THE GRACE , THE LOVE AND THE COMMUNION
II Corinthians 13:11-14
Intro: Here is Paul’s second epistle to the Corinthians. Chapter 13 tells us that he is dealing with problems within the church and Paul tells them in verse 2 that if he has to come again that he will not spare. However, I do not believe that Paul is dealing with those folks who have been saved but with sinners inside the church. After Paul writes his letter he writes the benediction that is the most unique in the Bible. He says I verse 14 “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.” What makes this benediction so unique is that it is the only one in the entire Bible that embrace all three members of the Trinity in on verse. Even though Paul had to be rough with these folks he still loved them and he was reaching out to them through love. I want to preach this morning on this subject “THE GRACE, THE LOVE AND THE COMMUNION”.
I. THE GRACE OF THE LORD JESUS CHRIST
A. Grace is referred to 163 times in the Bible
B. (2 Corinthians 1:15) And in this confidence I was minded to come unto you before, that ye might have a second benefit;
C. Paul is referring to grace here is a benefit
D. (1 Timothy 1:12) And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who hath enabled me, for that he counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry;
E. (1 Timothy 1:13) Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.
F. (1 Timothy 1:14) And the grace of our Lord was exceeding abundant with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus.
II. THE LOVE OF GOD
A. (Romans 8:38) For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come,
B. (Romans 8:39) Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
C. Paul was saying that death and it’s terrors, life with its allurements, angel nor principalities supernatural in power and knowledge, powers whether it be human tyrants or angelic adversaries, things present that may come crashing upon us or things to come that may cause fear nor height or depth referring the outer realm of occult forces and to be sure he didn’t miss anything nor any other creature .
D. Paul was saying that God’s love for us is so great there is nothing that keep Him from loving us.
E. Page 220 in the red back hymnal “The Love of God” speaks of the last verse being written by a man who penned the last verse on the wall of an insane asylum
III. THE COMMUNION OF THE HOLY GHOST
A. The word “Commmunion” simply mean fellowhip
B. Paul was telling them to have fellowship with Holy Ghost
C. Fellowship with the Holy Ghost is an intimate fellowship
1. He knows things others will never know
2. I can tell Him things I cannot tell no one else
3. He has held my head up when I couldn’t
4. He has let my heartbreak when I couldn’t show it to nobody else
5. He has let me have times of personal joy
6. He has shown me things that he has not shown any one else
7. He has told me things he has not told any one else
Close: “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost, be with you all. Amen.”
