Episode 2888 - Lesson 13 - Saturday Sep. 19 - Grace, Love, and Fellowship

Sabbath AfternoonRead for This Week's Study: 2 Cor. 8:9; Rom. 16:20; 1 John 4:8-11; 2 Cor. 13:11; Phil. 2:1-2; Gal. 4:4-6Memory Text: "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, ESV).As if Paul didn't have enough problems already, Paul closes 2 Corinthians by re-emphasizing essential elements addressed in his letters. He does this through five imperatives (2 Cor. 13:11).The first imperative, "Rejoice" (ESV), recalls earlier texts in the letters.The second imperative, "Strive for full restoration" (NIV), translates a single word in Greek (katartizō), which appears here and in 1 Corinthians 1:10.The third, "Encourage one another" (NIV), resumes 2 Corinthians 1:3-7. Paul begins and closes his second letter with encouragement. We receive God's encouragement in order to encourage others (2 Cor. 1:4, 6).The fourth and fifth imperatives, "Be of one mind, live in peace" (2 Cor. 13:11, NKJV), are a call to unity. This atmosphere of joy, restoration, encouragement, unity, and peace is the condition for the presence of God, "the God of love and peace" (2 Cor. 13:11, ESV). It results from our triune God's work in the human heart (2 Cor. 13:14).Grace, love, and fellowship result from the work of the triune God for us. These three Christian features promote an atmosphere characterized by God's presence.* Study this week's lesson to prepare for Sabbath, September 26.