November 29, 2000

Reading: 2 Cor: 13:11-14

 

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ … be with you” (14).

 

Here in one sentence Paul reminds the Christians at Corinth of the three glorious blessings that are ours because we have been redeemed. He reminds them (and us) that the Father, Son and Holy Spirit work together in the plan of salvation and its continual fulfillment.

First, Paul speaks of the “grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.” It is through the work of the Son that we have forgiveness of sins. It is by the application of the Divine plan that we are saved. Any plan, human or Divine, remains nothing more than a plan unless it is applied, unless someone takes it and makes it happen. That Someone is Jesus Christ, it is because of His grace that salvation is made possible.

Not only are we saved because Jesus died for us but because He accomplished the entire work. We had nothing to do with it. He did not ask for or require our approval or assistance. If we had anything to do with our salvation it would immediately have become imperfect and therefore unacceptable to God. It is because of His grace that we are saved (Eph: 2:8).

Secondly, we are reminded it is because of the love of God the Father we are benefactors of His grace. It is the love of God the Father that sent Jesus into the world (John 3:16). It is not an accident that the love of the Father is mentioned second, not that it is secondary to the grace of Jesus Christ, but because the love of the Father is expressed and fulfilled through His Son. The love of God is manifested by Him giving us His Son and through the work of Jesus on the cross.

The greatest expression of God’s love is found in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus, yet it still leaves us unaware of the capacity and depth of it. The love of God cannot be measured by what He has done for us for these things are but an expression of His love. The love of God is not one of His attributes, it is who He is, “God is love” 1 John 4:8.

“In this the love of God was manifested toward us, that God has sent His only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through Him” (4:9).

The third blessing of our salvation is “the communion of the Holy Spirit.” “Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law … that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith” Gal: 3:13,14. The Holy Spirit continues to work the plan of salvation in us. It is through Him that we have communion with God and each other. He is the One who binds us together with God and with all others who are Born Again. Throughout scripture, anytime God wanted to communicate to man, He did so through the Holy Spirit. He is the great Communicator, He is the One who Teaches us about Jesus and the Father. He is the Comforter through whom the love of God is made known to us.

The Trinity: the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, are one God “For there are three that bear witness in heaven: the Father, the Word, and the Holy Spirit, and these three are one” (1 John 5:7), equal in all things, yet having specific work in our lives and in the ministry of salvation.

If it were not for the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit, there would be no salvation and we would still be “dead in our trespasses and sins” Eph: 2:1.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all. Amen.”