GRACE BEAMS OUT OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS: AN EXEGESIS Part 3

GRACE BEAMS OUT OF THE BOOK OF EPHESIANS: AN EXEGESIS Part 3

Eph 1:
2 Grace be to you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

GRACE AND PEACE

This is what Paul offered the Ephesians Church as he opened his writing. This is his usual style. Let us see a few other instances.

Romans 1:7
To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ

1 Corinthians 1:3
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Philippians 1:2
Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

Colossians 1:2
To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

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

Other apostles greeted saints this way but since Paul wrote most, we find his instances most.

WHERE DID PAUL (AND THE APOSTLES) FIND THIS GREETING STYLE ?

Did they just choose to brand themselves the way churches do this day; turning their annual declarations into greeting styles through out a year ?

PAUL AND THE APOSTLE ADOPTED 'GRACE... (SOMETIMES AND MERCY) AND PEACE' AS A GREETING STYLE FROM THEIR LORD AND OURS, JESUS CHRIST.

REMEMBER HOW JESUS GREETED HIS OWN WHEN ON EARTH?

Luke 24:36
And as they thus spake, Jesus himself stood in the midst of them, and SAITH UNTO THEM, PEACE BE UNTO YOU.

John 20:19
Then the same day at evening, being the first day of the week, when the doors were shut where the disciples were assembled for fear of the Jews, came Jesus and stood in the midst, AND SAITH UNTO THEM, PEACE BE UNTO YOU.

John 20:26
And after eight days again his disciples were within, and Thomas with them: then came Jesus, the doors being shut, and stood in the midst, AND SAID, PEACE BE UNTO YOU.

WE FIND THREE INSTANCES (ENOUGH TO FORM A WITNESS).

AND IN EACH INSTANCE, JESUS STOOD IN THEIR MIDST ! TAKE NOTE.

OKAY, THERE IS ONE MORE.

John 20:21
THEN SAID JESUS TO THEM AGAIN, PEACE BE UNTO YOU: as my Father hath sent me, even so send I you.

LET US INFER THIS GREETING STYLE IN OTHER INSTANCES.

John 14:27
PEACE I LEAVE WITH YOU, MY PEACE I GIVE UNTO YOU: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 16:33
THESE THINGS I HAVE SPOKEN UNTO YOU, THAT IN ME YE MIGHT HAVE PEACE. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

NOW WE SEE THAT THIS PEACE IS FOUND IN JESUS CHRIST ALONE. 'MY PEACE', HE SAID. 'IN ME YE HAVE PEACE' HE SAID.

HOW DID THE APOSTLE ADOPT THIS GREETING STYLE AND WHY DID THEY MODIFY IT?

1. IT IS NATURAL TO IMITATE SOMEONE YOU ADMIRE. IF ONLY BELIEVERS IMITATE CHRIST MORE THAN THEIR PASTORS. OR LET THE PASTORS IMITATE CHRIST SO BELIEVERS CAN HAVE THE RIGHT EXAMPLE.

SO THE APOSTLES MIGHT HAVE SIMPLY LOVED THE WAY JESUS GREETED THEM.

2. 'SHALOM' WAS A MAJOR WAY OF GREETING AMONG ANCIENT (AND MODERN) JEWS. Traditionally, Jews greet each other by saying, “peace unto you,” and responding, “unto you peace.” Our 'hello' 'hi' is their "peace be unto you".

SO IT WAS NOT OUT OF PLACE FOR THE APOSTLES TO RETAIN 'PEACE' AS A GREETING STYLE IN THEIR EPISTLES.

BUT, THEY MODIFIED IT. 'GRACE' HAS BEEN ADDED.
WHY ?

1. THE VERY PEACE THE JEWS HAVE ALWAYS WISHED THEMSELVES IN MOSES (LAW) HAD COME IN CHRIST JESUS (GRACE).

2. JESUS, BEING THE FULNESS OF GRACE, IS THE CENTRE OF THE BELIEVER'S LIFE. (REMEMBER HE WOULD STAND IN THEIR MIDST). AND WITH JESUS AT THE CENTRE, NOTHING FALLS APART. EVERYTHING HOLDS TOGETHER. AND THAT IS PEACE; NOTHING BROKEN. NOTHING MISSING.

