Grace On the Move Text: 2 Corinthians 8:7-9
7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all diligence, and in your love for us—see that you abound in this grace also. 8 I speak not by commandment, but I am testing the sincerity of your love by the diligence of others. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
Notice verse 7 But as you abound in everything... Abounding or flourishing in all Spiritual gifts and fruit comes through the grace of God. Grace is the results of Christ paying the price for our sins. Grace is God’s ability to work in our life, and to do what we could not do.
Verse 7, Paul is saying, just as you abound in faith, speech, knowledge, diligence and love see that you abound (grow or flourish) in the grace of giving. Paul tells the Corinthians that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ will bring your giving in harmony with other Christian virtues you possess.
Did you realize there can be a grace for giving? It comes from realizing that Jesus gave His all on the cross. He didn’t hold back, He willingly gave His life in exchange for ours. (He didn’t hold back then, nor does He hold back presently.)
2 Corinthians 5:21NKJ For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
The ‘becoming righteous’ is the Lord’s grace in action. He loves you too much to leave you where you are.
Listen to 1 Corinthians 1:4-9NKJ I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus, 5 that you were enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge, 6 even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7 so that you come short in no gift, eagerly waiting for the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ, 8 who will also confirm you to the end, that you may be blameless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9 God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of His Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Notice verse 4, I thank my God always concerning you for the grace of God which was given to you by Christ Jesus,
Christ came to make a way for Grace. Grace is given unto you; He didn’t hold back, He graced you! (He favored you.)
Verse 5 say’s, you are enriched in everything by Him in all utterance and all knowledge,
Ephesians 1:3NLT All praise to God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ.
Colossians 2:10NKJ and you are complete in Him, who is the head of all principality and power.
I love verse 6, “even as the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you.” This allows me to understand that everything I am blessed with came through the grace of Jesus Christ given in verse 4.
Verse 7, say’s, His grace enriched you so you won’t come short in any gift. The grace (or favor of Lord Jesus Christ) abounds in you, so you want come short in anything!
Testimony: A birds nest in my gutter, I took it down not knowing it had eggs inside, and a small bird. That mother came back, and somehow put that nest back up in that gutter. (Stephen Curtis Chapman: His Strength is Perfect When Our Strength is Gone)
Verse 9 say’s, you have were called into fellowship with Christ. Who knows, you might be in fellowship with some pretty important people. But you were called into this fellowship! (In fellowship with the King)
John 15:16Amplified Bible You have not chosen Me, but I have chosen you and I have appointed you [I have planted you], that you might go and bear fruit and keep on bearing, and that your fruit may be lasting [that it may remain, abide], so that whatever you ask the Father in My Name [as presenting all that I AM], He may give it to you.
Let me remind you that the same God who was rich toward these Corinthian believers is the same God who is rich toward you.
Listen to 2 Corinthians 8:9NKJ For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sakes He became poor, that you through His poverty might become rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9TM You are familiar with the generosity of our Master, Jesus Christ. Rich as he was, he gave it all away for us—in one stroke he became poor and we became rich.
2 Corinthians 8:9Amplified Bible For you are becoming progressively acquainted with and recognizing more strongly and clearly the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ (His kindness, His gracious generosity, His undeserved favor and spiritual blessing), [in] that though He was [so very] rich, yet for your sakes He became [so very] poor, in order that by His poverty you might become enriched (abundantly supplied).
Jesus left His place with God, took human form, and died on a cross, so we might become rich with every Spiritual blessing.
The grace (or favor of Lord Jesus Christ) abounds in you, so you want come short in any gift. ( You are graced!)
Galatians 3:13-14NKJ Christ has redeemed us from the curse of the law, having become a curse for us (for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree”), 14 that the blessing of Abraham might come upon the Gentiles in Christ Jesus, that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Galatians 3:13-14Amp. Christ purchased our freedom [redeeming us] from the curse (doom) of the Law [and its condemnation] by [Himself] becoming a curse for us, for it is written [in the Scriptures], Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree (is crucified);14To the end that through [their receiving] Christ Jesus, the blessing [promised] to Abraham might come upon the Gentiles, so that we through faith might [all] receive [the realization of] the promise of the [Holy] Spirit.
Galatians 3:13-14TM Christ redeemed us from that self-defeating, cursed life by absorbing it completely into himself. Do you remember the Scripture that says, "Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree"? That is what happened when Jesus was nailed to the cross: He became a curse, and at the same time dissolved the curse. And now, because of that, the air is cleared and we can see that Abraham's blessing is present and available for non-Jews, too. We are all able to receive God's life, his Spirit, in and with us by believing—just the way Abraham received it.
Proverbs 10:22NKJ The blessing of the LORD makes one rich,And He adds no sorrow with it.
Deuteronomy 8:18NKJ “And you shall remember the LORD your God, for it is He who gives you power to get wealth, that He may establish His covenant which He swore to your fathers, as it is this day.
Prayer
