What do we say as we part from each other? Do we leave with “We’ll see ya!” or “See you!” or “See you later!”? Considering our fragile hold upon the breath of life, these expressions are presumptuous unless accompanied by a modifying phrase such as “God willing” or “If the Lord will.”
Or do we say, “G’bye!” or “Bye for now” or, simply, “Bye!”? These are, of course, various contractions of the term “Good-bye.” This is itself along-standing contraction of the phrase, “God be with you,” which invokes the divine promise, “I will be with you.”
“I will be with you”
This promise, along with its related assurance, “I am with you,” speaks of the blessing of the divine presence and is repeated, invoked and acknowledged in scripture more frequently than any other of God’s promises.
The assurance finds it focus in “Emmanuel,” “God with us” (Matt. 1:23). The Lord Jesus, about to depart physically from the earth, assures his disciples, “I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Matt. 28:20 RSV as most quotes). The promise finds its ultimate fulfillment when “the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them” (Rev. 21:3).
“Grace be with you”
The concluding words of the New Testament are not, “Surely I come quickly, Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus!” Rather they are, “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all the saints, Amen.” The promise of future blessing is thus linked with the assurance of continuing gracious fellowship. The words, “be with,” are a variation of “I will be with you” and embody an offer of a personal relationship involving fellowship with God.
This blessing is the foundation of all other blessings; this promise is the one from which all others flow. Here is the core of the divine covenants with all God’s saints of successive generations. Here is the very heart of the grace of God.
When concluding his epistles, the apostle Paul often says “goodbye” with variations of “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all” (II Thess. 3:18). One variation is, “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you” (II Tim. 4:22). When the Lord, Emmanuel, is with us, the Father is with us.
Paul expands one “goodbye” in this manner, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all” (II Cor. 13:14).
“I commend you to God”
In bidding farewell to the Ephesian elders, Paul says, “I commend you to God and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified” (Acts 20:32). In committing them to God’s gracious care, he reminds them of the need to commit themselves to His word.
God’s blessings come with requirements and obligations. He will not go with us unconditionally. The sanctifying power of the word is available only to those who read it — regularly, carefully, prayerfully –and keep it– consistently, diligently, faithfully.
“Peace be with you”
Both Peter and John use a concluding blessing which invites the peace of God to rest upon their readers: “Peace to all of you that are in Christ” (I Pet. 5:14); “Peace be to you” (III John 14).
Paul reminds us of the conditional requirements involved: “…In everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” “What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:6-9). The God of peace abides with those who trust Him and serve Him in faithfulness and truth. To them is granted the peace of God.
“The LORD bless you”
The association of both grace and peace with divine fellowship are echoes of the blessing prescribed for the people of Israel: “The LORD bless you and keep you: The LORD make his face to shine upon you, and be gracious to you: the LORD lift up his countenance upon you, and give you peace” (Num. 6:24-26).
And so, dear brother, dear sister, we bid one another “goodbye” bringing to mind all the gracious promises that are intimated in the phrase, “God be with you until we meet again.”
The Origin of the Organic World – Part One