Grace & Peace

Our world needs peace. Our world needs grace. God offers both.

Paul wrote a letter to the church family in Colossae, and rather than beginning the letter with the typical greeting of the first-century Roman Empire which was “Greetings,” he took a different, distinctly Christian approach:

To the saints in Christ at Colossae, who are faithful brothers. Grace to you and peace from God our Father. (Colossians 1:2)

In those nine words, “Grace to you and peace from God our Father,” Paul says a lot! Let me suggest three important truths found in that greeting.

1. God is your Father. If you know Jesus as your Lord and Savior, you have a Heavenly Father. And the Bible says much about what kind of Father He is.

He is a Good Father

⁷ “Keep asking, and it will be given to you. Keep searching, and you will find. Keep knocking, and the door will be opened to you. ⁸ For everyone who asks receives, and the one who searches finds, and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. ⁹ What man among you, if his son asks him for bread, will give him a stone? ¹⁰ Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? ¹¹ If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask Him! (Matthew 7:7-11)

He is Daddy

¹² So then, brothers, we are not obligated to the flesh to live according to the flesh, ¹³ for if you live according to the flesh, you are going to die. But if by the Spirit you put to death the deeds of the body, you will live. ¹⁴ All those led by God’s Spirit are God’s sons. ¹⁵ For you did not receive a spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption, by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father!” ¹⁶ The Spirit Himself testifies together with our spirit that we are God’s children, ¹⁷ and if children, also heirs—heirs of God and coheirs with Christ—seeing that we suffer with Him so that we may also be glorified with Him. (Romans 8:12-17)

2. God is your Grace. God is your very source of grace. He is full of grace, and He gladly shares His grace with us. Here are two aspects of His grace.

Saving grace

For you are saved by grace through faith, and this is not from yourselves; it is God’s gift— ⁹ not from works, so that no one can boast. (Ephesians 2:8-9)

Sustaining grace

⁹ But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me. (2 Corinthians 12:9)

3. God is your Peace. He is your source of peace. He gives peace in many different ways.

Internal peace — peace of God in your heart and mind

⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)

External peace — peace from God to calm storms of life

³⁹ He got up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Silence! Be still!” The wind ceased, and there was a great calm. ⁴⁰ Then He said to them, “Why are you fearful? Do you still have no faith?” (Mark 4:39-40)

Eternal peace — peace with God in heaven for all of eternity

¹⁹ For God was pleased to have all His fullness dwell in Him, ²⁰ and through Him to reconcile everything to Himself by making peace through the blood of His cross— whether things on earth or things in heaven. (Colossians 1:19-20)

Peace with others

¹⁴ Above all, put on love—the perfect bond of unity. ¹⁵ And let the peace of the Messiah, to which you were also called in one body, control your hearts. Be thankful. (Colossians 3:14-15)

¹⁸ If possible, on your part, live at peace with everyone. (Romans 12:18)

1. Can people tell that God is your Father? Do you look like Him?
2. Have you received God’s grace? Are you relying on His grace? Are you showing grace to others?
3. Are you resting in God’s peace, no matter the storms of life? Are you living at peace with all people, as much as it depends on you?