Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. —2 Corinthians 1:2
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
Paul ends his letter where he began—with God’s grace. A persistent theme throughout has been that the Corinthians have missed the Gospel of Grace (“… we appeal to you not to receive the gace of God in vain…” 2 Corinthians 6:1). By contrast, it will hopefully be difficult to miss the theme of grace in this morning’s service. We’ll sing to “Him who saves [us] by His grace” (All Hail The Power Of Jesus’ Name) and send up a “plea for grace” (Turn Your Ear And Answer— Psalm 86). We will read from Ephesians of the “immeasurable riches of His grace in kindness toward us.” Further hymns mention “the triumphs of His grace” (O For A Thousand Tongues), call Christ “the King of glory and of grace” (Before The Throne Of God Above), and declare that the things of this world seem dim “in the light of His glory and grace” (Turn Your Eyes Upon Jesus). Of course, just like the Corinthians, we are all liable to forget, to overlook, or to take for granted the riches of the grace that is poured out on us in Christ. We conclude the service with a hymn that most of us have heard countless times: “tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.” Though so familiar, let’s never cease to return to the grace of Christ which begins and ends the entire Christian life, just as it does this letter to the Corinthians. —Henry C. Haffner