ARTICLE – 24 July 2016 
In this present day and digital age, letter writing is very much considered a forgotten art. Likewise the protocol of the conventional greeting and farewell. The Apostle Paul consistently makes his greetings to the churches he wrote to in the same manner. He always starts with “Grace be with you” and ends with “Grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God”, and sometimes greetings of peace and love. In all the 13 letters he wrote, he never fails to impart a word of blessing and grace is foremost in Paul’s desire for the people of God.
Grace is the unmerited favour from God to His children. Totally undeserved and unearned. It is a free gift (Eph 2:8). God is predisposed to give His people more and more grace. It is His benevolent nature to generously and compassionately give and not withhold (Jas 4:6). Christians are encouraged to have confidence in drawing near to the throne of grace, (Heb 4:16) for there we will find mercy in time of need. When we serve each other we are good stewards of God’s grace. We represent God’s good intention for mankind (1Pet 4:10). It is through the invincible grace of God that we will experience eternal comfort and hope. Our strength comes from the grace that is in Jesus. His power can be seen in our weakness (1Tim 2:1). Our justification by grace makes us heirs according to the hope of eternal life. We have a great inheritance as children of God. God is able to make this grace abound and it is sufficient for every good work (2 Cor 9:8). There is no need for Christians to strive relentlessly in doing good. Good deeds will naturally proceed from godly hearts that are full of God’s grace.
Paul attributes his own salvation and mission fully to God’s grace. He did nothing to deserve it. “But by the grace of God I am what I am…” (1 Cor 15:10). Paul concludes that his whole being commenced with grace, sustained and empowered by grace. Having experienced the fullness of God’s grace, Paul blesses the recipients of his letters with this same grace. For the Church in Corinth to continue in perfection, mutual encouragement, unity and peace, Paul ends his letter to them with the benediction of grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit – 2 Cor 13:14.
Shall we not greet one another when we meet and after sweet Christian fellowship to bid good-bye with a blessing of God’s grace? A greeting that is more than a mere goodwill but an all-encompassing of God’s goodness and power for daily life. Thank God for His Amazing Grace!
