2 Corinthians 13:14

These are carefully chosen words, and they deserve our earnest attention. Every clause speaks straight to the hearts and consciences of the Corinthian believers. Every clause also speaks to the church of God, in all its varied conditions, to the end of time. God is the essence and power of this blessing, in the threefold display of His nature and His love. In each and all of these the Corinthians had wronged Him. They had badly abused grace. They had answered love with clever indifference. Quarrelling had replaced the sweet and blessed fellowship of the Spirit.

It shows a lack of understanding to turn such pointed words of blessing into a fixed, unchanging form for every kind of occasion. It is as if we had only one way to send people away... We need the word of God, and we need His Spirit to apply it well. Otherwise we may twist even that word into real harm. We may cheer someone who needs reproof, and rebuke someone who needs comfort. But what grace this servant shows, sending such a parting message to all the believers in Corinth! Poor, weak, unworthy — what can believers lack when this blessing is made good to them?... What a portion, to be with us all and made sure for ever!

Notice the order. "The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" comes first, because grace is the essential means and power of salvation. Without it we could enjoy neither love nor fellowship. Next comes "the love of God," set between the other two. That love gives rise to the grace shown in His Son. It is also the end for which God orders all His counsel and action. Last comes "the fellowship of the Holy Spirit," which fills the living body of Christ.

His words to Paul were, "My grace is sufficient for you" (chapter 12). They are wonderful words. No words that ever came from His mouth have given greater comfort to His tested and suffering people... There is the ocean of grace at one end of the sentence, and the thimble of our need at the other. The ocean is enough for the thimble. And that is true not only for special days of pressure, but always and for all.

The love of God lies behind the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ; it is the source of all good. God has brought us to His love. It is to be our home for ever. But it is also to be with us until we reach that home. No power above, around or beneath can separate us from it, now or for ever.

Many people twist the thought of communion into a certain state of feeling, or into strange and rare experiences. Some would say they have no time for communion. But how unhealthy all this!... The communion of the Holy Spirit is simply sharing in His thoughts. If the word of God occupies us, if the love of Christ attracts us, if the will of God controls us, that is participation with the blessed Spirit.

We should prize and cherish the communion of the Holy Spirit. It stands outside all the parties and divisions in the Christian world... It would free us from all our opinions and prejudices and narrowness of heart. These have no part in this communion.

Nowhere in Scripture is it said in so many words that the Holy Spirit is God. Yet the names of the Father, Son and Spirit are linked together. That linking plainly shows the truth of the Deity of the Spirit, along with that of the Father and the Son.

If its full meaning came home to them, they would turn back and read his earnest words again. They would find what is involved in this threefold birthright, which belongs to every soul born of God.