Grace and Peace for Faith and Love

2 Thessalonians 1:1-3    
1 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:  2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  3 We are bound to thank God always for you, brethren, as it is fitting, because your faith grows exceedingly, and the love of every one of you all abounds toward each other,

Paul co-labored with faithful men like his disciple Timothy and the man Silvanus, mentioned by Paul in both epistles to the church at Thessaloniki and by Peter in His first letter.  These were servants of Christ in the work of the gospel who Paul included as the source of the praise and admonition in these letters.  The usual greetings began with God’s immense grace in the Lord, easy to miss by its familiar inclusion, but deep both theologically and practically.  This grace is from God the Father and God the Son, our Lord and Savior.  This is important to note, as it leads to the peace beyond understanding that accomplices such unmerited and unlimited undeserved favor for such sinners as we all are.  This grace and peace is shown to be the source of increasing faith, trust and reliance, in Christ.  It also builds the love acknowledged here which is shared in sweet and living fellowship.  We also should overflow in love to each other in His grace and peace because we have been reconciled in Christ by grace alone and rely on this peace to live righteously.