July 4
DebDay 112: Grace Before Peace
When I write an email, especially a real letter, I start off with "Hi!" or the hipper "Hey!" A friendly beginning.
The Apostle Paul was different. He would greet his readers with "Grace and Peace." But not before introductions.
In Romans, for example, Paul begins with saying first that he is a bond-servant (paying off a debt), he is an apostle (sent out from what was previously known and comfortable), and that he is set apart (exclusively devoted to the declaration of the gospel.)
Then to his readers Paul introduces Jesus.
Romans 1:2 says that Jesus was God's purpose and plan from the beginning. (Even before people were people.)
Continuing, Paul says 4 distinct things about Jesus in verses 3-6. He first says that Jesus is the "Christ," the promised Messiah, the One who accomplished what were before the unfolding promises of God revealed to us by the Law and the Prophets (code for the OT.)
Paul says that Jesus is descended from David, meaning he is the fulfillment of the human kingly lineage promised. (This is why you sometimes see those long family trees in the Gospels. So the people could be confident that Jesus is the King they've been waiting for.)
Jesus is also divine. He is the "Son of God." He is the great "I AM." (Much, much more than a good teacher or a fine example to follow.)
And...Jesus is risen and alive. Hope found in the impossible. When someone has died, and then lived to tell about it, He's worth listening to.
Okay, so what?
God's grace to us in Jesus gives us a mission (verses 7-8.) We are "loved by God," and we are "called to be saints." The true Church is (solely) populated by set-apart ones, called-out ones, made-holy ones, for His mission.
It's the grace of God to us that must result in a new life's purpose for each of us. Identity always proceeds actions.
So, in Paul's letters, why does grace always come before peace?
We will never, ever find peace in this life apart from the grace of God. True, deep, lasting peace can only come from first finding our new identity that results from God's grace to us in Jesus.
We can have peace in our hearts, even when everything in our world right now says it's not possible. And we're going to need that peace for the mission we're called to.
Saying "I love Jesus" is enough. And it's not enough. Bond-servants serve the One to whom they are indebted. They know they're sent out, and set apart, to reprioritize their lives around the grace of the gospel.
That is real love. Love sacrifices and serves.
And to know that our love is coupled with the grace to honor and serve our Lord in wholehearted devotion is where real peace is found.
Grace and Peace. I hope that's true for you!
-Mike Rydman, Lead Pastor, Radiant Church | Juneau
