GRACE MERCY AND PEACE!

 

What words of greeting do Paul and other NT writers use at beginning of letters.

Galatians 1:3 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ, (NIV)

2 Corinthians 1:2           2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (NIV)

1 Timothy 1:2  To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

 

Illus.: Billy Graham in SA in early 1970’s – Cliff Burrows his music director preached at DNBC. Text and Topic I can’t remember but he referred to Paul’s three girlfriends – “Gracie, Mercie and Peacie”

 

Q> What was the trad. Greeting amongst the Greeks of the NT times? – Chaire = “Joy to you!”

 

Q> What was the Jewish greetings? Shalom = Peace to you

 

Paul and others join these two greetings together and form a distinctively Xn salutation BUT note the change in the gk. Word from chaire to charis = grace {get charismata – grace gifts}

 

GRACE

A concept the fills the Bible.

Genesis 6:8 8 But Noah found favour [GRACE]  in the eyes of the LORD. (NIV)

 

Titus 2:11  For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. (NIV)

 

Romans 3:23-24 23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus. (NIV)

 

Romans 5:1-2 1 Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. …. (NIV)

And on through this chapter….

 

How Does Paul often Finish his letters “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with you”.

The beginning and end of Paul’s understanding of God’s dealings with us is based on Grace.

Indeed what is the last verse of the Bible?.. Revelation 22:21          21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with God’s people. Amen. (NIV)

 

Grace – describes in many ways – God’s spontaneous, unmerited favour in action. His freely bestowed loving kindness in operation. Given to guilt-ridden sinners who turn to him for refuge!!

PICTURE a Judge who not only remits the penalty BUT also cancels the guilt AND then adopt the offender into his family

 

SING “Only by grace”

 

MERCY.

How to distinguish between these two?

Grace pardons – mercy commiserates

Grace is towards the guilty – mercy towards the wretched, pitiable, helpless.

It is the word used to describe the Good Samaritan’s attitude – Luke 10v37.

 

Exodus 33:19  And the LORD said, “I will cause all my goodness to pass in front of you, and I will proclaim my name, the LORD, in your presence. I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. (NIV)

 

Psalm 52:1             Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man?

Why do you boast all day long,

you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God?

 

Micah 7:18            18 Who is a God like you,        who pardons sin and forgives the transgression of the remnant of his inheritance? You do not stay angry for ever           but delight to show mercy. (NIV)

 

Ephesians 2:4-5 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. (NIV)

 

1 Peter 2:10 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy. (NIV)

 

It is more than just a technical term for pardoning the guilty –

Isaiah 54:7            7 “For a brief moment I abandoned you,

but with deep compassion I will bring you back. (NIV)

Isaiah 54:7 7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee; but with great mercies will I gather thee. (KJV)

Tender feeling, motherly-kindness, compassion, pity,

God’s mercy is his attitude / feeling with which he considers his people even if they are not in desperate straits at the time.

Divine lovingkindness.

 

SING “There’s a wideness in God’s mercy”

 

PEACE.

Grace and mercy bring peace.

Peace in the result of grace and mercy.

Describes both our state and our condition

State – reconciliation with God

Condition – inner conviction that as a result of God’ grace and mercy and subsequent reconciliation all is well.

Peace is the great blessing the Jesus gives to his Church.

John 14:27 27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid. (NIV)

 

Philippians 4:7 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (NIV)

 

It is not external tranquillity of a mountain stream on a glorious summer’s day – BUT it is a cleft-of-the-rock peace in the midst of a raging storm.

OR it is the hiding place under the wings where the mother hen gathers her chicks to protect from the raging storm.

 

John 16:33            33 “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (NIV)

 

Where does this grace mercy and peace find its origin and expression.

 

1 Timothy 1:2  To Timothy my true son in the faith:

Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. (NIV)

Its origin in the heart of God and its supreme expression in the life, death, resurrection and ascension of Christ our Saviour.

 

SING “Peace perfect Peace