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

    

The Riches of His Glory

 

Ephesians 3:16

God grant you, 

according to the riches of His glory,

to be strengthened with might

by His Spirit

in your inner being.

THE RICHES OF HIS GLORY

Colossians 1:27

To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

 

Romans 9:23, 24 In order to make known the riches of His glory for vessels of mercy, which He has prepared beforehand for glory—including us, whom He has called not only from the Jews, but also from the Gentiles?

Ephesians 1:18-21

I ask that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you may know the hope of His calling, the riches of His glorious inheritance in the saints, and the surpassing greatness of His power to us who believe. 

These are in accordance with the working of His mighty strength, which He exerted in Christ when He raised Him from the dead and seated Him at His right hand in the heavenly realms, far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in the present age but also in the one to come.

2 Corinthians 4:6

For God, Who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made His Light shine in our hearts to give us the Light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. 

John 1:1-3, 14

In the beginning was The Word, and The Word was with God, and The Word was God.

The same was in the beginning with God. All things were made by him; and without Him was not any thing made that was made. In Him was Life; and the Life was the Light of men. ... And The Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld His glory, the glory as of The Only Begotten of The Father,) full of grace and truth. 

    In Christ Alone our hope is found [2 Corinthians 5:19]. There is No Other Name given under heaven by which we must be saved [Acts 4:12]. (amazing choir) 

Christ Our Hope In Life or Death is the riches of God's glory. This is our treasure which we take with us when we leave these bodies behind. It is not the only treasure we can lay up in heaven, though.

    We can bring other vessels of mercy to heaven with us, or send them on ahead of us. We pray for their salvation. We pray for their walk with The Spirit. We pray for their journey in Jesus Christ, which will prepare them for an eternity in the heavenly realm. 

    We pray that our families, our friends, our acquaintances, the strangers among us and our enemies (they who come against in for the name of Christ on us) would know Romans 8:38, 39 "For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor principalities, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." 

God's Faithfulness and Love Are Enduring

 

Psalm 36:5 

"Your love, O LORD, reaches to the heavens, Your faithfulness to the skies."

Psalm 57:10
"For Your loving devotion reaches to the heavens, and Your faithfulness to the clouds."
Psalm 103:11
"For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is His loving devotion for those who fear Him."
Jeremiah 9:24
"But let him who boasts, boast in this, that he understands and knows Me, that I am The LORD, Who exercises loving devotion, justice and righteousness on the earth--for I delight in these things," declares The LORD."

 

I LIFT MY EYES - Kristyn Getty/Jordan Kauflin/Matt Merkel

Psalm 121:1
"I lift up my eyes unto the hills, where my Help comes from."
Hebrews 13:5-6
"Let your conversation (character and lifestyle) be without covetousness; and be content with such things as you have: for He has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.'

So that we may boldly say, 'The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.'

  

GOODNESS OF GOD - Bethel Music

Arming The Spiritual Warrior -- Sobriety, Faith, Love, Hope

 

1 Thessalonians 5:8

But let us, who are of the day, be sober, putting on the breastplate of faith and love; and for an helmet, the hope of salvation.

Believers Belong To The Day

1 Thessalonians 5:5

Ye are all the children of light, and the children of the day: we are not of the night, nor of darkness.

The Day of The LORD

Prophetic Verses 

Zechariah 1:7-18

Malachi 4:1-6 (refers to both Christ's first coming and His second)

2 Peter 3:8-13

Be Sober

*Strong's Ex. Conc. No. 3525

free from illusion, i.e. from the intoxicating influences of sin (like the impact of selfish passion, greed, etc.)

refers to having presence of mind (clear judgment), enabling someone to be temperate (self-controlled); means to have "one's wits (faculties) about them," which is the opposite of being irrational.

To watch, To be alert, To be vigilant in all things and at all times.

2 Timothy 4:5

1 Peter 1:13

1 Peter 4:7

1 Peter 5:8

The Breastplate of Faith & Love

Being a spiritual covering, we learn that it covers our spiritual heart, protecting us from the temptations of the enemy of our souls. 

This Breastplate consists of Living by Faith, Walking by Faith; Having the Love of God in us through Christ, Speaking words of Love with Love. 

FAITH

Hebrews 11:1  

Now faith is the assurance of what we hope for and the certainty of what we do not see.

The Just Live By Faith

Romans 1:17

For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith.

Galatians 3:11

But that no man is justified by the law in the sight of God, it is evident: for, The just shall live by faith.

Habakkuk 2:4

Behold, his soul which is lifted up is not upright in him: but the just shall live by his faith.

The Just Walk By Faith

2 Corinthians 5:7, 8

(For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.

LOVE

1 John 4:7-10

Living In Love

1 John 4:11-21

John 13:34

1 Peter 1:22

Romans 12:10

SALVATION

Our helmet, which is fixed securely to our spiritual heads, gives us defence against the tactics of our the enemy of our souls. Having the Word of God firmly planted in our thoughts prevents the wiliness of the his strategies from reaching us. When we know the Word of God, we also know and become aware of how the devil works against us. Knowing our enemy from this advantage point helps us in our times of temptations and troubles to turn to God and His Word to keep us from being prey, but instead makes us the victor in every encounter. And there are many encounters throughout our lives; day in and day out.

HOPE of SALVATION

Romans 8:19, 24

 For the earnest expectation of the creation awaits the revelation of the sons of God. For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for?

1 Peter 1:3-5

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! By His great mercy He has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, reserved in heaven for you, who through faith are shielded by God’s power for the salvation that is ready to be revealed in the last time.

Ephesians 2:8-10

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance as our way of life. 

2 Timothy 1:9

He has saved us and called us to a holy calling, not because of our works, but by His own purpose and by the grace He granted us in Christ Jesus before time began.

Titus 3:5-7

Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost; Which He shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour; That being justified by His grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life. 

John 3:16, 17

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believes in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved.