Grace and peace never lead to complacency, grasped as the gift they are not something we’re entitled to, they always lead to sorrow over sin, and repentance that resolves to be who we’ve been saved to be. Grace causes Paul to overflow with thankfulness for them, because they are a trophy of grace.

(3)Is a standard phrase Paul uses in his letters, not as a throw-away line but as a true truth for every church.  It matters more because it’s repeated not less.  It’s a universal truth for believers everywhere!  Because they are in Christ(4) they have grace and peace from the Father and Jesus Christ.  Grace – God’s underserved, unearned, unmerited favour and pleasure, and peace – the comfort and assurance of being right with God and secure in his love.

Grace isn’t something we start with and grow out of.  We aren’t saved by grace but then called to live by merit.  In Christ we’re always treated with grace.  We’re always given what we don’t deserve, God’s favour.  And that’s vital for the Corinthians to grasp as they come face to face with the ugliness of the sin in the church that they haven’t dealt with.

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