How does Ephesians 6:23 connect with Jesus' teachings on peace and love? Ephesians 6:23 in Context “Peace to the brothers and love with faith from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ”. • The letter closes with a blessing, not a mere wish. Because Scripture is literally true, this blessing carries God’s own authority. • Paul links three inseparable gifts that Jesus consistently emphasized: peace, love, and faith. Peace—The Very Gift Jesus Left • John 14:27 — “Peace I leave with you; My peace I give you.” • John 16:33 — “I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace.” • Since Christ Himself is “our peace” (Ephesians 2:14), Paul can declare that same peace over the believers. • Literal outcome: through the cross the hostility between God and people is removed, granting genuine inner calm (Romans 5:1). Love—The Command Rooted in the Cross • John 13:34–35 — “A new command I give you: Love one another.” • John 15:9 — “As the Father has loved Me, so have I loved you. Remain in My love.” • Jesus defines love by sacrificial action (John 15:13). Paul echoes that by blessing the church with love “from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” • Love is inseparable from peace; one cannot enjoy Christ’s peace without practicing Christ-like love (Colossians 3:14-15). Faith—The Conduit Between Peace and Love • Faith appropriates what Jesus supplied. “We have access by faith into this grace” (Romans 5:2). • Galatians 5:6 connects all three themes: “The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love.” • In Ephesians 6:23, faith is not an add-on but the channel through which God’s peace and love flow. One Unified Message • Jesus promised peace, commanded love, and called people to faith. • Paul’s benediction simply gathers these strands into one concise blessing. • The same Lord who spoke in the Gospels now speaks through the apostle, showing perfect harmony between Christ’s words and Paul’s letter. Living the Blessing • Receive—trust that Christ’s finished work literally secures peace with God. • Abide—remain in His love by daily obedience to His commands. • Extend—let faith work outward: pursue reconciliation, initiate kindness, forgive quickly, and serve sacrificially. The closing verse of Ephesians is therefore a direct echo of Jesus’ own teaching, assuring believers that the peace and love He proclaimed are fully available, here and now, through faith in Him. |
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