Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen. (Philippians 4:20-23, NKJV).
Having explored in some detail the Apostle Paul's letter to the Philippians in these last 42 studies, it is astounding to think that the epistle was actually written nearly 2000 years ago, and yet, is as applicable now (and in some instances, more so) as it was then.
Relevance is hard to come by today. Life moves so fast and changes so rapidly that virtually instant obsolescence, rather than lasting relevance, is the norm. Relevance that spans 20 centuries is supernatural.
Although the style and means of personal communication have gone through countless modifications since the 1st Century, mechanically improving as time passes, there are many aspects of this type of letter-writing that have sadly been lost through progress. One of them, is the typical salutation that Paul employed to graciously bring his epistles to a close - the ancient equivalent of our modern day Sincerely or Regards.
Much can be gained from studying the apostle's characteristic written farewells. For instance, he almost never fails to provide a final benediction to Christ and the Father, reminding his audience one last time about Whom they believe in and Whom he serves. Usually, he also offers a simple prayer requesting that his readers be granted the grace and peace made abundantly available through the death and resurrection of the Lord Jesus Christ, in perfect accord with the purposes of the Father. Thus, even in his final sentences he encourages, exhorts and reminds the readers about what is eternally important - their life in Christ lived out in a world filled with darkness that will one day be replaced by His righteous Kingdom.
The phrase, Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen., is a perfect example of the succinct doctrinal and spiritual encouragements embodied in his closings. To the Jewish members of the early church, he highlights the miraculous change in the relationship between Sovereign Almighty God and lowly creature. Through faith in Christ, the Eternal is now both God and Father, an intimacy unthinkable under the ancient Jewish religious and cultural practices. To the polytheistic Gentile, his message transforms the Creator from an erratic mythical god or goddess in an ever-expanding hierarchy of imagined deities patterned after sinful man, to a single divine and transcendent Ruler who has power over all Creation, and Who is everlasting and unchanging - certainly a relief from the insanity of the likes of the Greek or Roman Pantheons. And to ancient mystics who imagined God to be an impersonal conception of All That Is, Paul emphasizes His essential Personhood and Identity. All this in just a few simple, yet profound words.
With Greet every saint in Christ Jesus., Paul reaffirms the importance and meaning of believing in the Savior. To be a saint, a "called out one", a person needs to be in Christ Jesus, evoking a relationship so intimate as to be described as one of being in Him. This requirement is first and foremost. Without it, no amount of good works, natural or supernatural, qualifies for sainthood. With that preeminent requirement met, all other saintliness flows as naturally as water down a mountainside; as does the unbreakable fellowship that endues the otherwise merely human act of greeting with unending significance.
The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household., takes this indescribably profound family relationship with other Christians in close proximity and expands it exponentially across all time and space. We who are in Christ today are bound inextricably and joyfully with all those who have ever been in Christ, or who will ever be in Christ throughout all epochs, past and future, and in all locations. A human heart indwelt by Christ knows no boundaries or limitations. Membership, belonging, and citizenship are all part of the glorious package. No one is too insignificant or important. No place is too large, small, near or far. We are all one in Him.
No gift of God is more amazing than His limitless grace, poured out abundantly through His Son. So the apostle's endearing supplication for The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all., is both loving and in itself, gracious. And it has rightly been said that God's grace is His unmerited favor, on the other end of the divine spectrum from His mercy. For mercy is not receiving what we are justly due as violators of His perfect will and law. Grace is the metaphysical opposite. It is being the undeserving recipient of that which we most emphatically are not due, like His everlasting kindness toward us and eternal life in Christ.
And finally, Amen. This is an ancient Hebraicism transliterated into the ancient Greek of the New Testament. From man's perspective it means let it be so, or as You command, referring to God. From His perspective, it is a declaration of unchangeable assurance - it will be so! It amounts to a divine oath, an omnipotent guarantee.
We must see then, that all the inspired writing of the New Testament has eternal and profound relevance. How could it be otherwise?
The God of the Universe, who is absolute truth, has provided us lovingly with His words of love and grace and mercy and redemption…. and judgment.
What could possibly be more relevant?
