ROMANS 16:24

“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”

Can you believe we have only four verses left in Romans? Where has the past 429 days gone? That’s how many verses we have covered so far with just verses 24-27 in Romans 16 remaining. Today’s verse is actually not in some of the translations because it seems to have been added in some of the later manuscripts. You may have it in your Bible, so I decided to include it in our study.

Paul closes out his letter to the Romans with a benediction. You have probably heard a benedictory prayer in your church. It’s the closing prayer at the end of the service. I’ll never forget the time I called on a chairman of the deacons in a church I was serving to close in prayer. We all bowed our heads and waited. Nothing! I looked up and he was shaking his head, so I prayed. After the service, he made a beeline to me and said very forcibly, “I don’t pray in public. Never ask me to do that again.” That saddened me then and still does today.

APPLICATION

But Paul doesn’t hesitate to pray, does he? He simply says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Isn’t that a simple yet profound prayer? Paul had just written these exact words back verse 20 which says, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you.” Some scholars suggest that today’s verse was actually written by Paul’s hand and not Tertius’ hand. That really isn’t an issue, though.

Let me encourage you to look at every letter written by Paul in the New Testament and see how he ends each letter. You will find some similarities in his closing words. Here in verse 24, Paul is praying these believers in the church at Rome would experience the grace of Jesus. That was not a small thing in their city. Grace was needed daily to survive in such a pagan society and facing persecution from the Roman government as well as the Jews.

Why did the Holy Spirit inspire Paul to write these words not once but twice? Grace is the foundation of the teaching which Paul had delivered. As a former Pharisee, he knew it was only through grace that we are saved. It is only through grace that we can deal with others. It is only through grace that we can forgive others. Grace is sufficient. Amen? Are you receiving and giving grace daily? Practice this benediction in your life today. Wish to all you meet the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Fill me with Your grace until I am overflowing on others.

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