Grace and Peace | Ephesians 6:18-24

Intro

You know that feeling you get when a vacation is coming to a close? It’s your last day away—on a beach or at a cabin in the mountains. Or a visit with family or friends is coming to an end. Or remember that feeling you used to get as a kid on a Sunday night when you had school the next day? It can be difficult to re-enter the reality of everyday life after a break.

We don’t really have a word for that feeling in English. But there’s a Portuguese word for it: saudade. One writer defines saudade as “memory of something with a desire for it.” It’s a slightly sad, melancholy feeling you get as a good thing comes to an end.

We started Paul’s letter to the Ephesians in mid-February. And today we come to the end. Throughout this letter we have beheld breathtaking views of the glory of God’s grace. To quote Lloyd-Jones again, “The Epistle to the Ephesians is the sublimest and the most majestic expression of [the gospel].” Taking in the grandeur and glory of God on display in this letter is like looking down on the planet from the summit of Mt. Everest or standing on the rim of the Grand Canyon. I trust that you have experienced awe and wonder at “the immeasurable riches of God’s grace in kindness toward you in Christ Jesus” (Eph 2:7).

But as we come to the end of this letter, this is not the end of your experience of God’s grace. The question is … How can you experience the benefits of God’s saving grace in your everyday life?

All of Scripture reveals the stunning glory of God’s grace, and that is available to you every time you open God’s Word. It’s not realistic to spend your life reading Scripture 24/7. God makes himself known every Lord’s Day when we gather as a church to worship. But Monday morning always comes.  When you go back to life—to your responsibilities, to the mundane, or to the stress—how can you continue to experience the fullness of God’s grace?

The conclusion to Ephesians has good news about God’s grace in your everyday life.

How can you go on experiencing the benefits of God’s saving grace in your everyday life? That’s the question that the conclusion of Ephesians answers. And Paul’s parting words are instructive.

For some of you, everyday life may feel mundane and monotonous. For others, everyday life is overwhelming. You are enduring some trial or affliction right now, and life is difficult. Or life is just busy. “Busy, busy, busy.” You’re so busy running from one activity to the next that you don’t have time to stop and think about how you’re doing … or to think much about God and his grace. Whoever you are, however you’re doing, whatever you’re facing, God wants to strengthen and sustain you with his grace right there in the midst of your everyday life. As wonderful as retreats and vacations are, God’s will is not to disappear you from life. He promises to be with you in the mundane and the overwhelming.

So how does God keep you in his grace? Ephesians points to three ways: Rely on God’s grace through prayer. Rely on God’s grace through his people. Rely on God’s grace through his presence.

Rely on God’s grace through prayer.

As the Apostle concludes this letter, he calls the saints to persevering prayer. The NRSV captures the sense of command implied here: “Pray in the Spirit at all times in every prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert and always persevere in supplication for all the saints” (Ephesians 6:18, NRSV). Pray! Pray in the Spirit! Pray at all times! Keep alert so you can pray. Persevere in prayer! Pray for all the saints!

Prayer is vital to your ongoing experience of God’s grace in everyday life. But don’t hear that as a burdensome obligation. Shame on you for not praying enough! You ought to pray more! No! Receive this as a gracious provision from God. Through prayer, God has given you direct access to himself—not only during this worship gathering or your personal devotions—but right in the middle of everyday life.

When are you to pray? At all times (v. 18). To pray at all times sounds like 1 Thessalonians 5:17: “Pray without ceasing.” Which usually provokes a question like, “Are you serious?” Does that literally mean that I should be praying one unbroken prayer all day long? How could you concentrate on anything else—conversations or meetings or reading?

Don’t think of praying at all times in terms of the time on the clock—every second of every minute of every hour. Think of it as praying in all circumstances, in every season, on all occasions. I would guess most Christians pray before meals. Meals are a great occasion to give thanks to God! But what else?

