24 Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.
Verse 24 is the benediction to the book of Ephesians.
24 Grace be with all those
“Grace” both concludes the book of Ephesians as well as launches it (1:2). “Grace” means God bestows benefits. This is a prayer that God will give His daily operating grace upon the Ephesians. All of Paul’s epistles close the same way, with an emphasis on God’s grace.
who love our Lord Jesus Christ
A Christian imperative is to love our “Lord Jesus Christ.”
in sincerity.
“Sincerity” means incorruptible. God gives grace to those who love the Lord in an incorruptible, undying sense; that is, we should love Jesus in a pure sense. This kind of love is not fleeting but is undaunted. It does not perish with problems. This love is undying and constant.
Amen.
“Amen” means so be it or I believe it. Paul affirmed the Ephesians as the recipients of God’s grace. They needed daily operating grace for their daily walk with God.
PRINCIPLE:
Nothing should ever extinguish our love for the Lord.
APPLICATION:
The Lord Jesus Christ is the supreme object of our love. Our love for Christ is the indispensable core of our walk with God. Nothing should extinguish that.
Some Ephesians lost their love for the Lord. We see this in Revelation 2:4. If we do not admire His person and desire His presence, then our love for Him has dissipated.
1 Co 16: 22 If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!
Do you think that things are going hard for you? Think of what Paul faced in his life for the cause of Christ. “Whenever you become discouraged or disillusioned, think of me in my chains. Remember that I am a living example of daily drawing upon grace from God.”
