“Here is the intertwining of the Trinity and the unity of power which brings all salvation to fulfillment. The love of God has sent us Jesus the Savior, by whose grace we have been saved. The fellowship of the Holy Spirit makes it possible for us to possess the grace of salvation, for He guards those who are loved by God and saved by the grace of Christ, so that the completeness of the Three may be the saving fulfillment of mankind.”[1] – Ambrosiaster
In our previous posts from this series we looked at the background of Paul’s relationship to the church in Corinth. We saw how his tumultuous relationship with them puts the benediction at the end of 2 Corinthians 13 into sharp focus as a Christocentric, others-centered love. Paul wished that the grace of Christ would be upon these people who had, for all intents and purposes, made Paul their enemy. In this, Paul reflected the very love of Jesus, a love which sacrifices self for the good of even one’s enemy.
This week, I want to look at the second clause of Paul’s benediction: “the love of God.” Paul specifically references God the Father as he works his way through a Trinitarian blessing.
“God knows we stumble and we fall, but He so loved the world He sent His Son to save us all.” – All the People Said Amen, Matt Maher
God’s undeserved love was one of the major themes of Paul’s theology, and is perhaps seen most clearly in his letter to the Romans. This is a love which actively sacrifices self for the good of the other. And in invoking the Father’s love over the Corinthians, Paul demonstrates that he has been a recipient of this love. The Corinthians did not deserve to be loved by Paul, and much less by God. And yet Paul sincerely desires that they know the unfathomable depths of God’s love for them. How would they know this love? By being the undeserved recipients of it through Paul.
This is the love of God in action. And this is the love that all of us who follow Jesus are commanded to demonstrate, even to our enemies. It is endlessly comforting to know that Paul’s love for these wayward believers was merely a faint reflection of God’s love for them, and thus, for you and me as well. Truly, God so loved the world…
For part 1 of this series, click here
For part 2 of this series, click here
[1] Gerald Lewis Bray, ed., 1–2 Corinthians, Ancient Christian Commentary on Scripture (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1999), 315.