There is a series of books called Every Moment Holy, which contain liturgies for every moment:  For doing the laundry and preparing a meal. For home repairs and changing diapers. For the loss of electricity and for the ritual of morning coffee. For when a baby isn’t sleeping and for gardening. For shopping and for paying the bills. I could go on and on. There are over 300 hundred prayers for different moments of life. Do you see every moment of life as an opportunity to rely on God’s grace in prayer?

Next Paul tells us how we should pray. Pray in the Spirit (v. 18). What does that mean? This verse is connected grammatically to v. 17, which says, “And take … the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God” (Ephesians 6:17). God speaks to us by his Spirit, and it is by the Spirit that we speak to God.  The Holy Spirit is the One who makes your communion with God possible. He connects you directly to God.

The fullest explanation of praying “in the Spirit” is found in Paul’s words in Romans 8:26–27: “Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. … The Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.” You would have no access to God without the Spirit of God. Without the Spirit, prayer would be a merely human attempt to get God’s attention by saying the right thing in the right way. But as we have seen in Ephesians: You have been sealed with the promised Holy Spirit (1:13) You have received the Spirit of wisdom and revelation to know God (1:17) You have access to the Father in the Spirit (2:18) You are being built into a dwelling place for God by the Spirit (2:22) God strengthens you with power through his Spirit in your inner being (3:16) You are called to be repeatedly filled with the Spirit (5:18) So when you pray, rely on the Holy Spirit who fills and empowers you while revealing the glory of God to you.

In addition to praying in the Spirit, you are to pray with all prayer and supplication (v. 18). This reinforces the call to constant prayer. It’s similar to Philippians 4:6: “In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” There are many types of prayer: prayers of thanksgiving, praise, and adoration; prayers of petition (for your needs), intercession (for the needs of others), confession (of sin), and lamentation (expressing grief and misery); imprecatory prayers (asking for justice) and prayers of blessing. Pray at all times, with all types of prayer. Do you mainly pray about needs? Pause and pray a prayer of praise. Do you mainly pray when you’re in trouble? Make a point to thank God in prayer.

Finally, for whom should you pray? Pray for all the saints (v. 18). Pray for each other. It is right to bring your own needs regularly before the Lord in prayer. And it is good to pray regularly for the needs of others. Start with your household and your Gospel Community and your Huddle. Pray for those saints with whom you are in community. Or print out the church directory and pray for another family each night at dinner.

Besides praying for all the saints, Paul specifically asks the church to pray, “and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak” (Ephesians 6:19–20). Every phrase of Paul’s prayer request is focused on verbal gospel witness: words, mouth, proclaim, ambassador, declare, speak.

This is the Apostle Paul. He preached the gospel to crowds of Jews and Greeks across the Roman Empire. He stood before governors and kings. He was bold in front of friends and foes alike. He was effective in evangelism and apologetics, leading Jews and Gentiles to Christ. He was effective in discipleship, planting and strengthening churches. Repeatedly throughout the Book of Acts it says that Paul “preached boldly in the name of Jesus” (Acts 9:27–28) or “spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God” (Acts 19:8; cf. 14:3; 26:26; 28:31).

And yet that Paul coveted the prayer support of average Christians who remain nameless to us. Paul was not arrogant or presumptive to think he possessed this ability in himself. He knew that it is God who empowers effective witness in response to prayer. Nor did Paul rest on his laurels. Boldness in the past does not replace the need for boldness in the present.

If Paul relied on the prayers of the saints for effectiveness in the ministry to which God had called him, shouldn’t we do the same? What hope do we have apart from the help of God?

Loved ones, I want to call you to pray. Pray earnestly for each other. And pray for Emmaus Road Church and the proclamation of the gospel in Sioux Falls. Pray for our pastors, for our ministry team leaders, for our GC leaders. Pray for the Bridge Course and our biblical counseling ministry. Pray for a future church plant. Pray for a future building. “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Ps 127:1).

Rely on God’s grace through his people.

