Galatians 1:3 Grace to you and peace from God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ.
The apostle’s greeting is new to the world and had never been heard before the proc-lamation of the Gospel. Grace and peace — these two words embrace the whole of Christianity. Grace forgives sin, and peace stills the conscience. The two devils who plague us are sin and conscience, the power of the Law and the sting of sin (1 Cor. 15:56). But Christ has conquered these two monsters and trodden them underfoot, both in this age and in the age to come.
The apostle clearly distinguishes this grace and peace from any other kind of grace and peace. He wishes the Galatians grace and peace — not from Caesar or from kings and princes, but from God our Father. In other words, he wishes them a heavenly peace.
The world’s peace grants nothing except the peace of our property and of our bodies, so that we can live happily and peacefully in the flesh, and the world’s grace permits us to enjoy our property and does not deprive us of our possessions. But in trouble and in the hour of death the grace and peace of the world cannot help us or deliver us from despair, and death. But when the grace and peace of God is present a man is so strong that be can bear both the cross and peace, both joy and sorrow. He is heartened by the victory that comes from the death of Christ. In his conscience the assurance of this vic-tory begins to prevail over sin and death, for he has the guarantee of the forgiveness of sins. Once be has received this forgiveness, his conscience is gladdened and consoled. Thus when a man is consoled and encouraged by the grace of God — that is, by the forgiveness of sins and the peace of conscience — he can bravely endure and overcome all troubles, including even death itself. Amen.
Prayer: Lord Jesus, You came to bring grace and peace. Grant us that grace and peace through the preaching of Your holy word, and administration of Your sacraments, amen.
Copyright 2002 Reformation Lutheran Church http://ReformationChurch.org