GOD’S AMAZING GRACE
2 Corinthians 12:9
John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace(charis anti charios” grace against grace).
John writes that through Jesus Christ we have received of His fullness and grace for grace. This would be better translated as “grace against grace” with the preposition anti. Bible scholars explain that John is drawing a vivid word picture of the abundance of God’s grace on His children. Just like waves that crash on top of other waves, God’s grace continually comes in even as others go out.
No one understood this better than Paul whom some refer to as the apostle of grace. We learn much about God’s grace from his writings. In 2 Corinthians 12:7 we Paul explains that he had a thorn in the flesh, some type of problem, that was given to him to keep him humble. He does not explain specifically whether this thorn was a physical, spiritually or relational problem. All we can do is speculate. But I believe this omission was intentional by God so we could all relate to Paul’s malady. We all have thorns in the flesh which makes life hard. But praise God, that we also have grace. Let us examine the many different places that God’s grace is revealed in our lives.
∙ God’s Grace is Unmerited (not deserved)
∙ God’s Grace is Unbridled (all powerful)
∙ God’s Grace is Unlimited (sufficient)
GOD’S GRACE....
1) GIVES US STRENGTH EVEN IN OUR WEAKNESSES (2 Cor 12:9)
And He said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
We all have weak areas in our lives. But we should not allow our weaknesses to keep us from living life to the fullest and serving Him faithfully. No! Instead, God wants to use our weaknesses to reveal His power through our lives.
So when you are struggling with Weaknesses
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
2) GIVES US BOLDNESS EVEN IN OUR FEARS (Rom 15:15)
Nevertheless, brethren, I have written more boldly to you on some points, as reminding you, because of the grace given to me by God,
Fears are another area of our lives that we all struggle with. Paul this great man of faith also struggled with fears. He explain in his second letter to the church of Corinth- 5“For indeed, when we came to Macedonia, our flesh had no rest, but we were troubled on every side. Outside were conflicts, inside were fears.” But then he explain that God is always faithful as he said, “6Nevertheless God, who comforts the downcast, comforted us by the coming of Titus,” (2 Cor 7:5-6)
So when you are struggling with Fears
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
3) GIVES US EQUIPPING EVEN IN OUR INABILITIES (1 Cor 1:4-7)
I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ,
God’s grace overcame Moses’ inability to speak well.
So when you are struggling with Inabilities
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
4) GIVES US CONFIDENCE EVEN IN OUR INSECURITIES (Heb 4:16)
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
So when you are struggling with Insecurities
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
5) GIVES US VALUE EVEN IN OUR UNWORTHINESS (1 Cor 15:9-10)
For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. 10But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
Many of us are bound by the deeds of our past. We have convinced ourselves or allowed others to convince us that God could never love me or use me because of my past. Well, friends that is a lie. None of us, if we are honest are worthy of God’s love on our own merit, but that is where God’s grace steps in. We are made worthy because of God’s grace poured out on our lives. No matter who we are or what we have done, God’s grace will reach out and make us worthy if we would only accept it. Isn’t that exciting! The Bible is filled with people of the worst type of character and past that God reached out to in His grace and changed their lives and used them in a mighty way: prostitutes, murderers, thieves of those whom God grace made a difference.
John Newton, the writer of Amazing Grace, was a slave trader and was so vile that even the captain of the ship had to rebuke him for his vileness, but God grace reached out to him and saved his soul and used him in a mighty way. No wonder he could pen, “Amazing grace how sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me.”
So when you are struggling with Unworthiness
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
6) GIVES US LIBERTY EVEN IN OUR LEGALISM (Rom 6:14)
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
So when you are struggling with Legalism
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
7) GIVES US LOVE EVEN IN OUR PREJUDICES
Only God’s grace can help us overcome deep seated prejudices, and let’s admit it, we all have a little prejudice. Prejudice arises when others are not just like us whether it be from the color of their skin, their nationality, their intellect or looks, their political persuasion or their religious faith. Prejudice comes in all forms and fashions and is normally taught to us. But through God’s grace it can be torn down.
So when you are struggling with Prejudice
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
8) GIVES US A SPIRIT OF FORGIVENESS EVEN IN OUR HURT
So when you are struggling with Unforgiveness
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
9) GIVES US PEACE EVEN IN OUR TRIALS (Rom 16:20)
And the God of peace will crush Satan under your feet shortly. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.
So when you are struggling with Trials,
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
10) GIVES US SALVATION EVEN IN OUR WRETCHEDNESS
So when you are struggling with
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
CONCLUSION
(2 Cor 9:8) And God is able to make all grace abound toward you, that you, always having all sufficiency in all things, may have an abundance for every good work.
It is God’s Grace that turns
the lemons of life into lemonade
the troubles of life into triumphs
hopelessness into hope
failures into successes
nobodies into somebodies
desperation into determination
fear into faith
So when you are faced with
Remember, Jesus said, “My grace is sufficient for you.”
