Ephesians 1:2 Grace and Peace

In every one of Paul's epistles, except those to pastors Timothy and Titus, he uses the salutation "grace to you, and peace ..." These two words - grace and peace - sum up the great privilege each Christ-follower enjoys in relationship to Almighty God.

While "grace" is a common word in the Christian world it is often misunderstood. We treat it as though grace were a commodity, a substance, almost some kind of heavenly pixie dust that comes floating down from above. We describe it like something we can get more of, as if it were for sale by the pound. But grace is not so much a substance as an attitude. Like love and mercy, grace is a state of mind and disposition of the heart that moves the person to certain actions. Specifically, grace is an attitude of benevolence toward one deserving judgment. God's grace is simply his continual attitude of love and acceptance toward those whose sin deserves his wrath. In the rest of Ephesians 1 and 2 Paul will go on to show that this gracious attitude of God toward those "chosen in Christ before the foundation of the world" is completely undeserving, unearned, and wholly sourced in the secret counsel of God himself.

If grace is the attitude God displays toward us, then peace is the result in us. An honest look at our hearts will tell us that we actually deserve God's judgment, not his mercy. Our persistent sin and selfishness can hardly be denied. Yet, God looks on us through the lens of grace and grants us a position in his presence that we can never deserve. Our continual acceptance is only due to his continual attitude of grace. And the result? We now are at peace with God. The gracious attitude of God has acted in Jesus to replace wrath with acceptance, our brokenness with the imputed righteousness of Christ. The grace that has saved us brings the peace that fills us. Our lives have been forever renewed through the grace and peace of God.