Grace, Mercy and Peace... I extend to you my brothers and sisters of BTF.
In my studies on 2 Timothy 1:1-2, I've been spending a lot of time on these three little words. I figured I'd share with you all some of what I've been looking at.
Grace is the word charis; genitive, and it means literally “to rejoice; a favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor.”
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In this passage it refers to the grace, favor and goodwill of God and Christ as exercised toward men, it is a blessing contained in a salutation.
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Mercy is the word eleos and it means “compassion”.
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In this passage eleos refers to the mercy of God through Christ and the idea of mercies and blessings of every kind. Again, it is a blessing contained in a salutation.
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Peace is the word eirene; genitive, feminine, noun and it means “peace”.
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We often have such a misunderstanding of what it is to have "peace". People often feel that peace is the ability to be indifferent to outside influences, or the ability to be undisturbed, or unconcerned with things. But this my friends is a "worldly peace" and not of God. This sort of peace is always dependent on external conditions!
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The NT concept of peace has nothing to do with indifference or apathy, nor does it have to do with selfish nondisturbance. The peace which God gives is never to be identified with selfish unconcern. In addition, God’s peace is independent of outside conditions and is the fruit of an objective real salvation with God. In other words only Christians can have it!
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Contrast charis which is God’s free grace and gift displayed in the forgiveness of sins as offered to men in their guilt. God’s mercy, eleos, is extended for the alleviation of the consequences of sin. Grace identifies the free nature of salvation, that which is unmerited and without obligation. Mercy is the application of grace and reminds us that redemptive freedom rescued us from the pathetic condition of our sinfulness.
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Peace, eirene, refers us to the effect of salvation, namely, that we were set free from the condemnation of sin and reconciled to God. This is true not only objectively in that we no longer stand before God as enemies but now as beloved children; but this is also true subjectively in that we have been relieved of the hostility in our hearts toward God and the torment of guilt in our consciences.
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So my friends at BTF, it is my strong desire for you that you would have charis, eleos, and eirene, and that God would continue to move in your lives!
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God bless,
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Pastor Eric
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3 comments:
Would it be fair to say, then, that peace, like love, is not so much something we feel as something that we choose -- that we should will to be of good cheer -- for God has overcome the world...no matter how things swirl within or without us?
It would depend on if you are talking about worldly peace or charis (Godly peace).
With charis, it is completely independent of outisde conditions. And we don't choose it, God chooses it for us as His adopted children with Christ.
The Christian life is not about us doing things, it is about Christ living through us. This would include His charis.
Pastor Eric
Sorry in the above I said depends on if you are talking about worldly peace or charis... I meant to say eirene! I must have Grace on the brain.
But in fact if you are referring to God's peace (eirene) then yes it is independent of outside conditions and we don't choose it or choose to have it, rather God chooses it for us as we walk in the Spirit with Him.
As I stated earlier, the Christian life is not about doing things, it is about Christ living through us. This would include then his EIRENE!
Sorry for the confusion.. but hey if having grace on the brain is a bad thing.. then I'm a very bad person because I think of His charis all the time!
Pastor Eric
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