The apostle Paul closes Second
Corinthians with a beautiful benediction in
adoration of the three Persons in the Holy Trinity.
This verse has been correctly called “the New
Testament Trinitarian benediction.”
The apostle Paul writes, “The
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you
all” (2 Corinthians 13:14).
This is the counterpart to the
Old Testament benediction found in Numbers 6:24-26.
“Then the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, Speak to
Aaron and to his sons, saying, ‘Thus you shall bless
the sons of Israel. You shall say to them: The Lord
bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face
shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift
up His countenance on you, And give you peace’”
(Numbers 6:22-26).
God exists in three persons:
God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy
Spirit. Yet God is one. The Westminster Confession
declares, “Three persons in the Godhead . . . the
same in substance, equal in power and glory.”
The work of salvation is the
work of the Triune God, Father, Son and the Holy
Spirit. The members of the Godhead deliberately and
willingly submit themselves to another in the work
of redemption. The Son submits to the Father, even
in obedience to death to die as our substitute on
the cross. The Holy Spirit submits to the Father and
the Son. Second Corinthians 13:14 “presents the
persons of the Trinity in full form,” just as
Matthew 28:19 does, also. The three Persons of the
Godhead are present at the baptism of Jesus as He
begins His public ministry (Matt. 3:16-17).
Paul’s benediction clearly
recognizes and teaches the distinct recognition of
the three Persons in the Holy Trinity. Christians
have recognized this great doctrine of Biblical
Christianity in all ages.
The apostle Paul reminds us
that the work of salvation is the operation of God
the Father, Son and Holy Spirit in our lives. God
the Son is our Mediator and Savior who gave Himself
up to death for us. It is all possible because God
the Father loves us and has chosen to save us by His
grace. God the Holy Spirit has applied this great
atoning sacrifice and love to us personally. We can
now live in the sphere of this saving grace whose
source and origin is the substitutionary death of
Jesus Christ on our behalf.
We praise the LORD God for “the
grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.” Charles Hodge said,
“It is the favor, the unmerited love and all that
springs from it, of this divine person clothed in
our nature, and who as the theantropos is invested
with the office of Messiah, the headship over His
own people and all power in heaven and earth, that
the apostle invokes for all his believing readers.”
We receive divine favor when we
receive “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” that
has purchased and won us by His redeeming death. We
now belong to the one who redeemed us. He is now our
“Lord” and Master.
Jesus came to save His people
as the name He bore suggests (Matt. 2:21).
The title “Christ” describes
His office. He is the Christ, the Messiah, the
“Anointed One,” and our long-promised Redeemer.
Lenski well said, “Each part of
His name glows with grace . . .”
Moreover, not only are we
blessed with “the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ,”
but also with “the love of God.” His infinite love
is the source of our redemption. Romans 5:8 tells us
God manifested His love in giving His Son for us. It
is also “the manifestation of that love in the
pardon, sanctification, and salvation of men was
conditional on the work of Christ” (Hodge). God is
the source of love.
We are united to the LORD God
in the bonds of the Holy Spirit. The bond of union
is, of course, Jesus Christ through whom we became a
member of the family of God.
“The fellowship of the Holy
Spirit, be with you all.” He gives to the Christian
a sense of belongingness with the LORD God. We are
united in one Body. The Holy Spirit has placed the
believing sinner in the Body of Christ.
God redeemed us from the curse
of the law that we might receive the promise of the
Spirit whereby we are in a koinonia fellowship in
God’s kingdom and work. We are joint partakers of
the Holy Spirit. What an awesome fellowship we have
with the LORD God. Jesus prayed, “I am no longer in
the world; and yet they themselves are in the world,
and I come to You. Holy Father, keep them in Your
name, the name which You have given Me, that they
may be one even as We are” (John 17:11).
It is through the Spirit of God
that we cry, “Abba! Father!” “Father, dear Father!”
(Rom. 8:15).
Selah!
Message by Wil Pounds (c) 2006
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Unless otherwise noted "Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."
"Scripture taken from the NEW AMERICAN STANDARD BIBLE" © Copyright 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation Used by permission." (www.Lockman.org)Scripture quoted by permission. Quotations designated (NET) are from the NET Bible copyright ©1996-2006 by Biblical Studies Press, L.L.C. http://www.bible.org/. All rights reserved.
Wil is a graduate of William Carey University, B. A.; New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, Th. M.; and Azusa Pacific University, M. A. He has pastored in Panama, Ecuador and the U. S, and served for over 20 years as missionary in Ecuador and Honduras. He had a daily expository Bible teaching ministry head in over 100 countries from 1972-2005. He continues to seek opportunities to be personally involved in world missions. Wil and his wife Ann have three grown daughters. He currently serves as a Baptist pastor and teaches seminary extension courses in Ecuador.
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