The Grace Factor

Introduction

2 Corinthians 8-9 talks about giving.

There is

++An Example of giving

++A Challenge to give

Giving was

++Expected of every

++More than money

Paul was

++Not only preaching

++Not only teaching

++Asking for money to support the church

He called it a Grace

The Grace Factor

2 Corinthians 8:1–5 ESV

1 We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, 2 for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. 3 For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, 4 begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints— 5 and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.

The Church a Macedonia

++Was in great affliction

++Was experiencing extreme poverty

++Was in crisis

Paul knew about their situation

His expectations

++Was low

++That there support would be minimum

They could have given the minimum

God’s grace inspires generosity

++When recognized

++When visible

The pressure of life

++Did not change God

++Did not change their view of God

2 Corinthians 8:7 ESV

7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

What caused them to be so generous?

The Grace Factor

2 Corinthians 8:9 ESV

9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich.

Knowing God’s Grace

Jesus Christ

++Though rich became poor

++In his poverty made us rich

We must be clear in what we have

Romans 8:1 ESV

1 There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

Because of Christ

++We are free of condemnation

2 Corinthians 5:17 ESV

17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come.

Because of Christ

We are free of condemnation

++We are new creations

Ephesians 2:18 ESV

18 For through him we both have access in one Spirit to the Father.

Because of Christ

We are free of condemnation

We are new creations

++We have access to the Father

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Because of Christ

We are free of condemnation

We are new creations

We have access to the Father

++We are the righteousness of God

The Grace Factor

Romans 5:20 ESV

20 Now the law came in to increase the trespass, but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more,

Romans 5:20 KJV 1900

20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

Grace bridges the gap

Sin brought separation

++Man and man

++Man and the world

++Man and God

Genesis 3:10 ESV

10 And he said, “I heard the sound of you in the garden, and I was afraid, because I was naked, and I hid myself.”

Romans 5:12 ESV

12 Therefore, just as sin came into the world through one man, and death through sin, and so death spread to all men because all sinned—

Grace is the plan of God

Ephesians 2:4–5 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved—

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.