Sam Casey was the CEO of the Christian Legal Society in the late 1990’s when he delivered the main theme of a CLS conference on Ken Sande’s The Peacemaker book and the Christian conciliation work. His influence and Ken’s book took my law career on a 90 degree turn toward the Lord’s path for me. Later I served 2 terms on the CLS national board with Sam in charge. We had many long talks then and at other gatherings plus sat at a debate table in Denver together with Jewish leaders who would not accept New Testament scripture. Sam skillfully used Old Testament verses to make the points needed. He KNEW His scripture!
I knew Sam had a distinguished legal career, clerked for state Supreme Court justices, served as a deputy district attorney and became a partner at a global law firm, even eventually becoming a Dean and Professor at a law school. But his heart and soul went into the sanctity of human life issues. With CLS, he also grew the Center for Law and Religious Freedom and Human Life Advocates portion of the organization significantly.
Just before Christmas, 2018, Sam was struck by a car from behind while riding his road bike on a country road in North Carolina – a month in ICU, another month in a rehab hospital and finally home 3 months later as he could eat on his own, walk with help and receive lots of caregiving…nothing short of a miracle due to the severity of his brain injury. Improvement over the years came with hard work and a positive spirit.
We were privileged to loan Jill and Sam a car for help in transportation when Sam was brought to Denver to the Craig Hospital Brain outpatient program, for which he had to qualify. As we met up with them at the end of that time (and to get the car back), I saw a return in Sam of a big slice of his “personality” — he had big gains but he would never be the same and never able to manage being alone.
Sam’s worldly struggles with his body and brain issues ended with his passing on August 15, 2025. What an amazing Memorial Service I was able to attend online. The sharing by his children and friends with amazing and honoring stories expanded even what I knew about his mentoring and influencing so many lives.
But the most amazing sharing was by Jill, high school sweetheart and wife of 51 years. She gave a solid testimony to their past 6+ years of struggle, pain, hard work and long hours with the Lord with many questions. Her message shared their view that the Lord answered them with His whispered call for them to “come closer” to Him during this time. And they did. Powerful message.
I relate this story not only to honor Sam but to share an impact that came from my time of reflection on his life and the places where mine intertwined. I remembered how he always ended his correspondence, and other “greeting” times, with the “Grace and Peace” words. I was struck with a desire to adopt that signature for my correspondence.
And as would be expected, Sam had a very good scriptural basis for using that phrase as he did so often. My research on it turned up a very interesting article which truly provoked my thinking and added to my learning.
Titled Why Paul Never Wrote ‘Peace and Grace’, the author Casey Shutt, a pastor of King’s Cross Church in Oklahoma City, gave me great insight – and explained why I felt a prompting from the Lord on this action I wanted to take.
I will give you the summary, but it would be worth your time to read his full article. He points to Paul’s explanation to the Ephesians that in Christ we have “redemption through his blood [and] the forgiveness of our trespasses,” which comes by way of the “riches of his grace” (Ephesians 1:7). The riches of God’s grace culminate in the sending of His Son to save sinners.
This gracious work has brought us peace with God (Ephesians 2:1-10) and peace with fellow believers (Ephesians 2:11-22), and will usher in the unification of all things (Ephesians 1:10) – setting creation free from its “bondage to corruption” (Romans 8:21).
But Paul’s greeting doesn’t just speak to where the world is heading and how it gets there. “Grace and peace” also sheds light on how we’re called to live. Yes, you know how much I am loving this – because I am always asking “so what do I do about that?” after important scripture captures my attention.
Shutt explains that grace is God’s disposition of kindness and favor toward the world. I love his description that it is not as though we’re grinding out the Christian life and God just drops “grace packs” from heaven to push us over the hump.
No, Paul describes how the “riches of [God’s] grace” have unlocked dizzying series of blessings we find in Christ –
–every spiritual blessing (1:3)
–holiness and blamelessness (1:4)
–adoption (1:5)
–redemption and forgiveness (1:7)
That’s the point – Grace brings Peace: peace with God, peace with other believers, and a broader peace through creation. Grace then peace. Grace first. Peace follows.
Then he added a way that helped me firm up my understanding of his point. He said other religions operate in the reverse: peace then grace. If I can gain peace with God (or the gods, or a supernatural force) through a set of practices, then I can secure his (or their) favor.
Yep, he is right. Sometimes we function with a peace-then-grace mentality. If I can achieve peace with God through being a good Christian, then I can unlock his grace in my life. Such an approach, he says, misses the heart of the Christian faith.
OK, Sam…once again you have displayed your depth of knowledge of the scripture and mentored me just by one of your faith-filled habits. The signature “Grace & Peace” – I am adopting it!
We are saved by grace which subsequently brings peace to our lives. Shutt describes this as both an objective peace as we experience forgiveness from God, and a subjective peace as our hearts learn to rest in Christ’s finished work. His grace, as it sinks deeply into our bones, produces peace.
Of course, Paul’s greeting doesn’t just map our salvation, says Shutt, but grace-then-peace shows us how to relate with others. Paul spent 3 chapters focusing on God’s grace in Jesus and then shifts to how we ought to live as a result in the fourth chapter. It covers marriage, parenting and work relationships.
And Shutt’s ending declaration? He says Paul’s classic greeting is a declaration of hope. It states where creation is heading (not to disarray but peace), how it will get there (by grace), and how we ought to live in the meantime (living from grace, which brings peace).
Grace and Peace to you,
