Ephesians: Prescript (1:1-2) – Jesus says, “Peace to you.”

Prayer is a source of peace that is beyond human comprehension.

Php 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!

Php 4:5 Let your forbearing spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near.

Php 4:6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Php 4:7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, shall guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Using it as a salutation, Paul, Peter, and John desire peace for all as God does. It is a wellbeing in the soul which is realized in and through Christ, and which is the object of saving promise and hope.

Taking a very fast survey of eirene as a salutation:

Rom 1:7

to all who are beloved of God in Rome, called as saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Co 1:2-3

to the church of God which is at Corinth, to those who have been sanctified in Christ Jesus, saints by calling, with all who in every place call upon the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, their Lord and ours: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

2Co 1:1-2

to the church of God which is at Corinth with all the saints who are throughout Achaia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gal 1:2-3

and all the brethren who are with me, to the churches of Galatia: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ

Phi 1:1-2

to all the saints in Christ Jesus who are in Philippi, including the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Col 1:2

to the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are at Colossae: Grace to you and peace from God our Father.

1Th 1:1

to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace.

2Th 1:1-2

to the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Ti 1:2

to Timothy, my true child in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

2Ti 1:2

to Timothy, my beloved son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.

Tit 1:4

to Titus, my true child in a common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Phm 3

to Philemon our beloved brother and fellow worker, and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

1Pe 1:1-2

to those who reside as aliens, scattered throughout Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia, and Bithynia, who are chosen according to the foreknowledge of God the Father, by the sanctifying work of the Spirit, that you may obey Jesus Christ and be sprinkled with His blood: May grace and peace be yours in fullest measure.

2Pe 1:1-2

to those who have received a faith of the same kind as ours, by the righteousness of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ: Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord;

Jud 1-2

to those who are the called, beloved in God the Father, and kept for Jesus Christ: May mercy and peace and love be multiplied to you.

Rev 1:4

John to the seven churches that are in Asia: Grace to you and peace, from Him who is and who was and who is to come; and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne

In light of this, our Lord’s use of it to the disciples after His resurrection is especially meaningful.

The resurrected Lord bids us peace.

Joh 20:19 When therefore it was evening, on that day, the first day of the week, and when the doors were shut where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst, and said to them, "Peace be with you [eirene humin]."

Joh 20:20 And when He had said this, He showed them both His hands and His side. The disciples therefore rejoiced when they saw the Lord.

Joh 20:21 Jesus therefore said to them again, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent Me, I also send you."

While they are in fear He says “Peace to you,” and after they rejoice in knowing that it is Jesus resurrected, he says, “Peace to you,” and, “I am going to send you.”

God bids us peace when we are irrationally afraid and when His victory and power is made known to us and we lose our fear, he again bids us peace, and that time it really sinks in.

Psa 56:3 When I am afraid, I will put my trust in Thee.

Psa 56:4 In God, whose word I praise,

In God I have put my trust;

I shall not be afraid.

What can mere man do to me?

The peace of God cannot rule our hearts unless we completely trust God’s promises concerning all that He has done, is doing, and will do.

Scripture closely connects sin to sorrow and distress and also connect righteousness and the gospel to peace.

Many scriptures show that sin and sorrow are closely connected as are sin and distress of life. And, many scriptures also closely connect peace and righteousness as well as peace and the gospel.

The impact of sin upon the human soul is enormous. Because we are forgiven of all sin and cleansed does not lessen the damage that it does to ourselves and others. We are warned and entreated time and time again in the scripture not to be engaged in sin. We are told that sin is death itself. Grace does not diminish sin’s punch. Grace allows us to deal with the blows given by sin and to overcome the sin nature’s drive to oppose all that is good.

Isa 57:14 And it shall be said,

"Build up, build up, prepare the way,

Remove every obstacle out of the way of My people."

Isa 57:15 For thus says the high and exalted One

Who lives forever, whose name is Holy,

"I dwell on a high and holy place,

And also with the contrite and lowly of spirit

In order to revive the spirit of the lowly

And to revive the heart of the contrite.

No matter what happened to the nation, God provided for the remnant of the humble, but they still suffered under the discipline of the nation.

Isa 57:16 "For I will not contend forever,

Neither will I always be angry;

For the spirit would grow faint before Me,

And the breath of those whom I have made.

Isa 57:17 "Because of the iniquity of his unjust gain I was angry and struck him;

I hid My face and was angry,

And he went on turning away, in the way of his heart.

Isa 57:18 "I have seen his ways, but I will heal him;

I will lead him and restore comfort to him and to his mourners,

The nation will be restored in the future, and also, individuals suffering under God’s anger will repent and be healed.

God would strike the entire nation. Some of them would turn to God and be healed and some would not. The ones who returned were restored by God, by His striking hand, and the ones who did not remained in their wickedness. God did not ignore the wicked.

Isa 57:19 Creating the praise of the lips.

Peace, peace [Shalom, shalom] to him who is far and to him who is near," [Eph 2:17]

Says the Lord, "and I will heal him."

Isa 57:20 But the wicked are like the tossing sea,

For it cannot be quiet,

And its waters toss up refuse and mud.

Isa 57:21 "There is no peace," says my God, "for the wicked."