“Grace (be) unto you, and peace, from God our Father, and (from) the Lord Jesus Christ”.
“Grace to-you, and peace from God our Father and (the) Lord Jesus Christ”.
Philippians. 1:2
“Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and (from the) Lord Jesus Christ.” We must not think of these words as being merely a formal greeting, as we so often begin a letter: “Dear Sir”: or “Dear Mrs....” when the person to whom we are writing is not dear to us at all. No, this greeting really means what it says: and though written by Paul so long ago to the saints in Philippi, we may take it for ourselves from the Holy Spirit: and we may enjoy all the sunshine of those two little words, GRACE and PEACE. It is true that most of the epistles use these same words, though Timothy, Titus, and 2 John (all letters to individuals) have “mercy” added.
Our Epistle begins with, “Grace to you,” and ends with, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (be) with your spirit” (Gal. 6:1818Brethren, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. <<Unto the Galatians written from Rome.>> (Galatians 6:18)). And in verse 7, chapter 1, Paul writes that they were all his “joint-partners” in this grace. In this grace we all have a share. Well may every one of us sing:
GRACE IS THE SWEETEST SOUND
That ever reached our ears
When conscience charged, and justice frowned,
‘Twas grace removed our fears.
As we grow older, and learn to know ourselves more and more, perhaps we learn to value more highly that grace that picked us up, gave us the privilege of hearing the gospel, and believing it; and, perhaps most wonderful of all, to know the grace that has borne with us all along the way, through all these years, and has never cast us off, or given us up, but will perform that work, that “good work,” begun in us; right on to the day of Jesus Christ. (Verse 6). It has all been grace; All must be grace; right from start to finish.
Raise glad the song! for who can tell How sovereign grace dissolved the spell That kept us bound in chains; And from that dear and happy day, How oft constrained by grace to say, That grace triumphant reigns!
Yes! tho’ we’ve strayed like saints of old,
Grace has restored us to the fold
As captives in its chains;
Thus saved by grace, we’d gladly sing,
Till all the earth and heavens ring
With grace triumphant reigns!
Grace means “free, undeserved favor.” And, thanks be to God, that is just what God has shown us; and this is the message with which this lovely Epistle begins. But let us remember it is grace, not from pity, but from love. I write in Hong Kong, surrounded by tens of thousands of refugees in the most desperate poverty, misery, and squalor: daily I see the children in their rags and wretchedness, and my heart is moved with pity, and I seek to do what little I can to remove their misery. In a measure I show them grace, for they do nothing to deserve help. But it is grace moved by pity. But there are a few whom I dearly love, what a difference that makes! A few days ago a dear child we have known and loved for several years, showed me the soles of her shoes, without saying a word: both had great holes right through to her bare feet. I got her new shoes, and at the same time a pretty new dress, for I think she had only the shabby one she had on: I paid about ninety cents for it. When I gave them to her, she climbed on my knee, buried her head on my shoulder, her heart too full for words: and then at last she looked up with wonder, saying: “Mr. Lee, you must have paid a great deal for it!” It was grace, but grace moved by love, and who can say whose pleasure was greater, the child’s, or mine? Let us ponder the love behind the words: “Grace to you,” and let us remember always the unfathomable cost. May our hearts respond, not with any formal thanks, but like the child, may our hearts burst forth: “THANKS BE UNTO GOD FOR HIS UNSPEAKABLE GIFT!!!” (2 Cor. 9:1515Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift. (2 Corinthians 9:15)).
But that is not all. In chapter 1:29, we read that God has not only “graced” us, or, favored us, with believing on Christ, (for the word is almost the same), but also with suffering for His sake. How very, very glad we are that God has graced us with believing on Christ! As we see those who have never heard the story, and those who have refused to believe it: well may we thank God that He has graced us with both hearing and believing: for it is grace alone that has done it all. But perhaps we do not realize that it is the very same grace that favors us “to suffer for His sake” (vs. 29). We rejoice in hope of the glory: we rejoice in “the many mansions”: all the fruit of grace: but the suffering ... ah, somehow, that is different! Yet both the believing and the suffering are given to us, “on the behalf of Christ.” And the same grace that gave us to believe can give us the courage, if need be, to suffer: we can do neither the one nor the other of ourselves: both are entirely His grace.
But not only does the Apostle wish grace to the saints, but also peace. Perhaps first we should notice the difference between “peace with God” and “the peace of God” (ch. 4:7). The saints at Philippi already had “peace with God.” “Being justified by faith, we have peace with God, through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Rom. 5:11Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: (Romans 5:1)). Lydia found peace with God, that Sabbath Day by the riverside. The jailor found peace with God, the night of the earthquake. Have you, reader, found “peace with God”? You may, just by taking God at His word.
But the peace in our salutation is different. This peace is “the peace of God” (ch. 4:7) that keeps, or guards, our hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Phil. 4:77And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:7)). Today men passionately long for peace, but how few enjoy it! In many parts of the East, you may hear the greeting: “Salaam.” It is the same word as “Salem” in the Bible, and that means “peace” (Heb. 7:22To whom also Abraham gave a tenth part of all; first being by interpretation King of righteousness, and after that also King of Salem, which is, King of peace; (Hebrews 7:2)). But those very lands that so often say, “Salaam,” know less, perhaps, of true peace, peace in their hearts, than almost any other part. This is the peace that God offers His children today. His grace and His peace are as full and as free as they were in Paul’s day: and both are for you, my reader, and for me. They are offered us from “God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 2). None else can give these gifts, and like all heavenly gifts, they are without money and without price.
But could Paul honestly wish peace to these saints in Philippi, when they were suffering for their Master’s sake? Can peace and persecution go together? Yes, strange as it may seem, they can, and often do, go together. In 1 Tim. 2:22For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Timothy 2:2), we are told to pray for kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and tranquil life (New Translation); and the Word goes on to say that such a life is acceptable in the sight of God our Savior. Sad to say, our brethren in some lands are not leading such a life. Perhaps this is because so often we forget this prayer. These words in 1 Tim. 2:22For kings, and for all that are in authority; that we may lead a quiet and peaceable life in all godliness and honesty. (1 Timothy 2:2) imply on the one hand, tranquility without, and on the other, tranquility within. But can we have tranquility within when there is no tranquility without? Yes, we can! That is part of what we learn in Philippians. It is still true: “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on Thee” (Isa. 26:33Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)). How? Why? “Because he trusteth in Thee,” (Isa. 26:33Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. (Isaiah 26:3)) and “In the Lord Jehovah is the Rock of Ages” (Isa. 26:3-43Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee. 4Trust ye in the Lord for ever: for in the Lord JEHOVAH is everlasting strength: (Isaiah 26:3‑4): Margin).
But notice the closing words of our verse: the grace and peace are “from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ” (vs. 2). Notice how God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ, are intimately linked together, as Joint Givers of these good gifts. It would be blasphemy to link the name of men or angels with “God our Father” in this way. In chapter 2 we will read plainly that Christ Jesus is equal with God: but this verse tells us the same wondrous truth. May God help us ever to cling to this foundation of the faith: and to enjoy the grace and peace offered to us!
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“Rich, our God, art Thou in mercy,
Dead in sins were we,
When Thy great love rested on us,
Sinners, dear to Thee.
Blessed path of grace that led us
From the depths of death
To the fair eternal mansions
Quickened by Thy breath.
Riches of Thy grace have brought us
There, in Christ, to Thee;
Riches of Thy glory make us
Thy delight to be.”
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“The fellowship of His sufferings” (ch. 3:10)