Grace be with you all.
Summary: The ‘grace of God’ is a phrase that covers a lot of ground. By closing with this statement Paul is affirming the benefit of being restored to a relationship with God through his Son, Jesus Christ. He is also reminding us of something very important.
The grace of God is in the giving. God gave his Son so that all might be believe (John 1:7).
The grace of God is the means of salvation (Ephesians 2:8).
The grace of God is the benefit one gets from being part of God’s family (Matthew 6: 25-29).
The grace of God is the gift of peace (Philippians 4:7).
The grace of God is his kindness, his benevolence, and his forgiveness through Jesus Christ. When Paul writes, “Grace be with you all,” he is saying more than “good luck” or “I wish you well.” The grace of God is a real thing.
In one sense, he is stating the obvious. If a person believes, then they are walking in God’s grace. In another sense, he is acting as a herald. Having brought the news of salvation through Jesus Christ, he now announces the benefit that goes with that salvation; God’s grace.
“Grace be with you all” is also something more.
Paul knows the grace of God personally. He has met the risen Lord and experienced his forgiveness in a way that completely and radically transformed his life. He has lived for his Lord exclusively since being called by Jesus. He knows what God’s grace is.
Paul wants us to experience the fullness of God’s grace.
Perhaps there is one more reason he says this at the end of his letter. “Grace be with you all” is a gentle reminder that our lives and our hope of salvation both depend on God. There is nothing we can do to earn the honor of being called a “child of God.”
Perhaps when Paul reminds us of God’s grace, he is saying, “Don’t get cocky!” We need to remain humble before our Lord. “Grace be with you” is a gentle reminder that there is nothing we can do to save ourselves.
Application: Live as if everything depends on God’s grace, because it does.
Food for Thought: Imagine that you are standing before the throne of judgment. How would that feel without the protection of God’s grace?
Not good. Hebrews 4: 13; 2 Corinthians 5: 10.
Rich,
Good morning! Competing with John 11:35 for the shortest sentence this morning?? 🙂
I can try 😉
Imagine that you are standing before the throne of judgment. How would that feel without the protection of God’s grace?
Rich has it with two words, two verses, Good Job!
In Genesis we see mankind has come to know good and evil. Later we see we have been given free will and urged to choose life as we obey the Lord our God. Paul writes of the law being written on our hearts and our conscience bearing witness, accusing or defending our every thought, and lastly we are told we will all appear before God and receive the reward or consequences of all we have done.
Genesis 3:22, Deuteronomy 30:19-20, Romans 2:15, 2 Corinthians 5:10.
We each have the ability to harden our hearts to the truths of God and can daily choose sin over righteousness. Many live in a house with hundreds possibly thousands of rooms where evil deeds can be locked away and only those we choose for others to see are left open. This allows us to fool others into seeing us as wonderful, caring people, but not God who has full access to every room.
Romans 2:5, Ephesians 4:18, Hebrews 4:13, Luke 8:17
I have experienced two very memorable encounters with God, where He had determined it was important for me to understand this truth. First as the Holy Spirit convicted me of my sins, opened my eyes to the sins I was committing against God and showed me the way to salvation through Christ. In this case I was eager to obey God as He set me free from the burden of my sins.
The second time was a couple years later. As a young believer I prayed to God with a deceptive heart. Asked for humility when I didn’t really think I needed it. This time God opened all the doors for a brief moment and made sure I fully understood exactly what I was. What I saw in a very brief moment drove me to the floor in tears. I had been found out, God knew EVERYTHING. I laid there with no hope, thinking I was now to be rejected for what I was. At some point I felt Gods presence as He told me it was OK. He had always known exactly what I was and it was simply important for me to fully understand that I was a forgiven sinner, not a sinless person, only Christ sits in that seat. Since that time, God has put a lot of time in me, many of those sins are completely gone and He has found useful work for me.
God is Holy, Pure and will not allow the contaminating acts of evil sins to be near Him. All mankind knows good and evil in their hearts. All who reject Christ have chosen separation from God and will receive their choice for all eternity. The magnitude of their choosing temporary praise of men over eternal relationship with God, will produce weeping and gnashing of teeth as they receive their choice, eternal existence in outer darkness.
Luke 13:28, Matthew 13:42
Very blessed to read all the words on this page. God’s been opening doors that I’ve been blind too. Scary at first, then we learn to hand it over and try to walk in the newness of that life that he brings. God bless you all.
Thank you, Chris!
Nice to hear from you!! Trusting in God’s leading is the most exciting adventure possible!