RR The Heart of the Greetings (Part 1) By David Harwood
Shabbat Shalom,
What manifestations of favor/grace were on the mind of the Apostles when they greeted believers? They pronounced a blessing of favor and shalom (grace and peace) over them. Why? What did they expect? We can find out their intentions and expectations as we look at some select greetings.
To begin, please consider a lengthy greeting found in 1 Corinthians.
Grace (charis/favor) to you and shalom from God our Father, and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah! I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace (charis/favor) that was given to you in Messiah Yeshua.
For in Him you were made rich in every way—in all speaking and all knowledge— just as the evidence of Messiah was confirmed among you. So you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you eagerly wait for the revealing of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. He will also strengthen you until the end—blameless in the Day of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (1 Corinthians 1:3–8)
First of all, look at the source of this blessing. Favor and Shalom towards justified disciples originates in the heart of God our Father and Yeshua, the co-eternal, relational, word and image of our Father.
God loves people because humans were created to be lovely to God. This love provokes favor. He loves who He sees. That is foundational favor which is a primary expression of foundational love. Foundational love is the love Father has for the entire world expressed in the giving of His unique Son, Yeshua. The offering of His Son is love demonstrated by the offer of favor that forgives, favor that justifies, favor that relationally connects even the worst of sinners to the heart of God when they trust the Good News.
Did you know that believers in Yeshua are especially loved by God? It is true. Consider this verse:
For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God. (John 16:27)
We know that there is charis on top of charis.
Out of His fullness, we have all received grace (charis/favor) on top of grace (charis/favor). (John 1:16)
Just as there is grace on top of grace (favor on top of favor), so there is love on top of love.
Every person is loved enough to motivate an explosion of love from the heart of God. However, disciples are the recipients of a unique love. What unique love? The love Father has for those who love Yeshua and believe that He came forth from our Father. Not every beloved human loves the Messiah or believes that He was sent from God. Those who do are especially loved by Yeshua’s Father. This love provokes unique favor.
In 1 Corinthians we read of Paul’s unpacking of the charis/favor those believers received.
First of all, this favor is built upon saving favor. It is favor given to those who have received saving favor. It is the favor given to them in Messiah Yeshua. There was grace given to them when they were not in Him: saving favor. This is favor given to those who are in Him.
This is active favor which can only be seen within the believing community. Here is Paul’s description of the manifestations of the grace (charis/favor) they received.
For in Him you were made rich in every way—in all speaking and all knowledge— just as the evidence of Messiah was confirmed among you. So you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you eagerly wait for the revealing of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. He will also strengthen you until the end—blameless in the Day of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (1 Corinthians 1:4–8)
1 Corinthians 1:3-8 speaks of love expressed through favor/charis which enables believers to be spiritually empowered to supernaturally, dynamically, love and serve one another. It is also the form of favor that will reliably strengthen them to the end of the age and make certain that they would be found blameless in the day of the Lord.
This is the heart’s desire and expectation of Paul when he blessed these believers.
Let’s ask for this type of charis to be active in the midst of the Messiah’s body.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat30-Aug 2025 6th of Elul, 5785 Parashat Shoftim
De 20:10-21:9Isa 51:12-52:121 Pet 1:3-13
What manifestations of favor/grace were on the mind of the Apostles when they greeted believers? They pronounced a blessing of favor and shalom (grace and peace) over them. Why? What did they expect? We can find out their intentions and expectations as we look at some select greetings.
To begin, please consider a lengthy greeting found in 1 Corinthians.
Grace (charis/favor) to you and shalom from God our Father, and the Lord Yeshua the Messiah! I always thank my God for you because of God’s grace (charis/favor) that was given to you in Messiah Yeshua.
For in Him you were made rich in every way—in all speaking and all knowledge— just as the evidence of Messiah was confirmed among you. So you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you eagerly wait for the revealing of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. He will also strengthen you until the end—blameless in the Day of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (1 Corinthians 1:3–8)
First of all, look at the source of this blessing. Favor and Shalom towards justified disciples originates in the heart of God our Father and Yeshua, the co-eternal, relational, word and image of our Father.
God loves people because humans were created to be lovely to God. This love provokes favor. He loves who He sees. That is foundational favor which is a primary expression of foundational love. Foundational love is the love Father has for the entire world expressed in the giving of His unique Son, Yeshua. The offering of His Son is love demonstrated by the offer of favor that forgives, favor that justifies, favor that relationally connects even the worst of sinners to the heart of God when they trust the Good News.
Did you know that believers in Yeshua are especially loved by God? It is true. Consider this verse:
For the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me and have believed that I came forth from God. (John 16:27)
We know that there is charis on top of charis.
Out of His fullness, we have all received grace (charis/favor) on top of grace (charis/favor). (John 1:16)
Just as there is grace on top of grace (favor on top of favor), so there is love on top of love.
Every person is loved enough to motivate an explosion of love from the heart of God. However, disciples are the recipients of a unique love. What unique love? The love Father has for those who love Yeshua and believe that He came forth from our Father. Not every beloved human loves the Messiah or believes that He was sent from God. Those who do are especially loved by Yeshua’s Father. This love provokes unique favor.
In 1 Corinthians we read of Paul’s unpacking of the charis/favor those believers received.
First of all, this favor is built upon saving favor. It is favor given to those who have received saving favor. It is the favor given to them in Messiah Yeshua. There was grace given to them when they were not in Him: saving favor. This is favor given to those who are in Him.
This is active favor which can only be seen within the believing community. Here is Paul’s description of the manifestations of the grace (charis/favor) they received.
For in Him you were made rich in every way—in all speaking and all knowledge— just as the evidence of Messiah was confirmed among you. So you are not lacking in any spiritual gift, as you eagerly wait for the revealing of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. He will also strengthen you until the end—blameless in the Day of our Lord Yeshua the Messiah. (1 Corinthians 1:4–8)
1 Corinthians 1:3-8 speaks of love expressed through favor/charis which enables believers to be spiritually empowered to supernaturally, dynamically, love and serve one another. It is also the form of favor that will reliably strengthen them to the end of the age and make certain that they would be found blameless in the day of the Lord.
This is the heart’s desire and expectation of Paul when he blessed these believers.
Let’s ask for this type of charis to be active in the midst of the Messiah’s body.
Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat30-Aug 2025 6th of Elul, 5785 Parashat Shoftim
De 20:10-21:9Isa 51:12-52:121 Pet 1:3-13
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