“Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Corinthians 1:3)

In this simple yet profound greeting, the apostle Paul sets the tone for his entire letter to the Corinthians. He begins by wishing them “grace and peace,” two blessings that are at the very heart of the Christian faith. Grace is the unmerited favor of God, the gift of salvation that we receive through faith in Jesus Christ. Peace is the result of that grace, the sense of calm and security that comes from knowing that we are loved and forgiven by God.

As Paul wishes the Corinthians “grace and peace,” he reminds them that these blessings come from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. This is a crucial reminder, because it emphasizes that our salvation is not something that we can achieve on our own, but rather it is a gift that comes from God. It is God who initiates our salvation, God who sustains us in our faith, and God who will one day bring us to eternal glory.

So let us receive Paul’s greeting as a reminder of the blessings that we have received in Christ, dear friends. Let us remember that our salvation is a gift of God’s grace, and that we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. May we live out our faith with gratitude and joy, knowing that we are loved and forgiven by God, and that we have the promise of eternal life through Jesus Christ.