238. Grace
Ephesians 6:24 Gracebe with all them that love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
This promise could be: 1) unconditional, and it is, conditioned on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ, 2) conditional, in that ifyou love Jesus then grace is with you, or 3) just a wish, as, “I wish all of you who love Jesus would show grace.” We take it as unconditional since grace by definition is not conditioned by anything, or then it would not be grace. It could be taken as a wish, but that is not the nature of a benediction. For a benediction bestows the very blessing it speaks of.
Grace already is with those who love Jesus; these are the believers in Christ, because to believe in Jesus is to know Him and to know Him is to love Him. The wish does not produce, or pray to produce, more grace; it is simply to let the grace you have received be activated, shared, and shining forthwithin the group of fellow Christians. True faith in Christ loves the Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Faith has received all the grace of God there is; He does give grace piecemeal. The problem is that it is hidden away, tucked underneath a covering of sin and pride and self. Repent and believe the Gospel, and do not be afraid to openly share grace with one another.
Grace is an unconditional promise that is given free of charge to faith, which receives the grace. Faith is also a gift, worked in us by the Holy Spirit through the Gospel; it is not worked up by usin the flesh, because there is no good dwelling in us that is able to believe the grace of God. Grace is so unbelievable that it must be a miracle worked by the Spirit. Grace by definition is free, free to us but very expensive to the God-man, who gave His life at great cost. Grace is not just a theological construct or a theoretical idea; it is a living force that actively effects forgiveness of sins, life and eternal salvation.
“Grace be with you” does not mean grace is vacant, that you are empty; it may simply mean that the grace in you is dormant, while you are going about your daily life and work in the flesh without using the grace you have. God will activate it. “Grace be with all of you,” means that it can be smoothing out the relationships between one another; grace can be evident is our fellowship.