Grace and Peace To You

"To the Churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen" Galatians 1:3

"Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" 2nd Corinthians 1:2

"To all who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ" Romans 1:7

"To those who are called, sanctified, by God the Father and preserved in Jesus Christ: Mercy, peace, and love be multiplied to you" Jude 1:2

"To those who have obtained like precious faith with us by the righteousness of our God and Savior Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord, as His divine power has given to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us by glory and virtue, by which have been given to us exceedingly great and precious promises, that through these you may be partakers of the divine nature, having escaped corruption that is in the world through lust" 2nd Peter 1: 1-4

          I have been attending a church with a more formalized liturgy for the last few months. The word liturgy simply refers to the church's order of service. Because of my previous background, it is taking me a long time to get used to how my new church structures the worship services. Some things I have learned to love, while others I have overlooked and underappreciated. One aspect of my church's liturgy that I had previously overlooked was the greeting. After the call to worship, the pastor stands behind the pulpit with his arms outstretched, declaring "Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ". This is usually a combination of words that echoes the openings of many of the New Testament epistles. The apostle Paul would usually open his letters with a gospel greeting.  I have recently learned why our liturgy opens with this greeting, and it has brought great assurance and comfort to my weary soul.

The Gospel Greeting

This is not just a friendly "hello" or a sentimental greeting of well wishes. This is the Gospel declared to us in a holy greeting from our Father. It is an invitation to "draw near with a heart in full of assurance of faith, having our hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water" Hebrews 10:22. "Grace and peace to you" means that we can have the sure confidence of entering the Lord's house without harm and fear of condemnation. We need not linger in the doorway wondering if we are invited or welcomed, but we can enter boldly with full assurance that we will not be turned away. It is a declaration that we are received, pardoned, cared for, and loved by the triune God.

This Gospel greeting declares to us the objective realities of being united to Christ by faith. It tells us that Christ has indeed lived the life of perfect obedience in our place, suffered the wrath of the Father, and was raised from the dead for our justification. This greeting tells us that despite our many sins and failures for the week, we are still reconciled to God. We are still pleasing to Him, covered in the righteousness of Christ. "Grace and peace to you" means that our justification and position before God remains unchanged, and sets the stage for the entire church service to strengthen and bolster our faith in Christ.

I don't know about you, but when I read the opening greeting in Paul's epistles, I can't quite take my eyes off of them. It makes me think of how wonderfully kind and patient our Lord is with us. We have been awakened to the reality of sin in a much deeper way than the world. The more we become acquainted with God's holiness, the more we become aware of how deeply sinful we are. I love that despite most of the epistles being written to address serious problems within the church, they open with a simple reminder that grace and peace still extends to God's people from the Father. There is a wonderful sense of relief and peace that comes from hearing and reading these words of kindness. "Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgements and how inscrutable his ways!" Romans 11:33.

Beloved, be reminded of the Father's everlasting love for you in this gospel greeting. Be reminded of Christ, our mediator, who has secured the way of everlasting peace and has reconciled us to God our Father.  Be reminded that we can approach the throne of grace boldly. Be reminded that in the place of fear, we have received "a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time." 1st Peter 1:3-5. May you sing with the hymn writer Charitie Lees Smith of the confidence of knowing His pardon:

"Before the throne of God above

I have a strong and perfect plea

The Great High Priest whose name is Love

who ever lives and pleads for me.

My name is graven on His hands.

My name is written on His heart;

I know that while in heaven He stands,

No tongue can bid me thence depart

When Satan tempts me to despair

and tells me of the guilt within

Upward I look and see Him there

Who made an end to all my sin.

Because the sinless Savior died,

my sinful soul is counted free;

For God the Just is satisfied

to look on Him and pardon me!

Behold Him there! the bleeding Lamb!

My perfect, perfect, spotless Righteousness,

the great unchangeable "I AM"

The King of Glory and of Grace,

One with Himself, I cannot die,

My soul is purchased by His blood;

My life is hid with Christ on high,

With Christ my Savior and My God. "