"And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.”
Acts 20:32
Paul had a rich history with the church at Ephesus. We see his work not only in the book of Acts but also I Timothy and the letter to the Ephesians as well. Paul certainly has the awareness that his ministry is coming to an end, and so he summons the elders from Ephesus to meet him at Miletus so that he can share with them a word.
His “final” words in a sense, because he prophesies to them that they will see his face “no more”. At the end of the chapter, before Paul departs, we see the sorrow of that reality upon the hearts of the brethren. These were his final words of grace to them.
And it appears this is of great emphasis: that he came to them with the word of grace and he is now leaving them with the word of grace. Paul’s ministry to the Ephesians (and all peoples) begins and ends with the word of grace - the gospel!
“But I (Paul) do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.”(Acts 20:24) That by which their (our) faith is founded and established is what is necessary for that faith to continue to grow, and be built up, and result in the blessing of the inheritance of the sanctified (saints).
And so Paul is reminding these brethren, that it is not him, but the word of God he brought, the word of grace, the gospel that will sustain them. "Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will not pass away.” (Mark 13:31) "’ALL FLESH IS LIKE GRASS, AND ALL ITS GLORY LIKE THE FLOWER OF GRASS. THE GRASS WITHERS, AND THE FLOWER FALLS OFF, BUT THE WORD OF THE LORD ABIDES FOREVER.’ And this is the word which was preached to you.” (1 Peter 1:24-25) “And the world is passing away, and also its lusts; but the one who does the will of God abides forever.”(1 John 2:17)
Yes, Paul was going away, but the word of grace remains. Yes, Paul would return no more, but the word of grace would abide. Yes, the brethren would no longer have the physical presence of support from Paul, but they would have the word of grace that he preached. Yes, Paul would suffer the fate that all men suffer, but those who did the will of the Lord would enjoy the fate of blessing promised to the faithful.
The final word of grace was an enduring word of grace. The same word that 2,000 years later carries the same comfort, and hope, and assurance as it always has and it always will. We miss those who have gone on before us in the Lord, but by the word of grace our longing will not be in vain. For He who promised is faithful, He is the Amen, and in His word of grace is joy, and hope, and confidence. Amen!
Comments