Christ's Grace from Start to Finish

Christ's Grace from Start to Finish

Here is an excerpt from "Abiding in the Benediction: An Exposition of Philippians 4:23":

After having written 103 verses (Philippians 1:1–4:22), Paul must bring the letter to an end. What hope does Paul have that his letter will make a difference in the lives of the Philippian congregation? What hopes does Paul have that the Philippians will grasp the truth of which he has spoken? What hope does Paul have that these brothers and sisters will actually grow in faith and obedience and fruitfulness? What hope does Paul have that Epaphroditus and Euodia and Syntyche and Clement and all the unnamed Christians in this church family will increase in their love for one another and in the clarity of their witness to the world? What hope does Paul have that the saints in Philippi will join him in a life devoted to the glory and praise of God? Only this: that “[the] grace of the Lord Jesus Christ” is with His people, and that the God who once began a good work among them will graciously continue that work until the end.

Take away the grace, and it all comes to nothing. But with the grace, we remain rooted in Christ and, like an orchard growing for the harvest, we are ripened for the glory to come.