Departing words of a caring pastor

There is no easy way to say goodbye. The term 'Goodbye' was coined in the 1570s and means 'God be with you.' Sometimes when you say goodbye to a non-Christian, you realise that you may not ever them again. Yet when you say it to a Christian, it is much easier. Like the dying husband said to his wife, "Goodnight Honey, I will see you in the morning." We can say, "Goodbye" and "God be with you till we meet again," and we say this with great assurance because we know that one day, all God’s children will be united together.

In the passage in 2 Cor 13:11-14, we see Paul's final words to the Corinthians, and the three things—the plea, promise, and prayer—that he says by way of farewell.

THE PLEA [Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another,agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you. Greet one another with a holy kiss.]

These are Paul's final words, after two letters and after weeks and months spent with them and after the times of guidance and correction that we read about in Acts and in the epistles. After all that, he finishes off with this five-pronged plea.

1. REJOICE. Paul often sought to encourage the children of God to rejoice in who they were as God's children. Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice (Phil 4:4). Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer's; he makes me tread on my high places (Hab 3:17-19). Indeed, it is well with our soul, come what may!
2. AIM FOR RESTORATION. Other versions say 'Be perfect' and 'Be complete.' In other words, Paul is saying: Aim at sinless perfection. Do not use excuses like "No one can be sinlessly perfect" to distract you from aiming for perfection. "Be ye perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect (Matt 5:48). Make perfect holiness your aim and settle for nothing else.
3. COMFORT ONE ANOTHER. God’s children are in an alien world that hates God, and they need to encourage one another. Scripture is full of this 'means of grace.' For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord. Therefore encourage one another with these words (1 Thess 4:16–18). We encourage fellow brothers and sisters when we encourage them 'in the Lord.' And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near (Heb 10:24-25).
4. AGREE WITH ONE ANOTHER AND LIVE IN PEACE. It is difficult to agree with one another, and even more so when you feel you are right. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking deceit. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it (Ps 34:13-14). Strive for peace with everyone, and for the holiness without which no one will see the Lord (Heb 12:1). If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all (Rom 12:18). We must seek to look at all our friction and disagreement in the light of the word of God. Make peace and harmony the hallmark of South City, and proclaim the great gospel that brings peace and reconciliation with God.
5. GREET ONE ANOTHER WITH A HOLY KISS.

Greet one another in a way that says "I love you." See to it that it is a holy kiss with no hypocrisy and not a Judas kiss.

THE PROMISE [and the God of love and peace will be with you.]

The Lord has promised never to leave you nor forsake you. When a church knows peace with God through Jesus, they experience something of heaven in their fellowship. The Lord has promised to be with His people. He is the Prince of peace and gives His church peace.

My hope for SC is that they will know that love and peace

THE PRAYER [The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.]

Can you think of any other prayer to better this? Here we have a wonderful picture of the Triune God as He deals with the church. Paul desires that all the believers will know the fullness of God. A Christian is one who seeks and enjoys the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, who experiences the love that comes from God, and who knows the communion of the blessed Holy Spirit, who comes to indwell the believer in order to guide us and to help us pray.

This is my prayer for members and friends of South City. It has been a great pleasure to have been your pastor—to be loved by you and loved by God. Together we sought to serve God. Elsie and I pray that the greeting we find here in this passage may be your experience both now and in the days to come.