2010 05 30 The Trinitarian Benediction 2 Corinthians 13 14
2010 05 30 The Trinitarian Benediction 2 Corinthians 13 14
2010 05 30 The Trinitarian Benediction 2 Corinthians 13 14
2 Corinthians 13:14
Reverend Anthony R. Locke
May 30th, 2010 (Trinity Sunday)
at the First Presbyterian Church of Tucker
1 This is the third time I am coming to you. Every charge must be established by the
evidence of two or three witnesses. 2 I warned those who sinned before and all the others,
and I warn them now while absent, as I did when present on my second visit, that if I come
again I will not spare them— 3 since you seek proof that Christ is speaking in me. He is not
weak in dealing with you, but is powerful among you. 4 For he was crucified in weakness,
but lives by the power of God. For we also are weak in him, but in dealing with you we will
live with him by the power of God.
5 Examine yourselves, to see whether you are in the faith. Test yourselves. Or do you not
realize this about yourselves, that Jesus Christ is in you?—unless indeed you fail to meet the
test! 6 I hope you will find out that we have not failed the test. 7 But we pray to God that you
may not do wrong—not that we may appear to have met the test, but that you may do what is
right, though we may seem to have failed. 8 For we cannot do anything against the truth, but
only for the truth. 9 For we are glad when we are weak and you are strong. Your restoration
is what we pray for. 10 For this reason I write these things while I am away from you, that
when I come I may not have to be severe in my use of the authority that the Lord has given me
for building up and not for tearing down.
11 Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one
another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. 12 Greet one another
with a holy kiss. 13 All the saints greet you.
14 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy
Spirit be with you all.
Sometimes we come to church and the message isn’t sweet. Sometimes the minister thunders
words of rebuke and chastisement upon God’s people. Paul did. And this message certainly shook
the foundations of faith in the hearts of the listeners. Paul exhorted them to make sure they were
really saved. In the previous thirteen chapters of 2 Corinthians Paul intentionally shook their
assurance of salvation.
The context of this Trinitarian benediction is in the context of spiritual doubt. Paul forced the
people to ask, “Am I apart of the family of God? Have we offended His love? Have we sinned
greater than the grace that is available in Jesus? Have we broken beyond repair the sweet church
fellowship that is available in the Spirit?
The answer comes back an absolute NO! These words of assurance come from the Triune
God. His blessing comes with His name and the benediction provides a weekly renewal of that
mark.
No one here can make God stop loving you. No one here can burn up the grace available in
Jesus. No one can permanently remove peace and unity. These blessings are all safeguarded by the
will and work of the three persons of the One living and true God.
The benediction is your reminder of this. In the worst times of our spiritual struggles the good
words of the Triune God are victoriously declared to our hearts and souls. When we by faith receive
this benediction we receive God Himself.
These three promises from God are the foundation of the whole scriptural message of
salvation. His love, His grace, and His fellowship were promised to Israel in the beginning. Exodus
6:7 says, I will take you to be my people, and I will be your God, and you shall know that I am the
LORD your God, who has brought you out from under the burdens of the Egyptians.
God’s good words. God’s utterance of His favor. The Triune God speaks covenantal promises
in the benediction as a reminder that God is for us. And if He is for us, who can be against us?
Thanks be to God.