Grace to You and Peace...

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ,—Galatians 1:3

The churches of Galatia had moved away from the one true Gospel.  They were perverting it by adding requirements of the law to the Gospel of grace. I am so grateful that Paul faced the Galatian church’s heresy straight on.  Even his typical greeting here puts truth to their lie.  If salvation is by works as they claimed, it is not of “grace” and cannot result in “peace,” since no one can be sure he has enough good works to be eternally secure.

Grace and peace are two words that cause my shoulders and back to relax when I hear them.  The burden is not mine.  Grace is God’s UNDESERVED kindness to me...a sinner.  It doesn’t ask me to do anything, instead, it tells me what God has done for me, and offers me...a hopeless, helpless and condemned sinner...a way out.

The God of the Universe invites me to receive His free gift of salvation, and when I accept, He imputes His righteousness to my account.  I am now at peace with God. I can rest in the knowledge that the penalty of my sin has been paid, and that I am forgiven.  It doesn’t end here though.  The same grace that saved me now keeps me...bringing me the peace of God moment by moment throughout my earthly journey and fulfilling His purpose for me. The arm of the Lord is made bare in my life as God, in Christ, sets out to finish the good work He began in me at salvation. The law does not bring God’s peace...it brings a curse...no one can keep it..it has no power to save...only condemn.