Afterwords -- triune blessing
"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)
"In the doctrine of the Trinity beats the heart of the whole revelation of God for the redemption of humanity." (Herman Bavinck)
April 11, 2024
Dear friends,
I've been thinking about Paul's benediction at the end of 2 Corinthians. A benediction is a blessing spoken to another, declaring God's goodness toward the recipient. The priests of the Old Testament would speak blessing upon the people who drew near to God at the temple: "The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace." (Numbers 6:24-26) These words served as an assurance from God -- a seal upon their faith -- that their worship was acceptable to him.
We may think of a benediction as a kind of pious wish that someone in authority has toward other people, or as a formal conclusion to a church service. But a benediction means more than that. Coming from God, especially, it conveys his mind and will for his children. It's a calling to receive his blessing, to experience the goodness of God. As seen in the patriarchs of the OT, such blessings may be prophetic, shaping the very future of the recipient. (See for example, Genesis 48--49.)
As he closes his letter to the Corinthian believers, the Apostle Paul gives a threefold benediction of the blessings coming from our triune God. The doctrine of the Trinity (or tri-unity of God) may seem an abstract philosophical concept to us, unrelated to life. But as Herman Bavinck writes, "The confession of the Trinity is the sum of the Christian religion... In the love of the Father, the grace of the Son, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit is contained the whole salvation of men." (Our Reasonable Faith, p 161)
The triune nature of God is revealed at the baptism of Jesus (Matt 3:16-17), is named at our entry into discipleship at baptism (Matt 28:19), and gives understanding about our identity as God's people in this world (1 Peter 1:2). Paul's benediction, too, served as a seal upon the faith of the Corinthian believers, who were seeking to heed the apostolic teaching of Paul.
The order is different than we might expect with "God" (here, I believe, referring specifically to the Father) coming second. This order, however, reflects our experience of salvation. We come to know Christ as Savior and Lord; then we come to know the Father's love for us; then we experience the help and strength of the Holy Spirit. This is the tri-unity of God in our Christian experience. There's no separation here, as the Son and the Spirit both share deity with the Father, but there is a distinction as to how God works in our salvation.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ..." Grace (χάρις charis) is a word for abundant generosity that comes to us not because of our worthiness, but because of the Lord's own gracious and generous character. Jesus is Lord, and when we receive him, his riches become ours. God "has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing..." (Eph 1:3). Our needs in life will be met "according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus." (Phil 4:19; cf Eph 1:7; 2:7; 3:8, 16) And so, we are told, "Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need." (Heb 4:16) Our part in any benediction is to receive it. This benediction should move us to come with confidence to receive his free and abundant grace.
"...and the love of God..." The love (ἀγάπη agape) of God here refers to the love of the Father. In love the Father ordained our salvation and sent his Son for us. In love he has adopted us as his own children through Christ. Jesus said, "...the Father himself loves you, because you have loved me and have believed that I came from God." (John 16:27) The Father looks upon us in the way he looks upon his own Son, Jesus. We are his family. “The notion that we are children of God, his own sons and daughters, lies at the heart of all Christian theology, and is the mainspring of all Christian living.” (Sinclair Ferguson, Children of the Living God)
"...and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit..." Whom Jesus calls the Helper (one called alongside to help), here Paul speaks in terms of the fellowship (κοινωνία koinonia) of the Holy Spirit. Fellowship is more than talking to people after church or sharing coffee and doughnuts. Koinonia is a rich word, denoting a close association, a shared partnership, a participation in the life and power of God. "You will receive power..." (Acts 1:8) And, "...all who are led by the Spirit of God are sons of God." (Rom 8:14) The Holy Spirit enables us to share together in God's blessings. He brings a strength-giving partnership to us.
"...be with you all." In its original application this was Paul's blessing upon the church at Corinth. But by extension (see 2 Cor 1:20) it applies to all those who have come to Christ. This benediction is a declaration of the salvation we have in Christ and the blessings that flow from it. Taken together, this threefold blessing declares God to be generous, fatherly, and our close companion. This blessing states God's intention toward us and is a revelation of his saving goodness. It's not a mere religious form, nor is it only a wish. More even than a summary of salvation and the Christian life, this benediction is spoken as a blessing, calling us to receive grace, love, and fellowship from God. Our God is a giving God.
If we are believers in Christ, seeking to walk with him in obedience, then this benediction is for us, to be received and believed. So, we may confidently say, "The riches of grace in Christ Jesus are mine. The Father's love is eternally toward me. The Holy Spirit is with me forever as my strong partner."
ARTICLES.
-- Read more from Bavinck on experiencing the Trinity, here.
-- "The Expulsive Power of a New Affection" is a classic (and brief) work by Thomas Chalmers (1780 – 1847).
-- "Conversation about rebuilding trust in civil society is a waste of time until it acknowledges that trust is inseparable from virtue." (Samuel D. James) Read "There are No Free Bets."
-- This is the kind of department store I'd like to see in our country, preferably nearby.
FINAL QUOTE.
"The word 'Trinity' is not found in the Bible, but the truth of this doctrine is in every part of the Bible." (Donald Grey Barnhouse)
That's it for this week!
Sandy
Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are from The ESV Bible (The Holy Bible, English Standard Version), copyright 2001 by Crossway, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved.