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The Christian is a man of generous actions, but his wishes go far beyond his deeds. Where he cannot be beneficent he is benevolent. Thus the great heart of the apostle relieved itself; though he would have been willing to lay down his life for the brethren, yet he did not think it idle to give them his blessing. Long has the benediction lain in the Epistle like the wheat in the Egyptian cathomb, but there is a vitality in it yet; lo, it buds and brings forth good to us after the lapse of eighteen centuries.

I. WHAT IS MEANT BY THE GRACE OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST?

1. The grace which was revealed in Christ

2. The grace which comes to us through Christ. Our Lord, as it were, took out of the river-bed of grace the great rock which blocked up the water-courses.

3. The grace which comes to us with Christ. Those peculiar blessings which come to souls who abide in Christ, who are not drowning men barely landed on the shore, but have life abundantly.

4. All the grace that is in anyway connected with Christ. Elsewhere he extends the benediction to the love of God and the communion of the Holy Ghost. But the shorter form is intended to comprehend all the rest. In many of his epistles the apostle sums up with "grace be with you all," without mentioning any person of the Godhead. So that "the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ" is synonymous with grace as such; and comprehends all the various displays of grace. He wishes the saints all the grace they need, or can desire, and that the Infinite God can give.

5. When the text is the desire of our heart, we mean —

(1)  May the love of Jesus Christ be with you, and may you know that you have it.

(2)  May His mercy be with you, as shown by the full pardon of all your sins, and your knowledge of it.

(3)  May you be the subjects of His work constantly.

(4)  May you have His peace.

(5)  May you exhibit the grace which shone so brightly in Him, and was seen by men and angels to the glory of God the Father.

II. WITH WHOM IS THIS GRACE TO BE?

1. With all the saints.

(1)  You all need it.

(2)  You all may have it.

(3)  There is no grace which you may not have, and which you ought to be content to go without. It is grievous to see how we stunt ourselves, and appear content with a poor form of spiritual life.

2. All the saints, i.e., —

(1)  Church officers.

(2)  Church workers.

(3)  Church members, poor, rich, young, and old.

3. This benediction is limited to the saints. In Philemon and Galatians the apostle says, "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit." It is only meant for spiritual-minded men, for such as have been born again of the Holy Spirit. In 1 Corinthians 16:21-24 he pronounces a solemn curse upon those whom he feels he cannot bless, because they are so base as not to love the infinitely loving Jesus.

III. WHAT WILL BE THE RESULT IF THIS GRACE BE WITH YOU ALL? Blessed consequences will accrue to —

1. Yourselves.

(1)  You will love God better.

(2)  You will be much in prayer, for this eminently distinguished his character.

(3)  You will walk with God, even as he did.

2. Your fellow Church-members.

(1)  You will love each other with a pure heart fervently.

(2)  Your speech will be to edification.

3. Your families. The servants will find the house a home, and the children will become children of God, when the master and mistress are filled with the grace of our Lord Jesus.

4. The world.

(C. H. Spurgeon.)

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KJV: Timotheus my workfellow, and Lucius, and Jason, and Sosipater, my kinsmen, salute you.

WEB: Timothy, my fellow worker, greets you, as do Lucius, Jason, and Sosipater, my relatives.