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Sermon Text: II Corinthians 13:11-14
What do you do when things break? When you, your optimism, relationships, your confidence in God breaks. What do you when things don’t turn out at all as you thought but seem to be blowing up in your face and you’re pretty sure you had a hand in that process making you not only a victim of circumstance? What do you do when things break a little bit or a lot? You let grace be grace. Grace from God to you, for the situation, the people, the time. Grace known, held onto, then given. Grace being the empowerment of broken things is what II Corinthians is all about. God never said he won’t give us more than we can bear. The first chapter of II Corinthians backs this up! Paul and company were overwhelmed, despairing of life, but God’s grace was their comfort and that grace tracks through the letter to the final blessing.
This blessing is for sinners. The blessing about the grace of Jesus, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Spirit being with us is for sinners who sin, who are broken beyond their ability to repair. This blessing is for people who are doubting the sincerity of their faith or wondering if they had it at all, for people who know exactly what God says and don’t do it despite a million resolutions and who, because of that failure, feel like they don’t belong with God or other believers. This isn’t just a nice way to end a letter. It’s not a tagline. It’s assurance for people who sin that God the Father, Son, and Spirit love them, call them their own, save them, and will be with them. Jesus’ grace, God’s love, the Spirit’s life and togetherness, all of God’s goodness is yours even if you don’t feel like you deserve it. God’s love is so much bigger. God forgets your sin so much better than you do. God is for people who need assurance, that’s why these verses are so readily used by God’s people with one another other. This sentence communicates depths and it’s powerfully comforting.
This blessing is how Paul closes the letter, but to wind things down at the start of chapter 13, he says intense stuff! He says he won’t spare those who sinned earlier, that they should examine themselves to see if they’re in the faith. Lord willing they are! He says he writes this so that he doesn’t have to be harsh when he sees them, but able to build them up. If I were a Corinthian having heard what Paul said, even though it was peppered with encouragements, I might not feel so awesome, “I hope Paul doesn’t have to be harsh with me! What if I don’t pass this exam he’s talking about?! He says to reform, what if I don’t???” Real concern, real weight, on real hearts.
Next thing he says? Rejoice. That’s what Paul says after saying he hopes he doesn’t have to be harsh. Rejoice. How, after hearing some of that? Well, do you believe in Jesus? You can rejoice. This doesn’t mean being chipper constantly, but having a steady undercurrent of glad hope that flows from Jesus that won’t be diminished by anything. “Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.” (II Cor. 13:11) To a group of people who’d been splintered and factioned apart, Paul says to aim for restoration with each other so that the body of Jesus is united, of one mind, able to build each other up in the peace only Jesus gives. On top of that, the God of love and peace will be with you.
Think about that! God who loved the world so much that he sent his Son, not to condemn the world, but to save the world through him is with you! God made peace with the world by reconciling it to himself through the sacrifice of his Son, not counting people’s sins against them, but against Christ, so we could be, and are by faith, his righteousness. In Jesus we are as righteous as God. The God who loves us enough to give up his Son to agonizing torment on a cross wants to be with us all the time. I can’t imagine a better thing to hear if I weren’t sure I was doing a very good job of being a Christian or even was one anymore. You believe in Jesus? Then, you belong to him and he’s with you. He went to the cross for you! Jesus is not going to stop loving you because you are doing now the sins he died for already! Jesus doesn’t stop loving you when you don’t feel deserving of it. Jesus is for the guilty to console and comfort! Jesus said, “And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:20) Being with God in absolute acceptance and love is the yearning of all of us. Jesus satisfies it by choosing to be with us always all the time. Jesus assures me of that in his Word, that’s one of the reasons he gave it! Read and reread those sections, that’s God sending his arms around you like a big ol’ hug to keep you close to him, loved and really knowing that you are always, no matter what, through everything.
Paul then says to live out that kindof loving goodness as we live with each other. “Greet one another with a holy kiss.” (II Cor. 13:12) This doesn’t mean go around smooching each other as the new handshake. It does mean great each other with warmth, extending the arms of your heart toward another, displaying it however you want, but showing all people no matter the “group” they come from in this world Christ-like love and respect. This holy kiss blasts through social distinction: rich or poor, Jew or Gentile, Man or Woman, Roman or non-citizen – love to the core! Be one with each and let love from one to another abound the instant you see each other! By this love disciples of Jesus are known, so from greeting on through, God’s people embrace in love. Paul says all the saints with him do the same in spirit. Hearing that other people who rely on Jesus like they do express welcome that feels good.
But what could be better when people are maybe feeling like they’ve dropped the ball for God, haven’t been good enough Christians, are repentant, wanna do better, need his help, keep backsliding…what could be better for humans than a prayer for us to God that the almighty and all-loving triune God be with us. “May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.” (II Cor. 13:14) Christ the Lord, the chosen savior who is also your brother, the real person named Jesus, pours out his grace on you now and always. The eternal God who made the world and loves the people he formed from its dust, broken though we are, sent his Son, not to condemn, but to save by dying to redeem. The love of God that moved heaven and earth to make you his own is yours. The enlightening, empowering Holy Spirit fills your heart to keep convicting you of the truth that Jesus knows you by name saves you, guides you in this life, and prepares a place for you in the next.
Let’s make it our mission to assure one another we’re loved immeasurably by God in Jesus and since we’re filled with his love, we have that much more love to pour out. Since ya’ll are listening, I’ll go first: Jesus’ grace, the Father’s love, and the Spirit’s unity, all of God’s goodness is yours all the time, no matter what. Amen.