God’s Gift of Grace

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV

15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Intro: Do you have a gift that you cherish? I mean one that you never want to lose or if it broke, you might break too. Our material possessions we value are often important enough to us that we would hate to lose them or be destroyed. Many times we go to great lengths to protect them. Some of us like for people to know the value of things we may cherish. We brag about the cost. We show people the its worth and feel good about it.

Question: At what length do you go to express the value of God’s gift of Grace? When do you say thank you?

This text before us today challenges us to do just that, Value the Gift God has given you.

The gift that Paul speaks, in the text, is Grace. God has given each of us grace. The text comes on the heels of Paul’s encouragement to this Church in Corinth to give as they had promised to the Churches in Jerusalem. Paul explains to them the blessings they would receive because of their generosity. But most of all he wants them to understand that their giving ought be based on their own gratitude for the Grace, God has extended. Mind you, that Paul’s theology would not allow him to separate Grace from the Cross. So, when he spoke of the grace of God, Paul was always thinking about the salvation of the Lord.

Romans 3:23–24 ESV

23 for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Transition: So he comes to this verse that reminds them of the need to Thank God for what he has done.

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV

15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Valuing the gift of Grace means we recognize the essence of His Gift toward us, well, what does that mean? One, we value it, because we know it is Undeserved

God’s Grace is Undeserved

God’s grace is undeserved

if anyone knew about being undeserving of God’s grace, Paul did

describe Saul on the road to Damascus

describe Paul’s realization that it was undeserving

Romans 6:23 ESV

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

Illustration: Woman’s son was being executed by Napoleon she asked him to extend grace to her son. His response to her was, “with what he has done, he doesn’t deserve grace” she quickly responded, “If he deserved grace it wouldn’t be called grace”

Transition: None of us deserve it

Application: Value the grace of God by extending grace to others even if they don’t deserve it. I know you think that person doesn’t deserve your attention. They don’t deserve you speaking to them.

- forgive other people who have hurt you. You have hurt people too, You’ve made mistakes too. You have lied too. You’ve messed up too. You make people feel uncomfortable too. Get a grip and be mindful that God has been Gracious to you and you must be gracious to others even if you don’t think they deserve it.

Transition: This grace is undeserved but we also value it because the gift God’s Grace is Unlimited

God’s Grace is Unlimited

God has enough grace to go around. God’s grace does not quit being grace because people don’t like you. People and problems do not dictate God’s grace!

God’s grace works in every circumstance

God’s grace works in every situation

God’s grace works regardless of what isn’t working in your life.

No person and no situation has a monopoly on God’s grace

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Paul understands how grace works when life hurts:

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

God will bless you while your enemies are trying to hurt you.

See you have to learn how to stack your enemies -

-David said,

Psalm 110:1 ESV

1 The Lord says to my Lord: “Sit at my right hand, until I make your enemies your footstool.”

Application: Here is how we Value God’s grace: Don’t stop extending grace to others. You don’t know what they are going through. They may be dealing with some unknown pressure or insecurities that may take time for them to get through. You may be the vehicle God is using in his unlimited Grace.

Transition: This gift is underserved it is unlimited but lastly it is also Unexplainable.

God’s Grace is Unexplainable

Paul expresses his immense joy for the gift of God’s grace. Remember I told you that in Paul’s Theology of Grace it always refers to the work of salvation. It is with this in mind we take note at how he says this in the text. He uses a word in the original language which means an abundance of which cannot be expressed in words but makes itself evident. You ever been there in life where you just found it difficult to explain something that is so good.

Paul say’s I may not be able to describe it but I see it. I can’t touch it but I feel it. God’s Grace just does what it wants to do when He wants it to.

ILLUS: on June 3, 1992, in Game 1 of the NBA Finals between the Chicago Bulls and Portland Trail Blazers in the first half of the game Michael Jordan scored 35 points. That’s a pretty awesome feat in itself but here is what makes it even more spectacular there was a point where it appeared he could not miss from the three point line. He shot six three three pointers and after the sixth he looked at the scores table and shrugged his shoulders.

Transition: That’s what Paul is doing in the text as he attempts to describe the this uncontainable gift of God’s grace! I really can’t explain it bu . . .

Application: Have you had some moments like that with God? He woke you up this morning. The job you shouldn’t have really not qualified to have, You’ve come out of stuff that some folks didn’t make it out of.

Conclusion:

Paul’s solution in this text: GIVE GOD THANKS!

2 Corinthians 9:15 ESV

15 Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift!

Jesus’ work on the cross is the Epitome of God’s Grace!

The death of Christ epitomizes God’s Grace!

The Resurrection of Jesus resoundingly proclaims God’s Grace to the world!