Next, Paul writes, “So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing, Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord will tell you everything. I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts” (Ephesians 6:21–22). Tychicus will tell you everything. That’s Paul’s point here.

Who is Tychicus? He’s mentioned in Acts 20 as one of Paul’s travel companions. He and Trophimus are described as “the Asians,” meaning that they were from the Roman province of Asia (or the western part of modern Turkey). That means Tychicus was from the very region where Ephesus was located. It’s likely that he was personally known to the church in Ephesus. And he was probably the courier who delivered this letter from Paul. Paul doesn’t simply name Tychicus, but he honors and commends him: “Tychicus the beloved brother and faithful minister in the Lord” (Eph 6:21).

Paul felt deep affection for Tychicus and regarded him as a reliable, trustworthy partner in the gospel.

But Paul doesn’t simply mention Tychicus; he stresses through repetition his reason for sending Tychicus. “So that you also may know how I am and what I am doing” (v. 21). This is so important that Paul repeats the purpose of Tychicus’s visit in v. 22: “I have sent him to you for this very purpose, that you may know how we are, and that he may encourage your hearts” (Ephesians 6:22). Of course, Paul could have shared how he was and what he was doing through a letter. But he didn’t. He sent Tychicus to deliver this Spirit-inspired letter and to relay a personal update. And Paul was convinced the effect of such a personal visit would be encouragement—filling the saints with comfort and courage and cheer.

There is a unique kind of encouragement that comes from face-to-face, life on life interaction with other believers. Paul told the church in Rome how he “often intended to come” (Rom 1:13) and how he had “longed for many years to come” (Rom 15:23). He told the Corinthians that he wanted to visit them in person “so that you might have a second experience of grace” (2 Cor 1:15). Just listen to the intensity of his affection for people in his letter to the Thessalonians: “But since we were torn away from you, brothers, for a short time, in person not in heart, we endeavored the more eagerly and with great desire to see you face to face, because we wanted to come to you—I, Paul, again and again—but Satan hindered us. For what is our hope or joy or crown of boasting before our Lord Jesus at his coming? Is it not you?” (1 Thessalonians 2:17–19). Likewise, the Apostle John wrote: “Though I have much to write to you, I would rather not use paper and ink. Instead I hope to come to you and talk face to face, so that our joy may be complete” (2 John 12).

God’s grace comes to us through his Word. Scripture alone is authoritative to tell us what to think and how to live. Scripture is sufficient—we don’t need revelation from anywhere else to know God. But God’s Word doesn’t come to us in a vacuum or in solitary confinement.

God’s grace works through people who faithfully deliver God’s Word. So we preach God’s Word. We counsel one another with God’s Word. We encourage each other with God’s Word. And that personal aspect is not peripheral or incidental. The people God has put in your life are a vital way God conveys his grace to you.

Belonging to a church family and participating actively in community with other believers is a vital way that God increases your experience of his grace in your everyday life.

Rely on God’s grace through his presence.

Paul ends his letter to the Ephesians the way he ends all of his letters, with a benediction—a pronouncement of blessing. “Peace be to the brothers, and love with faith, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (Ephesians 6:23–24).

The specific wording of benedictions varies throughout the New Testament. A benediction is never rote or wooden. A benediction is not an incantation or magic spell that has to be said in standard way.

A benediction is an appeal to God spoken directly to people. In prayer, you speak to God on behalf of people.  A benediction is like a prayer—it expresses an appeal to God to act in a particular way on behalf of particular people. But it’s spoken directly to people. A benediction or blessing literally confers God’s favor upon the recipients.

The basis or model for such benedictions is Numbers 6:22–27: “The LORD spoke to Moses, saying, ‘Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them, The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace. So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.’” Notice that it was the LORD who directed the priests to bless God’s people in this way.  And v. 27 indicates that such a blessing is not merely a wish, as if the speaker is saying, “I personally hope God blesses you.” A benediction does something: “So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them” (v. 27). A benediction conveys covenant blessings and assures the people of God who bear the name of God that God himself is committed to acting for their good. Specifically, Paul asks God to increase peace, love with faith, and grace in the lives of the saints.. Each of these blessings is an objective reality for you because Christ died for your sins. And each blessing is meant to be an experiential reality in your life.

