Grace and Peace

Grace and Peace:

Grace is God’s unmerited/demerited favor (Ephesians 2:1-9; cf. Luke 18:10-14).

Many of the “righteous” Jews of Jesus’ day could not come to grips with Jesus’ message of grace (Luke 18:10-14).
The unbelieving Jews in Paul’s day (and even Christians) had a hard time coming to grips with the implications of God’s grace.

PEACE

Peace is the restoration of a broken or disrupted relationship. The peace of the Gospel is our being reconciled to God through the cross of Jesus Christ (Colossians 1:19-20; Romans 5:1,10).
These are the twelve marks of a person who has received the Grace and peace through Jesus Christ.

1. Has an undiluted devotion to Jesus
2. Pursues a biblically informed view of the world
3. Is intentional and disciplined in seeking God’s direction in life
4. Worships, and has a spirit of continuous repentance
5. Builds healthy, reciprocal human relationships
6. Knows how to engage the larger world where faith is not necessarily understood
7. Is aware of personal “call” and unique competencies
8. Is merciful and generous
9. Appreciates that suffering is part of faithfulness to Jesus
10. Is eager and ready to express the content of his faith
11. Overflows with thankfulness
12. Has a passion for reconciliation

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God, God lives in him and he in God.
And so we know and rely on the love God has for us. God is love. Whoever lives in love lives in God, and God in him.
In this way, love is made complete among us so that we will have confidence on the day of judgment, because in this world we are like him.
There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. (1 John 4:15-18)