“Therefore, since grace is a gift by which sins are forgiven: “Justified by his grace as a gift” (Rom. 3:24), and the remission of sin is accomplished in us by the Son who took our flesh and satisfied for our sins: “Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn. 1:17): for this reason, the Apostle attributes grace to Christ, when he says, the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ.” – St. Thomas Aquinas
In our previous post, we looked at an overview of Paul’s history with the Corinthian church and his tumultuous relationship with them. We saw a series of correspondences, both in-person and via letter. This week, we’re beginning our three-part look at the benediction at the end of 2 Corinthians. We begin where Paul began—with the grace of Jesus.
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ…be with you all.” – Paul the Apostle
The grace of Jesus which Paul invoked over the Corinthians is a grace that is absolutely undeserved. It reflects the kind of grace Jesus has lavished upon us. This is a grace that desires the well-being of one’s enemies, the blessing of those who have done one wrong.
The relationship between Paul and this church had disintegrated to such a point that Paul was, for all intents and purposes, their enemy. But this was not by his own doing. Paul desired relationship with them, and he proved this by leading them to Christ and shepherding them in their faith in Him. But because he had spoken truth to them and called out their disorder, they set their faces against him. The Corinthians, for all intents and purposes, considered Paul their enemy.
With this background, we can see why Paul’s invocation of Christ’s grace upon this church is such a reflection of God’s love: he wished the blessings of God upon those who had made him their enemy! And in this we see a beautiful reflection of the love and grace of Jesus. He is God who laid His life down for His enemies. Paul echoes that love here.
Jesus “came to His own, and His own did not receive Him” (John 1:11). Paul’s willingness to suffer for his children in the faith was motivated by a heart aflame with the love of Christ. It is this love for others that must possess, and be possessed by those who lead in Christ’s Church.
“It were a suitable arrangement to begin with the grace of Christ, which was the procuring cause of God's adopting us into the number of his sons, and honoring us with his love…”[1] – John Calvin
[1] John Calvin. The Complete Biblical Commentary Collection of John Calvin.