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