3. JESUS WAS NO LONGER PHYSICALLY THERE IN THEIR MIDST, SO PUTTING 'GRACE' AHEAD OF THE 'PEACE' GREETING PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE. THAT WITHOUT JESUS, THEY HAD NO PEACE.

4. PEACE WILL SIMPLY ELUDE THE BELIEVER WHO EXCLUDES GRACE.

5. GRACE BRINGS PEACE.

6. THE WORLD CANNOT GIVE PEACE.

7. THE LAW CANNOT BRING PEACE.

DICTIONARY AND OTHER DEFINITIONS OF PEACE

PEACE; harmony, wholeness, completeness, prosperity, welfare and tranquility

PEACE: a blessing, a manifestation of divine grace

PEACE: means, "I hope you have all the highest good coming your way."

PEACE:  "quiet goodness."

SO HOW CAN A BELIEVER HAVE THE JESUS PEACE ?

1. SAVED THROUGH THE GOSPEL
Ephesians 6:15, SCRIPTURES calls the good news of salvation "THE GOSPEL OF PEACE." In another place, the goodnews of salvation was called 'THE GOSPEL OF GRACE'. (Acts 20:24)

2. JUSTIFICATION BY FAITH
Romans 5:1 says, "THEREFORE, HAVING BEEN JUSTIFIED BY FAITH, WE HAVE PEACE WITH GOD."

3. THE PRICE FOR THE BELIEVER'S PEACE IS PAID IN CHRIST'S BLOOD. Colossians 1:20-22 says that CHRIST "MADE PEACE THROUGH THE BLOOD OF HIS CROSS

WHO WILL NOT HAVE PEACE ?

1. HE WHO DID NOT COME TO JESUS TO BE SAVED.

Matthew 11:
28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.
29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.
30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light

2. HE- THOUGH SAVED- DOES NOT BELIEVE JESUS PAID IT ALL.

Heb 3:
18 And to whom sware he that they should not enter into his rest, but to them that believed not?
19 So we see that they could not enter in because of unbelief.

Heb 4:

4 Let us therefore fear, lest, a promise being left us of entering into his rest, any of you should seem to come short of it.
2 For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them, not being mixed with faith in them that heard it.
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest...

3. HE WHO IS SAVED BUT DOES NOT BELIEVE IN CHRIST'S FINISHED WORKS.

Heb 4:
3 For we which have believed do enter into rest, as he said, As I have sworn in my wrath, if they shall enter into my rest: although the works were finished from the foundation of the world.
4 For he spake in a certain place of the seventh day on this wise, And God did rest the seventh day from all his works.
5 And in this place again, If they shall enter into my rest.
6 Seeing therefore it remaineth that some must enter therein, and they to whom it was first preached entered not in because of unbelief:

4. HE WHO DOES NOT LIVE BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD BUT TRUST IN HIMSELF.

Romans 8:
4 That the righteousness of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.
5 For they that are after the flesh do mind the things of the flesh; but they that are after the Spirit the things of the Spirit.
6 For to be carnally minded is death; but to be spiritually minded is life and peace.

HE WHO IMPRESSES HIS FLESH BY THE COMMANDMENTS HE KEEPS.

Col 2:
20 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances,
21 (Touch not; taste not; handle not;
22 Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men?
23 Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh.

5. HE WHO DOES NOT BELIEVE HE IS ONLY RIGHTEOUS IN CHRIST

WATCH THIS: GOD SAID THERE IS NO PEACE TO THE WICKED (ISA 48:22, 57:21) AND SAID IT SHALL BE WELL WITH THE RIGHTEOUS (ISA 3:10). AND SCRIPTURE HAS DECLARED NO ONE AS RIGHTEOUS. (Rom 3:10). THIS IS WHY ONLY CHRIST QUALIFIES FOR THE PEACE OF GOD. AND WHOEVER IS IN CHRIST, HAS PEACE.

Two Men God Loves
DAVID FOUGHT WARS ALL THROUGH.
SOLOMON (MEANS PEACE) HAD REST ALL THROUGH.
(TAKE YOUR MIND OFF THE FAILINGS OF THESE TWO MEN AND CHOOSE WHICH ORDER OF SALVATION YOU PREFER)

PEACE IS BETTER.
GRACE IS BETTER.

CHOOSE GRACE.

Amen.

- Adeolu O. V.