Title: Grace and Peace (Ephesians 1:1-2)
The reason why humans create a religion and follow it is because they have a desire to become the master. Religion exists in that way because even the gods, who have the power to do things they cannot do because they are masters, want to make their own subordinates. So, if you give me a spell or bring me some riches, the god has to listen to me. As a result, humans always end up becoming gods, and religion has become a game for humans. This is the human form. Therefore, we must be careful about what is religion and what is Christianity. It is easy for us to be immersed in religious games without realizing it, mistakenly thinking that it is a Christian and live.
In this regard, today we are going to think about two words. One is grace and the other is peace. We know this word so well that we tend to think that we are using it so easily and that it is also what it means so easily. First of all, how do we understand the word grace? In general, we talk a lot in the way that we should receive grace. However, when it comes to using the word grace as a standard, it means that you are using it based on your own standards. It is only grace that one is doing well. We express grace as making good money, having a good child, and doing something as we wish.
The meaning of receiving grace in the sermon is also to judge whether it is grace or not, depending on how much you like it. Whether this is biblical or not is not of interest from the beginning. Without realizing it, one becomes a god, and God makes him his servant. This is not grace. The word grace, to put it simply, means free. Why does this word appear? It emphasizes that I did nothing from my point of view and emphasizes how evil I am. It is a word that shows that God did everything because he could not do anything from the human standpoint. In other words, we are not in a position to believe in Jesus or have any mental attitude to choose him.
Nevertheless, one day we knew and believed in Jesus. I did not believe in Jesus, but Jesus chose me. So it is grace. Therefore, the word grace is not an expression of gratitude for what I want to do, but a confession of God leading everything. You must understand that the word grace is not used to mean gaining things of the world, because God is leading us to the path of eternal life that the Lord wants, not success in this world or the fulfillment of desires. We need to know that this is a word that confirms how great God is and how inferior I am compared to that.
The next thing we should think about is the word peace. The word peace means shalom. What are our thoughts on this word shalom? We understand it in terms of just being comfortable, or getting along with other people. However, the meaning of peace in the Bible is not given only in such a narrow sense. The word peace refers to the reign of God. Peace is the meaning of God's rule that the world enjoys full salvation in the right order and in that order. That is why Jesus, who became the ransom sacrifice, came and fulfilled it, so that the peace we wanted is given to us.
Therefore, in other words, this peace means peace between God and man, and in other words, reconciliation. When this happens, there is true peace. Therefore, it can be said that it is the correct expression to say that grace is actually given, and that peace is given through that grace. Man is living in discord with God. It is expressed in terms of being in sin. However, through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, the barriers between man and God were broken down and peace came. Does this mean that we were reconciled with something the day before? The previous day, we were reconciled to the world and to sin. But now he is reconciled to God.
So who are you now at odds with? He became at odds with sin and at peace with the world. What is peace of mind because you believe in Jesus? In fact, it makes it even more painful. It's going to be really hard to live in this world. What does the Lord say in Matthew 10:34-38? Do not think that I have come to bring peace; I have not come to bring peace, but a sword. If you believe in Jesus, you will not be at peace, but rather, there will be strife. This is what a believer looks like. Because we believe in Jesus and are not at peace with the world, we are destined to suffer.
We are destined to live in discord in the world. The question here is, why is it that, if you believe in Jesus, there will be discord even though you are at peace? Is it because you believe in Jesus and want to live and prosper in this world? Conflicts arise in the mind and troubles arise. Yes, you shouldn't say it's weird. Now, we are opposite to the world and become one with God. So, where should we go? It is not about trying to do well with the world, but rather trying to do well with God. This is where all the problems of our faith come from.
We are always confused by ignorance of grace and ignorance of peace. Why am I without grace? Why do I have no peace? Are you trying to find grace and peace in the world, and to create grace and peace by having things of the world that are good for you? Always complaining and always anxious. We must find the place of the believer. It is not grace in this world, not peace in this world. Because I always want to be the master and I always want to be the god? That's going to be a problem. When I descend to the place of creation, when I descend to the place of obedience, I will discover what grace is and what peace is.
Believers are not meant to live for themselves. Only those who live for the Lord. When we live like this, we will naturally enjoy grace and peace. The true blessings of believers are grace and peace. It is a privilege enjoyed as a believer. You want this kind of life to overflow in your life.