My Grace is Sufficent for You.

What is Grace

Today we are going to talk about grace. Not the prayer we utter before a meal, but the amazing grace of God that is greater than all our sin. Grace that is sufficient for all of us.

Titus 2:11 NLT

11 For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people.

Paul starts all of his letters grace and peace to you from God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace was so important that Paul extends it no matter the situation he’s in or the problems the church or pastor is facing. Why does Paul extend grace? Because grace was extended to him even when he was persecuting the early church.

Grace is being offered something we do not deserve. The grace Christ extended to Paul on the road to Damascus was sufficient for him. The grace extended to all of us is sufficient for us. As we wrestle this morning with the sufficiency of God’s grace in our lives, lets remember to extend God’s grace to others. God’s grace is at work in and through us despite our weaknesses. God’s grace is sufficient and available to all. Let’s be people of grace.

Sufficient Grace

1 Corinthians 15:3–11 NLT

3 I passed on to you what was most important and what had also been passed on to me. Christ died for our sins, just as the Scriptures said. 4 He was buried, and he was raised from the dead on the third day, just as the Scriptures said. 5 He was seen by Peter and then by the Twelve. 6 After that, he was seen by more than 500 of his followers at one time, most of whom are still alive, though some have died. 7 Then he was seen by James and later by all the apostles. 8 Last of all, as though I had been born at the wrong time, I also saw him. 9 For I am the least of all the apostles. In fact, I’m not even worthy to be called an apostle after the way I persecuted God’s church. 10 But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace. 11 So it makes no difference whether I preach or they preach, for we all preach the same message you have already believed.

Paul in today’s text is writing again to the church at Corinth, this was his testimony of the grace of God to them in 1 Corinthians. In the text for today Paul is wrapping up an argument because other “Super apostles” were sowing seeds of doubt bragging about all the mighty works they have done. It unfortunately became necessary for Paul to brag about himself.

Verse 1 starts out I must go on boasting even though there is nothing to be gained from it. He then shifts into a third person narrative talking about himself and a vision he had. He shifts back to boasting about his weaknesses, and talks about his thorn in his flesh. A messenger of satan to buffet him.

There has been a lot of speculation about what this thorn in the flesh was but there are no solid answers and truly it doesn’t matter. Some thought it was a deformity, or some kind of physical ailment. Let me add one more speculation, that we can all relate, to what this thorn in the flesh may have been. Perhaps the messenger of Satan to buffet him was constantly reminding him of his past. Perhaps he was haunted by the face of Stephen as he stood by and held the coats. Perhaps the faces of the followers of the way who he had sent to their death was this thorn in the flesh. Whatever it was Paul asked three times to be delivered. 2 Corinthians 12: 9

2 Corinthians 12:9 NRSV

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

The whole point is in verse 9. Nothing else matters but God’s grace. God’s grace is sufficient for you.

Romans 5:1–2 NRSV

1 Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2 through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.

Occasionally we are confronted by messengers of satan to buffet us, that remind of us of past sins, or other weaknesses. The message we need to hear today is that God’s grace is sufficient for you. We are people of grace.

The Table of Grace

As we come to the table this morning God’s grace is sufficient for you to come. As people of grace we must extend God’s grace to all regardless who they are. Why? Because that’s grace. The same grace that is sufficient for you is sufficient for others too.

We come to this table by faith in Jesus Christ, and receive his grace that is greater than all our sin.

As we come to this table this morning, let’s remember that God’s grace is sufficient for us, and lets rise and be people of grace.