is torn from our the eyes of our heart, allowing our soul (*the mind, the will, the emotions) to view Jesus Christ clearly.

We drink that Living Water when He pours Himself into us through our belief in Him: that He Is Lord, that God sent Him to die for us, that He rose from the dead and walked out of the grave. When we believe, our thirst is quenched. 

To hunger and thirst after righteousness is to hunger and thirst of the Righteousness of God: Jesus Christ. JEHOVAH-TSIDKENU: THE LORD MY RIGHTEOUSNESS. 1 Corinthians 1:30 "But of Him are you in Christ Jesus, Who of God is made unto us Wisdom, and Righteousness, and Sanctification, and Redemption." 

I have that Living Water living in me. And when The Holy Spirit of God moves upon that water, The Word of God flows out of me.  John 7:38 "He that believes on Me, as The Scripture has said, 'out of his belly shall flow rivers of living water'. Proverbs 18:4 "The words of a man's mouth are as deep water, And the wellspring of wisdom as a flowing brook." 

So, today I am giving you a cup of cold water, Living Water. I am sharing Jesus with you and inviting you to drink deeply with me.

I've Got A River of Life

One God, One Jesus, One Way

*Original date: January 11, 2016

There is only one way to heaven and that is through Jesus Christ, the only begotten Son of God. John 14:6 Jesus said unto him (Thomas), I am The Way, The Truth and The Life: no man comes unto The Father but by Me.”

Yes, heaven is where you want to be when this life on earth ends. Hell wasn't created for you; it was created for Satan and the one-third of heaven's angels that followed him. But that is where the unbeliever goes.

It does not matter how good a person is, or appears to be. It doesn't matter which church you attend, your religious denomination, nor your lack thereof.

It does not matter who your parents are, how much money you give the church or charities, or where you live. It does not matter if you commit random acts of kindness. It does not matter. What matters is which book in heaven has your name in it? Revelation 20:12-15 “And I saw the dead, small and great, stand before God; and the books were opened: and another book was opened, which is the book of life: and the dead were judged out of those things which were written in the books, according to their works. And the sea gave up the dead which were in it; and death and hell delivered up the dead which were in them: and they were judged every man according to their works. And death and hell were cast into the lake of fire. This is the second death. AND whosoever was not found written in the book of life was cast into the lake of fire.” So, again I ask you, which book is your name in?

What does matter is do you believe that Jesus Christ is the only begotten Son of God? That He died on the cross, rose from the dead and is returning for His church when God tells His Son, "It is time."

What does matter is that we repent of our sins every day. We are none of us perfect or even close to perfection: “All have sinned and come short of the glory of God.” - Romans 3:23. “As it is written, there are none righteous, no, not one.” Romans 3:10.

What does matter is who are you going to believe? The people whom you have surrounded yourself with or God? God’s Word tells us in Romans 10:9, 13 “That if you confess (speak aloud) with your mouth The LORD Jesus, and shall believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you shall be saved....(13) For whosoever (anyone, anywhere) shall call upon The Name of The LORD shall be saved.”

What are we being saved from? Death, Hell and The Lake of Fire. Eternal Damnation. Eternal Separation From God. Unimaginable agonizing pain. Unquenchable thirst. Hell is not a party. No one laughs there. No one is happy there. No one who is there wants to be there. They cry for mercy, but mercy is not to be had in hell. Mercy is here; on this side of life. And His Name is JESUS.