We don’t usually expect much from the closing words of a letter. We kind of assume the heavy lifting has all been done. But Paul’s final remarks in 1 Corinthians aren’t mere pleasantries—they’re a vision of what healthy church life looks like when it is lived in light of the gospel.

Leader who serve in love; members who submit to love

Paul gives the Corinthians five calls to action: “Be alert. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong. Do everything in love.”

It’s a bracing list and could easily be misinterpreted. Strength without love becomes harsh. Courage without compassion can turn cold. But it is the command to “do everything in love” that frames the rest. A command that is repeated throughout this letter. Our firmness, bravery and spiritual vigilance must all must flow from genuine care for one another.

Paul then holds up three men – Stephanus, Fortunatus, Achaicus – as examples of what this looks like in practice. Here are three believers who pour themselves out in service. Paul urges the church to submit to them – not for their titles, but because listening to their teaching and copying their lives will the church walk faithfully with Christ. These men are godly examples to follow, who are serving for the good of the church and the members’ good will be served when they submit to their godly counsel and example.

The upshot of that is simply this: godly elders exist to serve the saints, and members flourish as they follow that Christ-shaped leadership. It’s not hierarchical posturing; it’s mutual commitment to gospel faithfulness.

Real Partnership, Real Welcome

Paul moves on from local relationships to speak about broader church partnerships. He passes on greetings from other believers—Aquila and Priscilla and the churches in Asia—and then lands on what might sound unbearable to modern (and particularly British) ears: “Greet one another with a holy kiss.”

The point isn’t about reviving ancient customs. It’s about restoring the kind of community life where love is visible, tangible, even habitual. Not polished formalities. Not vague friendliness. But concrete expressions of welcome that reflect the welcome we have received from Christ and the love we experience from him.

In practice, concrete ways of showing love and welcome to fellow believers might include (but are not limited to) arriving early enough to have a proper conversation, opening up our homes to others, showing interest in others’ lives, visiting partner churches, or investing in shared prayer and encouragement. There are all manner of other ways.

The principle is that love and welcome should be genuine. There should be evidence of the love of Christ on display within the church. There should be evidence among the church that the members truly love and welcome one another.

What Every Church Should Long For

Paul closes with three short statements that capture his hopes for the church:

• A warning for those who don’t love Jesus – a sober reminder that neutrality toward Christ is not safe.
• A prayer for those who love Christ- that they would stand in the grace of the Lord Jesus and it would be manifest among them.
• A declaration of love – despite the hard truths written into his letter, Paul is motivated by a love for the Corinthians and a desire to serve their good in Christ.

This is what any church should want to embody: not just formally doing church, but being a community shaped by grace, moved by love, manifesting it so clearly to one another that the onlooking unbelieving community would be drawn in, wanting to experience the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit for themselves.

That sounds like a church vision most of us would gladly get behind.