“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

This verse expresses the usual, customary greeting from Paul.  However, greetings in the New Testament are far from convention.  They are a hope for the readers.   

Grace to you

“Grace” is what God does for the believer because of Christ.  Grace is the source of our resources in Christ. 

2 Co. 13:14, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”

PRINCIPLE: 

Grace is our resource for life, based on the provision in Christ. 

APPLICATION: 

A Christian can no more operate in the Christian life apart from grace and peace than he can run his car without gas and oil.  Grace is God’s favor and goodwill that He bestows on us because of Christ.  We do not earn or deserve this favor.  God is not only the Giver, but He also is the Gift.  Grace is personified in the person of Christ.

Ti 2:11, ”For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men…”

Jn 1:16, “And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. ¹⁷ For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

2 Co 9:8, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.”

2 Co 12:9, “And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ¹⁰ Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

He 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

1 Pe 5:10, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

God gives grace to those who say, “I cannot make it on my own.  I’m going to sink.  Please help me.”  God gives grace to the humble.  God’s grace enables us to maintain our spiritual equilibrium.  The proud have blind spots whereby they do not recognize their spiritual deficiencies.  Those who operate on grace look to God’s mercy and grace for help during their times of failings.