Living and Giving by Grace Alone

As we continue in 2 Corinthians on Sundays, we’ve spent the last couple of weeks working through an extended section where Paul’s calling the Corinthians to give generously to help the church in Jerusalem. From this section, we’ve been learning about biblical generosity. The key principle throughout this section is what Seth dubbed “generosity by grace alone” in his sermon on 2 Corinthians 8:1-15.

In 2 Corinthians 9:1-15, we’re again reminded that our generosity overflows from God’s generosity toward us. A Paul states in verse 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.” It is by God’s grace that we can accomplish any good work, including generosity.

Our finances are often an area where we are deceived by the illusion of control. We think that our money is ours. It’s by our efforts that we earn it, and so we should have the final say on how it is spent. Yet, this passage reminds us that all we have is a gift from God. He is the one who provides for all our needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

The truth here about our  finances points beyond itself to an essential principle of our faith: we live the whole of the Christian life by grace alone. So easily we fall into the trap of living as if we are saved by grace and then grow in Christ by our own effort. However, here, we’re reminded that we are saved and live by grace alone. It is by grace through faith that we follow Jesus each and every day.