Paul wishes for grace and peace as this letter will be read to the Colossians. God’s church is the arena of grace and peace. The coming together of God’s people is a testimony to this reality, though not in a complete sense. But it is there in two ways: in the existence of the church and in the life of God’s people.
The first aspect then is the existence of the church. Have you dreamed of being among people like the ones you are with in this church? How do we explain this group of people who see each other as they do? None claims to be better than the other, but all are equal. This is what grace does when it rules on God’s people. Grace removes all boundaries that divide God’s people, in terms of race, economy, nationality, etc. It reminds us that we are here as a result of God’s work. Behind all these divisions, we are the same in nature, sinners in need of grace, and the church is a group of sinners who have witnessed such grace, and treat each other out of the same grace.
The second aspect is the life of God’s people. Look at this whole world. What is it struggling with? We need peace. The main challenge facing the world is that we do not know how to cope with our differences. In fact, because of sin things are not the way they are supposed to be. Our differences have become burdens, there is no harmony. It is in the church where this harmony is restored. This is what is at the heart of this word
peace.
It is among God’s people where true harmony must be experienced. Young and old, more gifted and less gifted, highly intellectual and less so, rich and poor, men and women, black and white. You see, God works his peace in giving us this harmony. There is peace, there is living together.
2 To the saints and faithful brothers in Christ at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.