Grace and peace! Gifts from Him and each other we all can always use more of! Let’s visit the assembly at Thessalonica and Paul’s 2nd letter to them. At the time they had been under persecution, and they had several issues he treated with a rebuke. But at the end of this letter he turns to an encouragement toward Peace from God Himself and Grace from he and the Lord.
[2Thessalonians 3:16-18 NASB95] 16 Now may the Lord of peace Himself continually grant you peace in every circumstance. The Lord be with you all! 17 I, Paul, write this greeting with my own hand, and this is a distinguishing mark in every letter; this is the way I write. 18 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all.
It is good to note that the apostle here prays for peace to be granted from the Lord of peace Himself. Not that it be brought by an angel, or a minister, a prophet, or another brother. But that the LORD OF PEACE HIMSELF would grant peace and in EVERY CIRCUMSTANCE.
He is obviously seeking that peace which can best be delivered by Jesus, the Prince of Peace ALONE, administered through the Holy Spirit, and as a result of knowing His Personal presence with or in us, perhaps much like the sound of Him walking in the cool of the day in the garden. This he writes to an assembly under great persecution and which is being riddled by the input and influence of what Paul referred to earlier in this chapter as perverse, evil and undisciplined men. Even in such an assembly, our Jesus can personally and alone deliver peace. So, understanding who the LORD is, and that the prophet said there will be no end to the increase of peace in His kingdom (Isaiah 9:7), he is not afraid to suggest they will find him delivering peace no matter the circumstances or situations they find themselves in or facing. There is also an aspect of being the Body of Christ here to be considered. In most things, if the personal ministry of Jesus is to be practically extended to people, it will come through the church, His body, the fullness of Him who fills all in all. So perhaps we need to be looking to be conduits for His peace to flow through to others.
Then Paul turns to his own mark which he often leaves on his letters. Signing in his own hand, and giving grace. Often in opening salutations (Romans 1:1, 1 Corinthians 1:2, 2 Corinthians 1:2, Galatians 1:3, Ephesians 1:2) Colossians 1:2 and 1st Thessalonians 1:2, 1 Timothy 1:2, Philemon 1:3), but as well sometimes in the end as here. Sometimes both, as here and 2 Thessalonians 1:2). He apparently saw grace as the element that begins and ends, envelopes, our ability to encourage and love one another. In this particular verse he adds the term “all” to his “The Grace of Lord Jesus be with you..” This is significant, for even though he has had some rebuke here, and particularly for this one brother stirring things up. He has instructed them not to treat him as an enemy, but to not associate with him and to admonish him. The hope is that in grace and admonishment he can be corrected and restored.
In the above outlined salutation scriptures “Grace and Peace” are linked together. One will follow and produce the other. The intent of the word of encouragement, and the word or rebuke or admonishment, is to extend grace and produce peace.
In our culture people divide over the smallest things. Yes, even in the church, the household of faith. Faithfulness to work through things and extend grace and preserve the bonds of peace are not valued. We like to keep count of wrong. But the nature and character of God is not such. He is faithful, He cannot be unfaithful. His mercies are new every morning.
[2Timothy 2:13, 24-26 NASB95] 13 If we are faithless, He remains faithful, for He cannot deny Himself. … (WOW!)
[John 8:10-11 NASB95] 10 Straightening up, Jesus said to her, “Woman, where are they? Did no one condemn you?” 11 She said, “No one, Lord.” And Jesus said, “I do not condemn you, either. Go. From now on sin no more.” (He did not wink at sin, telling her to “Go and sin not morm.” But He did extend grace when He could have, and according to the law should have, stoned her,
[2 Timothy 2:24 The Lord’s bond-servant must not be quarrelsome, but be kind to all, able to teach, patient when wronged, 25 with gentleness correcting those who are in opposition, if perhaps God may grant them repentance leading to the knowledge of the truth, 26 and they may come to their senses [and escape] from the snare of the devil, having been held captive by him to do his will.
What other places do you see grace extended in Jesus. How have you experienced His extension of grace to you?
Even in bringing admonishment, correction, or input can we extend grace and establish peace? Selah!