“John, to the seven churches which are in Asia:
Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne…”
and peace
Every Christian has peace with God (Romans 5:1) but few have the peace of God (Philippians 4:6). Peace with God is the salvation Jesus provided on the cross. When we accept His work on the cross, we have eternal peace with God. We are no longer His enemies.
The peace of God comes when we settle down on the inside. Some people laugh on the outside but cry on the inside. This is just the opposite. We can have tears on the outside but peace on the inside:
“You will keep him in perfect peace
Whose. mind is stayed on You,
Because he trusts in You” (Isaiah 26:3).
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7).
God is the God of peace.
“Now may the God of peace who brought up our Lord Jesus from the dead, that great Shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant, make you complete in every good work to do His will, working in you what is well pleasing in His sight, through Jesus Christ, to whom be glory forever and ever. Amen” (Hebrews 13:20-21).
By the way, Revelation 1:4 is the only place in Scripture where grace and peace come from the entire Trinity. Usually grace and peace come from the Father and the Son.
Principle:
God’s peace insulates our hearts.
Application:
God corners the market on both grace and peace. We find peace when we come to God for it.
God’s peace comes during times of trouble. We can have internal tranquility in external turbulence. His peace insulates our hearts and minds. God’s peace does not change our problems, but it gives us tranquility in these problems. It enables us to face our problems with confidence.
Hello Grant,
You did mention in your notes below (Hebrews 13:20-21). that, "this is the only place in Scripture where grace and peace come from the entire Trinity" but I do not find the word "Spirit" mentioned in this verse. Have I missed out something and could you shed some more explanation on this as the entire scripture mentions the God of peace and the Lord Jesus Christ but not specifically the Spirit. Did you imply the scripture, "working in you " as the Spirit. I did understand the scripture, however I just thought maybe you made a mistake or an oversight.
btw – I have started reading your exposition on the book of revelations – and I am enjoying it because I personally find it very encouraging and uplifting unlike some of the critical insights from another bible commentary on revelations. I Praise the Lord for the way God has revealed to you on His Grace
Regards
Nicholas
Nicholas, thank you for noticing the ambiguity in that sentence. I have changed the sentence to read "By the way, Revelation 1:4 is the only place…"