October 15, 2017

Grace of the Triune God

2 Corinthians 13:11-14

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

—  2 Corinthians 13:14

We hear the word synergy a lot today. It means “the interaction or cooperation of two or more organizations, substances, or other agents to produce a combined effect greater than the sum of their separate effects.” Whether we like the word or not, it captures an essential truth about salvation. For salvation comes to us through the grace of the triune God: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.

Paul reveals the interconnected work of the Trinity in his closing blessing at the end of 2 Corin­thians. This blessing, often spoken by ministers at the close of worship services, clearly describes Father, Son, and Holy Spirit working together with grace, love, and fellowship in perfect harmony, carrying out their grand plan of salvation.

The Father graciously conceives and initiates the plan of salvation and brings it to completion. Jesus, the Son, in perfect unity with the Father, provides salvation for us and gives us his righteousness to live by. The Holy Spirit, also in perfect unity with the Father and the Son, works in our hearts to receive God’s grace with faith, sealing the promise of our salvation in Christ.

From start to finish, through the perfect working of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we see that salvation is by grace alone. May we all live and grow in this marvelous grace!

Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, we worship you as one. We also give thanks for your grace and mercy, which join us to you and to all your children around the world. Amen.

About the author — Kurt Selles

Kurt Selles is the director of ReFrame Ministries and serves as the Executive Editor of Today. He is a graduate of Calvin College and Seminary, and received his PhD from Vanderbilt University. Before coming to ReFrame, he served 19 years in Taiwan and China with CRC World Missions. Kurt later taught missions at Beeson Divinity School, where he also acted as the director of the school’s Global Center. Kurt and his wife, Vicki, reside in Grand Rapids and have three adult children.

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