Grace and Peace
A beautiful articulation of Christianity
Among Christians, the use of complicated language is often prevalent. Some like to call it “Christianese”. It even includes some of my personal favourites, including incorruptibility, perichoresis, incarnation, and recapitulation. However, these should only be used at specific times. The reality is that if they are used out of place, they can be confusing and detrimental to both new and experienced believers. So what is a simple yet beautiful way of articulating the Christian religion?
I’d argue, “grace and peace.”
“Grace and Peace” is a specific phrase used in at least 17 different New Testament books, often used as a greeting. Of course, we often hear of grace and peace in a secular sense, but what is the grace and peace of God? What do these words really entail? Why choose these specific terms?
Grace
Growing up in an evangelical setting, I’ve often heard grace to be defined as “getting good things which we don’t deserve.” Potentially a good start, but maybe it’s time to re-think our definition. After all, where is the scriptural support for that specific definition?
First, let’s consider two examples.
Example 1: I’ve just won the lottery. By our definition, the government has shown grace to me.
Example 2: I’ve just lied in court, and even though I’m guilty, the judge declared me free. By our definition, the judge has shown grace to me.
Something is wrong with these scenarios. They do not portray true grace. So, what’s missing in our definition that causes the meaning of grace to be obscured?
Love — love is missing.
In our examples, neither the government nor the judge had love as their motivation for the undeserved favour. Love is permanently intertwined with grace; it is the motivation behind it. Without love, grace loses its meaning.
Therefore, it really is an amazing and beautiful thing that we have a God who is Love. It’s simply so so good that our God is unequivocally for us, not against us. True grace is the unmerited expression of God, who is unconditional, infinite Love.
In a tangible sense, where is this grace?
A clear manifestation of God’s grace lies in the ongoing sustenance provided to humanity every day. According to Colossians 1, God is the sustainer of all things. Personally, it is easy to overlook and underestimate this aspect of grace. Expanding my viewpoint to consider God’s grace as the fundamental sustenance for all brings about a humbling yet joyful realization. Thus, whether one is a believer or not, everyone is upheld by God’s grace — a testament to His immense love for all. Every individual on this planet exists, breathes, eats, and sleeps because they are continuously bestowed with the lavish grace of God.
However, let us never ever forget the greatest and most manifest example of grace in the incarnation, life, death, and resurrection of the Person of Jesus Christ.
Because of God’s grace, you can be saved. Romans 5, John 3, Ephesians 2, 2 Corinthians 5, and others clearly show that Love is the reason behind God’s saving action toward humanity.
Furthermore, humanity is not just saved — it is transformed. Salvation doesn’t only entail the avoidance of hell. It isn’t simply a return to the original state of creation. Instead, it is being raised up, redeemed, and exalted as co-heirs with Christ. It involves embracing the new humanity that Christ has established for us. Ephesians 1 continues to elaborate on the multitude of spiritual blessings accessible in Christ. All in all, salvation is about being transformed by Jesus Christ into adopted children of God.
An artistic analogy by St. John Chrysostom speaks of the transformative nature of God’s grace:
“It is as though one were to take a leper, wasted by distemper, and disease, by age, and poverty, and famine, and were to turn him all at once into a graceful youth, surpassing all mankind in beauty, shedding a bright lustre from his cheeks, and eclipsing the sun-beams with the glances of his eyes; and then were to set him in the very flower of his age, and after that array him in purple and a diadem and all the attire of royalty.”
I hope this tells of the magnificent grace of God that is offered to humanity.
Peace
The concept of peace can be an interesting yet multifaceted topic to tackle. In today’s culture, peace is often portrayed as the lack of something — anxiety, stress, fear, or insecurity. An anecdotal example of this peace occurred before each of my piano exams. During my final preparation, my dad would film and listen to my playing. He’d tell me that no matter the result of the exam itself, he wouldn’t get mad at me, because he knew that I was competent enough. This eased my mind and provided so much peace.
Now, what does peace from God look like? I’d like to define peace as a causal reaction to the grace of God. When humans actively receive the grace of God by staying in fellowship with Him, we attain peace. Before, I talked about the peace I experienced from my earthly father. Imagine the peace that can be obtained through our Heavenly Father!
One manifestation of peace for the Christian can be found in the response to earthly suffering. Instead of attempting to resolve the millennia-long question of suffering, I offer a hearty encouragement. As mentioned, a Christian is to increase in the awareness of the grace of God — especially through their daily sustenance and transformative salvation. My main encouragement argues that awareness and fellowship in the grace of God offer freedom, which then leads to peace. Not freedom from your suffering, but freedom in your suffering.
I find two ways in which Christians can have freedom in their suffering. The first is somewhat of a logical response. When one increasingly considers the magnitude of the grace of God, it’s not that the poor circumstances decrease in intensity, but the Christian’s capacity to appreciate a higher good increases. In some sense, the magnitude of the scale shifts way more to one side because of the sheer immensity of God’s grace. Because of this, you don’t have to be bogged down, trapped, and emotionally tied to your suffering. There’s now so much more to enjoy!
The second approach makes an emotional appeal. One of the most inspiring things I have seen is when seemingly bad things become transformed into a testament of God’s love. God is so great that out of evil, He can bring good. It is an awesome sight when the snares of the devil are turned into signs that point to Jesus. Because of God’s grace, we are more than conquerors. Because of God’s grace, our suffering is akin to participating in Christ’s suffering. In Christ, your suffering can become the opposite of what suffering intended to do.
One artistic example is in the lyrics of one of my all-time favourite songs.
Would you dare, would you dare to believe
That you still have a reason to sing
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It can’t compare to the joy that’s coming
So hold on you gotta wait for the light
Press on and just fight the good fight
Cause the pain that you’ve been feeling
It’s just the dark before the morning
There is peace to be found in Jesus Christ.
Last but not least, there is eternal peace with God for those abounding in His grace. This is an objective fact. We are reconciled. We are no longer enemies, but friends. We are partners with Christ, fulfilling the covenant God has promised. We are made new.
Grace and Peace
Combined, these two terms speak of wonderful things. They tell of God’s grace seen in our physical sustenance and transformative salvation. They show the peace that follows grace, through freedom in suffering as well as eternal peace with God. These two words provide powerful and holistic meaning for both the believer and unbeliever! And, it is a blessing that I would wish on anybody.
So,
grace & peace,
manyencouragements
