The Salutations of Paul's Epistles - Like the Crunchy Outside of a Tootise Pop

Do you remember the old commercials for "Tootsie Pops"?  You know, the hard, candy lollypop with the Tootsie Roll center.  There stood a little kid asking an elderly turtle then a wise owl how many licks it took to get to the Tootsie Roll center. Then the owl took the Tootsie Pop from the kid, licked three times, then crunched it, exclaiming, "Three." Like Mr. Owl, I remember thinking to myself, "Just bite the thing already!"  Three licks and I had enough! "Crunch! Crunch! Chew, chew, chew!"   Needless to say, God is still working out patience in me and I imagine parting the Red Sea was easier.  So, with that introduction, I want to say that I am guilty of zipping past the prologues of books, past the "Read this first" insert in new purchases, and past the salutation of letters.  I want to get to the meat but I have just found out that I may be missing out on some really wonderful stuff.  I guess I don't remember ever enjoying and savoring the sweet Tootsie Pop coating!  What in the world does this have to do with God?  Good question. I'm glad I asked.

The Salutation:  the opening to a letter.  Paul's letters to various churches are called the Epistles and each one begins with an introduction or "Salutation". I have to admit that, even though I've read them, I've usually blown past them to get to the heart of the matter.  I just found out that the heart of the matter might have been right there after all.  I want to look at one of the openings or salutations of Paul's letters and see what great stuff we might have missed in our impatience.  Let's look at the opening to Paul's letter to the Church at Rome and as I list each of the wonderful truths it reveals, I recommend that you refer back to the Scripture to see it in Paul's own words:

Romans 1

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God— the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his human nature was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was declared with power to be the Son of God by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him and for his name's sake, we received grace and apostleship to call people from among

To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

This may be like trying to empty a swimming pool with a teaspoon but I want to point out some amazing truths in this Salutation.

1)  Paul's position came from God and was purposed for God.  Paul called himself a servant of Jesus Christ and tells us that he was "called" and "set apart".  These are works of God not of Paul and God's purpose was for the Gospel (God's Good News to the world!).

2)  The Gospel was not an afterthought of God but was foreknown and revealed centuries earlier though the Prophets.  Check out these prophetic words written by Isaiah more than seven hundred years before Christ was born:

Isaiah 53:3-5

He was despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows, and familiar with suffering.  Like one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not.

Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.

4)  Jesus had in his nature both humanity and divinity (i.e. He was fully man and fully God) and the proof and the power of that was revealed in the truth of his resurrection from the dead.

5)  The grace we receive comes through Jesus Christ and is for him.  Jesus said, "I am the way and the truth and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me."

6)  We are called to be obedient but that obedience is the result of our faith not the precursor to it.  (i.e. We are not saved by our good works but our salvation makes us eager and able to be obedient to God)

7)  God loves us!!  How awesome is that!

8)  God calls those who have come by faith "Saints".  I don't feel like one but his Word promises that I am.  You don't need a note from the Pope to gain that title just the grace of God.

9)  Paul always wrote "Grace and peace  . . . " in each of his letters and always in that order.  Note that the grace and peace were from God the Father and Jesus his Son and not from Paul.  Also note that grace always precedes peace.  Until we know the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ and what he did for us on Calvary, we will never fully know the peace of God.

So, I hope that you have been as blessed as I was by Paul's Salutation and maybe you'll learn like I am learning to slow down and not rush to the center of the Tootsie Pop!

Grace and Peace to you in the name and Power of God the Father and his Son Jesus Christ,

David