Grace, Mercy, and Peace

“Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God,
according to the promise of life in Christ Jesus,
To Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace
from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”  2 Timothy 1:1-2

Of the thirteen letters written by the apostle Paul, only the three to Timothy and Titus use this three-fold greeting “Grace, mercy, and peace.” The other ten letters use the more common “grace and mercy.” Why the distinction? The Holy Spirit is never whimsical nor capricious. Perhaps, since these three letters were the only ones addressed to pastors that Paul had trained, there was a more poignant emphasis intended.

Grace (charis) is the foundational core of God’s gift of salvation to those who trust Him (Eph. 2:8). It is also the essence of the “gifts” that we received from the Holy Spirit to minister to each other (1 Cor. 15:10). The charis is the basis for charisma that we receive. Those who have been entrusted with leadership responsibilities are reminded that the measure of those gifts is still God’s charis (Rom. 12:3, 6).

Mercy is often understood through God’s forgiveness both in justice delayed and sentence nullified through Christ. It is also what the Sovereign Godhead responds with when we ask for His help. “Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16).

Peace is much more than mere lack of anxiety. It is “not as the world gives” (John 14:27), but rather a supernatural, non-circumstantial contentment that is only given to the Lord’s Twice-Born. This peace is “the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension” and is specifically designed to “guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 4:7).

May this grace, mercy and peace be a regular portion of your walk in the kingdom as you serve the Lord Jesus.