GRACE AND PEACE
REVELATION 1:4-6
Introduction:
John is writing, but the revelation is from God and Christ through an angel.
It is the ROMAN PROVINCE of ASIA which included the western part of Phrygia. (This is not what we call Asia today). There were churches also at Troas (Acts 20:5) and at Colosse and Hierapolis (Colossians 1:1; 2:1; 4:13) and possibly at Magnesia and Tralles. But these seven were the BEST POINTS OF COMMUNICATION WITH SEVEN DISTRICTS and, besides, SEVEN is a favorite number of COMPLETION (like the full week) in the book, (1:4, 12, 16, “John to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace be unto you, and peace, from him which is, and which was, and which is to come; and from the seven Spirits which are before his throne; 12 And I turned to see the voice that spake with me. And being turned, I saw seven golden candlesticks; 16 And he had in his right hand seven stars: and out of his mouth went a sharp twoedged sword: and his countenance was as the sun shineth in his strength.” 4:5; 5:1, 6; 8:2; 10:3; 11:13; 12:3; 13:1; 14:6). —Robertson’s Word Pictures.
I. GRACE AND PEACE
A. Grace, God’s REDEMPTIVE work in man, v. 4;
1. God’s UNCONDITIONAL LOVE, Romans 5:8, “But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
2. God’s UNMERITED FAVOR, Psalms 30:5, “For his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning.”
B. Peace, the result of God’s saving grace, v. 4;
1. An eternal peace, John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.”
2. A peace beyond understanding, Philippians 4:7, “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”
II. “FROM HIM,” that is, FROM CHRIST
A. From him…v. 4.
1. Which IS, Exodus 3:14, “And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.”
2. And which WAS, John 1:1, “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”
3. And which IS TO COME, v. 8, “I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the ending, saith the Lord, which is, and which was, and which is to come, the Almighty.”
B. From Jesus Christ, v. 5.
1. The FAITHFUL WITNESS, John 18:37, “Pilate therefore said unto him, Art thou a king then? Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that is of the truth heareth my voice.”
a. A faithful witness WILL NOT LIE, Proverbs 14:5, “A faithful witness will not lie: but a false witness will utter lies.”
b. God gave His Word, Titus 1:2, “In hope of eternal life, which God, that cannot lie, promised before the world began;”
2. The FIRST BEGOTTEN of the dead, Colossians 1:18, “And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.”
a. Peter and the Apostles were witnesses of Christ’s resurrection, 1 Corinthians 15:5-6, “And that he was seen of Cephas, then of the twelve: 6 After that, he was seen of above five hundred brethren at once; of whom the greater part remain unto this present, but some are fallen asleep.”
b. Paul testified before King Aggripa of the resurrection of Jesus Christ, Acts 26:23, “That Christ should suffer, and that he should be the first that should rise from the dead, and should shew light unto the people, and to the Gentiles.”
3. The PRINCE (GR. = THE RULER) of the kings of the earth, v. 5; Revelation 17:14, “These shall make war with the Lamb, and the Lamb shall overcome them: for he is Lord of lords, and King of kings: and they that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful.”
4. Unto him that loved us, v.5; 1 John 3:1, “Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not.”
a. Who gave us power to become the sons of God, John 1:12, “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
b. Who had made us more than conquerors, Romans 8:37, “Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us.”
1) Who has given us victory over death and hell, 1 Corinthians 15:57, “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”
c. He will present us faultless before the Father with exceeding joy, Jude 1:24, “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy,”
CONCLUSION