First, these are objective realities for you if you are united to Christ by faith. Consider peace. Paul just said that the gospel is “the gospel of peace” (6:15). And his theme in most of chapter 2 was peace: “For he himself [Jesus] is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility …. And he came and preached peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near” (Ephesians 2:14, 17). Through his death on the cross, Christ Jesus made it possible for you to be at peace with God and at peace with each other. What is love with faith? Well, Paul frequently mentions faith and love together. Paul opened this letter by telling the Ephesians, “I have heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love toward all the saints” (Ephesians 1:15). In Galatians 5:6 he says that the only thing that counts is “faith working through love.” Or he tells Timothy, “The aim of our charge is love that issues from … a sincere faith” (1 Timothy 1:5). Genuine faith in Christ produces supernatural love for people. Grace is not merely God cutting you slack or forgiving your sin. God’s grace is his dynamic power toward his people. If you are a Christian, you have objectively received peace, faith, love, and grace. We saw in Ephesians 2:8 that everything about salvation from beginning to end is a gift from God: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this [referring to the entire package] is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Ephesians 2:8).

But there is a difference between the objective peace and grace you enjoy in Christ through the gospel and your conscious awareness of that grace and peace in everyday life.  Paul is asking God to increase your conscious awareness of the grace and peace of God.

Objectively, you are at peace with God. Your sins are forgiven. No more wrath remains. But subjectively, are you experiencing peace today? Are you enjoying the benefits Christ purchased for you by his blood? Is your faith strong or weak right now? Is your love for Christ waxing or waning? What about your love for the people around you?

Listen to this blessing in 2 Thessalonians: “Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way” (2 Thessalonians 3:16). Objectively, you have peace with God through Christ.  Are you experiencing that in all of life—at all times and in every way?  Are you consciously aware of God’s peace in the midst of your everyday life?

These blessings are available to you because of the enduring presence of Christ. Look at v. 24. In the ESV it reads, “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ with love incorruptible” (Ephesians 6:24).  That last phrase is tricky. What does that mean? The way it’s worded in English makes it sound like it’s describing the nature of a genuine Christian’s love for Christ—these blessings are for those who love Christ with love that is undying or pure and unwavering.

But based on the word order in Greek, I think it makes most sense to take that phrase as a description of Jesus, not our love for Jesus. So it should say something like, “Grace be with all who love our Lord Jesus Christ, who dwells in incorruptibility.” Paul says the same things about Jesus in 2 Timothy 1:10: “[He] abolished death and brought life and immortality [or incorruptibility] to light through the gospel” (2 Timothy 1:10). Or in 1 Corinthians 15, Paul writes, “So is it with the resurrection of the dead. What is sown is perishable; what is raised is imperishable [incorruptible]. … I tell you this, brothers: flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable. … For this perishable body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality” (1 Corinthians 15:42, 50, 53). So incorruptibility refers to the imperishable, immortal state in which the risen Christ now lives—the opposite of our weak, decaying, and mortal flesh and blood. When Jesus was raised from the dead, he inaugurated a new incorruptible state of existence. And the same immeasurable greatness of God’s power that raised Christ from the dead is now working in you (Eph 1:19–20) in your everyday life as you treasure Christ. Christ lives! Christ is with you in the everyday stuff of life.  And this is how you can be sure that Christ himself will increase your experience of peace, faith with love, and grace, by his Spirit, to the glory of the Father.

Conclusion

The glory of the grace of God in Christ has been the central theme of this letter. And as the letter comes to a close, God means for you to continue experiencing his dynamic power at work in your life, saving you, changing you, and empowering you to live for his glory. May you walk in that grace, increasing in the peace, faith, and love of God in all of life.