Grace be to you and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. ( 2 Cor 1:2 )
Let’s dive into the topic of Grace and Peace. The Apostle Paul often included the words Grace and Peace in his letters to the church. What does this imply? Let’s explore some important points:
( 1 ) Grace comes from the Greek word Charis. Among its many meanings, it implies bounty, benefits, joy, and pleasure. It revolves around unmerited favor and was used in Biblical times as a greeting among the people.
( 2 ) Peace, in Hebrew, means Shalom. It implies blessings from above, with nothing missing and nothing broken. The greeting was and still is used among the Jewish people.
( 3 ) This greeting calls attention to unity. The Greeks (Gentiles) and the Jews worshipped one God together. It also signifies the merging of the Old and New Testaments into one.
Without the grace of God, we can’t experience His peace. The grace of God teaches us about our identity in Christ. During one of America’s dark historical periods, Africans were shipped as slaves to America. They lost their identity and had to adopt their master’s last name. Similarly, Satan had us enslaved to darkness until Jesus set us free and gave us a new identity. As a result, we received the peace of God in our lives.
( 4 ) Words have power. The Greeks used Charis as a greeting, and the Jews used Shalom which involves blessings. We are no different. We say phrases like- Have a good day and God bless you when someone sneezes.
Final Points to Consider
In reviewing Grace and Peace, I would call them the Power Twins. This is especially true in the context of receiving answers in our prayers from God. We must understand Grace to experience the Peace of God. Paul had a thorn in the flesh. After conversing with God, he was told- My grace is sufficient for you. God provided the tools to endure that test and have the peace of God. Let’s make it a point to meditate on Grace and Peace. As we do so, we will see many answers to prayers. Shalom.
The Christian Corner Ministries 