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"The Blessing of Peace"
2 Thessalonians 3:16-18

Wednesday AM Bible Study
June 30, 2004

As this was a letter that sought to put the believers in Thessalonica at ease and in confidence of their relationship with Christu, Paul closes with a greeting/wish of peace. He knows that nothing of what he has written can be done apart from God's enabling grace; so it is by pointing to this grace that he closes his letter.

I. THE WISH OF PEACE (v. 16a).

A. It is a peace that comes from "the Lord of peace Himself" (John 14:27).

B. It is a peace that prevails:

1. At all times.

2. In all circumstances.

II. THE RELATIONSHIP THAT MAKES THAT PEACE POSSIBLE (v. 16b).

A. This peace is dependent upon the Lord being with us.

B. It is not only vertically considered (that is, with God), but also horizontally considered, because it is a peace that comes from the Lord being with us "all".

III. THE AUTHORITY BEHIND THIS WISH OF PEACE (vv. 17-18).

A. Paul authenticates this wish by his own salutation. This was necessary because the peace of the believers was being disturbed by false letters (2:1-2).

1. It was a signature in his own hand (Col. 4:18).

2. It may have been written large. It would have been immediately recognized as his (see Galatians 6:11; also Gal. 4:13-15).

B. Not only did Paul's signature indicate that the letter - and thus the wish C. Note that it is a greeting of grace. The basis of our peace with God is always His own grace toward us (Rom. 5:1).