‘Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us, from God the Father, and from Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.'
The permanent nature of their true faith results from God's grace, mercy and peace, which will keep them in truth and love, and from the grace, mercy and truth of Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, also coming in truth and love. So truth and love are to be the foundation on which they are established, and this by the grace, mercy and peace of God the Father and His Son Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father. Note the great stress on Jesus' true Sonship in His close connection with the Father.
‘Grace, mercy, peace shall be with us.'
‘Grace.' Nothing can be more desirable than to have God looking on us and acting towards us in undeserved love and favour, and this is what is here signified by grace. It is God acting towards us in continual saving power in spite of our undeserving. Thus John wants his hearers to know that he is confident that they will enjoy the continued experience of the grace of God.
‘Mercy.' As God's grace flows towards us, he says, so will we receive mercy. That is, forgiveness for our daily sins (1 John 1:7), and His compassion and love towards us in all our failings and weaknesses (1 John 2:2; 1 John 4:9-10).
‘Peace.' Peace results from grace and mercy, but this kind of peace is also God's gift, flowing from Him to us. Once we know that we are right with God, and experience His graciousness towards us, we have peace with God (Romans 5:1) and enjoy such peace, prosperity and success of spirit that our hearts can only overflow. For however things may seem to smile on us, if God is not pleased with us, we cannot fully know peace. The very foundation then of peace in our hearts is the favour of God, by which we enjoy true and genuine prosperity of spirit through the work of His Spirit, and find the peace of God which passes all understanding guarding our thoughts and hearts (Philippians 4:7). And this is what John wished for, and prayed for, for these Christians in this true Christian church.
‘Shall be with us.' John speaks with quiet confidence. He has no doubt that the Father, and Jesus Christ, the true Son of the Father, will abound towards them in gracious, powerful and loving activity, thus establishing them in truth and love. Note the two aspects of church life that mattered. First truth, for love is meaningless without truth, and then love flowing from, and resulting from, that truth. As they know the One Who is light and walk in that true light, so will they love one another (1 John 1:5-7).
The conjunction of Jesus with the Father as ‘the Son of the Father', emphasises His Oneness with the Father on the divine side of reality.