II John 1:3 “Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
This form of salutation was common among the New Testament writers. But, we must not overlook the blessing and need for such a prayerful salutation. John was not simply expressing a wish, the implication is that ‘I am praying that you will be blessed with the joy of “Grace”, “mercy, and peace” from God’. To have this “Grace” is to continuously rejoice together in the knowledge that we have been saved to Eternal Heaven by our Lord’s “Grace” and not by any value or goodness on our part. To have this “mercy” is to continuously rejoice that we have been saved to Eternal Heaven by the exclusive choice and work (Sacrifice) of Jesus Christ and not by any decision, declaration, or works of our own. To have this “peace” is to continuously rejoice that “we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1), The full joy of this “peace” was interrupted when Adam disobeyed God (Genesis 3:6; Romans 5:12). We now greatly rejoice, for this blessed “Grace”, “mercy, and peace” is sure and mighty, for it is Eternally Secured by the Sacrifice of our Savior and given to us out of the Almighty “truth and love” that can only come “from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father”! When we are worshiping our God “in spirit and in truth” (John 4:24), focused upon the “Grace”, “mercy, and peace” from God, we are not opening the door for the devil to come in amongst us to ruin our joy and loving “peace” amongst ourselves. Furthermore, when other “born again” (John 3:1-8) Children of God see us rejoicing in the blessed “Grace”, “mercy, and peace” “from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father”; they want to come in and rejoice with us!