In times like these we all need a little peace… maybe even a LOT of PEACE!

Hmmm….so in the midst of a global pandemic where there is only a handful of places that have not been touched by it, civil unrest, wildfires from Alaska to California, and climate change just to name a few that seem to be in every headline, where do you find peace?

Paul’s Greeting

Paul starts out his letters to the church this way, “ Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”¹ The Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary states,

“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 1:2 HCSB) is in all of Paul’s epistles. It is always in that order, grace and peace. Grace is the work of the Father by which salvation from sin comes. Peace is the condition of the believer’s heart after grace has done its work. They are in that order because there can be no peace in the heart until grace has done its work. ²

Grace First Then Peace

The phrase is not limited to just Paul. Peter uses it in the same order as well as John.³ Is this just a greeting such as “Good Morning!” or was there a message behind it? The Bible teaches us that all scripture is divinely inspired by God and is for instruction, teaching, principles, and correction.⁴ So nothing was written just as a matter of formality or being customary. It was to teach us and to reveal the truth of God.

In this pattern, as Holman stated, Grace comes first then peace. This is important if you really want to find lasting peace.

The Meaning of Grace

The Greek word for grace is “charis“. It’s from the root word for graciousness. Strong’s defines it as “…the divine influence upon the heart and its reflection in the life. …Grace indicates favor on the part of the giver, thanks on part of the receiver.”⁵ In other words, a dual-action. The initial action of God giving His grace evokes a reaction, from us who have received grace, of thanksgiving and living accordingly.

God knew what our fate would be because of sin and the misery that comes with it. His grace or favor toward us moved him to act with compassion or mercy for us. We had nothing to barter with or give in exchange, and there was nothing we could do to earn our deliverance; God gave us mercy without cost. We got for free what we could not buy. He gave it, knowing that we could never repay Him. I like another note from Strong’s, “grace removes guilt; mercy removes misery.” Grace freed us from the bondage and judgment of sin, and then mercy delivered us from the punishment we so rightly deserved.

The Meaning of Mercy

What you feel is pity but what you do is mercy.

The Greek word for mercy is “eleos”, and it is more than just a feeling of compassion. It is an act of compassion or pity by someone who can meet the need of the person in sorrow or despair. What you feel is pity but what you do is mercy.

An Example of Grace and Mercy Working Together.

John 3:16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. ”

The beginning of this verse demonstrates grace. God loved a world that was unworthy of His love. As Romans 5:6-8 states, we were without strength and in our sins. We were not righteous; we did not reverence God and did not even realize that hell would be our destination. Although that was our condition, God loved us, and we could not do nor give him anything in return worthy of His love.

The second part demonstrates mercy. God gave His Son to be sacrificed and in payment for our sins. He took on the punishment that belonged to us. In dying on the cross and the shedding of his blood, removed our misery and punishment. Hell, no longer has to be our destination.

Mercy is more than a feeling of pity.

Mercy is more than a feeling of pity or a wish to do something. It is only applied to the one who can do something about the situation. Only God can have mercy on us for our sins because He is the only one who has the power or capability to relieve us of the punishment for them.

The Meaning of Peace

The Greek word for peace is ” eirēnē.” Strong’s shows that it is from the root (to join) and defines peace as one, quietness, prosperity, and rest. He also notes that it occurs in every New Testament book except in 1 John. In Acts 7:26 it is translated as “at one” in relation to reconciliation between two or driving together. Peace comes from a harmonized relationship with God first then man. When we are on one accord with God, God gives us peace.

The Path to Peace

God has already given us and demonstrated His grace towards us by loving us first. His love is truly unmerited. Because of His love that you have in your life even without doing a thing for it, you can also have the mercy and peace that follows. If you accept Him and love Him in return, repent of your sins and ask for forgiveness then His salvation or freedom from the punishment of sins is yours and you have obtained mercy. Acts 2:38 tells us to “… Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.” Peace then comes from staying in relationship with Him. Seeking God for direction and trusting in His love for you.

Finding Peace

The problem with finding peace is that we keep looking in the wrong places. You will find peace in God every time you search for it there. When we search for peace in things that we can buy or in people we know, we eventually are disappointed because all of that is temporal and conditional. Mankind is a threefold nature, body, soul and spirit. Peace can only be obtained when all three are in alignment or made one with God and His will for our lives. Real peace comes from God so how can you have it without being aligned with Him. Real peace is being able to rest in the confidence that you have concerning the character of God. It is tied to faith. Knowing that God is in charge of everything and He will make sure that all things work together for good.

Scripture References

Romans 8:28

Romans 8: 28 (KJV) And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

1 John 4:9-10

1 John 4:9-10 ⁹ In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. ¹⁰ Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

Romans 5:6-11

Romans 5: 6-11 ⁶ For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. ⁷ For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. ⁸ But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. ⁹ Much more then, being now justified by his blood, we shall be saved from wrath through him. ¹⁰ For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life. ¹¹ And not only so, but we also joy in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, by whom we have now received the atonement.

John 14:26-28

John 14:26-28 (KJV) ²⁶ But the Comforter, which is the Holy Ghost, whom the Father will send in my name, he shall teach you all things, and bring all things to your remembrance, whatsoever I have said unto you. ²⁷ Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Philippians 4:6-8

Philippians 4:6-8 (KJV) ⁶ Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.⁷ And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.⁸ Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Additional Resources

1. Ephesians 1:2
2. [Holman Reference Editorial Staff (2012). Holman Illustrated Bible Dictionary. B&H Publishing Group. Retrieved from https://app.wordsearchbible.lifeway.com]
3. Ephesians 1:2; Romans 1:7; 2 Corinthians 1:2; Galatians 1:3; Colossians 1:2; Philemon 1:3; 1 Peter 1:2; Revelation 1:4
4. 2 Timothy 3:16
5. James Strong, The New Strong’s Expanded Dictionary of Bible Words (Nashville: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2001), 1451.

Liked this post? Follow this blog to get more.