READ: Col. 1:1,2: “… Grace to you and peace …”
The congregation of Colosse, which was located 200 km from the west coast of present-day Turkey, receives an extremely important letter. The writer, Paul, introduces himself as envoy, apostle of Jesus Christ. He writes this letter together with brother Timothy on behalf of the Head and the Saviour of the church.
Paul does not personally know the members of the congregation there, but he knows the congregation through his fellow worker Epaphras, who was a member there (1:7; 4:12).
Paul immediately points to the deep unity that exists in the faith with the recipients of his letter when he calls them holy and faithful brethren in Christ. In this way he makes clear that, while there is indeed a relationship of authority between them, there is also a true communion of saints.
Saints are people who by grace have been set apart by the Lord in this world. They belong to Him in the covenant, and are united with Him by faith. Yes, for them He gave His life, as a Shepherd for His sheep, even though they were formerly Gentiles (John 10:14–16).
They are now children of the same household, sheep of the one flock of the one Shepherd, a true church acknowledged by the Lord as His own. They belong among the seven golden lampstands of the true churches, among which the Lord walks to sanctify, strengthen, and lead them (Rev. 1:12,13), so that from their side they may henceforth live with and for the Lord as their Saviour and Leader.
From that position Paul may give them, on behalf of Christ, a glorious greeting of peace. Let us not read this as a formal opening of a letter from an apostle, any more than we may do so with the greeting of peace at the beginning of the worship service.
These are words from God as their Father, and from Christ Jesus as their Lord! They have a very deep and rich meaning, not as a wish but as a divine promise: God gives His guilt-forgiving grace to His undeserving people on the basis of the atoning blood of the Son. Through that grace there may be peace, the peace of eternal life with Him, which already begins here, and which will later culminate in perfect glory in the eternal kingdom of peace.
Do you yourself know that peace which is mentioned in the blessing?
Singing: Ps. 33:3,6