What is grace? It is a mighty and powerful blessing. It is the greatest of God’s gifts to men, which imparts everlasting life to those who all their days had been antagonistic to God. One sin brought the curse upon the whole creation, but each one of us has spent a lifetime sinning against God. He is rightfully angry with us, and we are justly under condemnation, for God is personally offended at our sin. How then can we possibly escape from the judgment of God? Indeed, we do not even desire or ask for deliverance but are headstrong in our rebellion. Why should God trouble to save such ungrateful sinners? And yet his grace caused him to do it, and his grace made him to love those who were enemies in their hearts towards him.
Again, what power could Paul have to send peace? As a faithful messenger he simply relates the good news of peace sent from heaven. Peace with God means that my eternal future in God’s presence is secure, that his just hostility towards me is abated. All grounds for enmity between us have been removed. His anger is gone; his love is free to express itself.