The Grace of the Lord Jesus

I’ve had a bit more time, lately, to read. I’ve enjoyed re-reading Paul’s writings in the New Testament. I’ve not been reading to get great sermons, or incredible, new insights. No, I have been reading Paul’s letters for me.  I’ve been asking the Holy Spirit to minister, personally, to me, whatever He would want to say to my soul.

I could write many things of which I believe the Holy Spirit has given me through this season of just reading God’s Word to speak to me. One thing that kept coming back to me, again and again, was the way Paul would close out virtually each of his letters and writings with some variation of “the grace of the Lord Jesus” be with you all, or “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit,” or “Grace to all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with an undying love.”

When I was a little boy, I remember hearing the word “grace” explained as “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” When I was young, that little jingle pretty much worked. I could understand that a little bit. As I got older, however, that little jingle didn’t quite have the same effect and meaning – I needed something more. Later on I realized that grace is both personal and corporate, if you will. Grace is God’s love for and to me – which I totally don’t deserve. Grace is also God’s love for all people – which we all totally don’t deserve. In essence, through Christ’s sinless life, death and resurrection God gives to those who call on Him the opposite of what we deserve. The grace of the Lord Jesus enables us to be made right with God – to the point where because of the finished work of Christ at the cross and His resurrection, when God the Father looks at those who have come to Christ on His terms, He sees us not as those who fall into daily sin, but as those covered over by the grace of His Son! THAT  is incredible and well worth pondering!

I think Paul ended all of his writings speaking of the grace of the Lord Jesus because he realized just how much grace his life before Christ required. In I Timothy 1:12-16, Paul writes:

I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.  Even though

I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief.  The grace 

of our Lord was poured out abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance:  Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners — of whom I am the worst.

But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display His unlimited patience as an

example for those who would believe on Him and receive eternal life.

Maybe we’ve not been a blasphemer, a persecutor of Christians or a violent person, but irrespective of our pasts, we all need a Savior — Jesus the Christ who alone can atone for our sin.  As Paul wrote, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, in Romans 3:10, quoting Psalm 14:3, There is no one righteous, not even one. Thankfully, the grace of salvation can save any sinner — with many or few sins. That same grace can also enable us to live for Jesus when life is challenging. As Paul exhorted Timothy in 2 Timothy 2:1, You, then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

I’m thankful, once again, for the power of God’s Word, the Bible, that can illuminate and minister to your soul and mine as we allow it to wash over us.

“The grace of the Lord Jesus be with you.”  Romans 16:20.

Jonathan