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The All-sufficiency of God's Grace

Text: 2 Corinthians 12
30 April 2006

(I) THE GRACE OF GOD WITH REFERENCE TO SALVATION

“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God,
Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9

1. Salvation by Grace

2. Salvation appropriated by faith

3. Salvation-by-works precluded

(II) THE GRACE OF GOD WITH REFERENCE TO THE CHRISTIAN LIFE

1. The problem of “The thorn in the flesh”

“A thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me…” 2 Corinthians 12:7

a) It is not just allowed by God

b) It is given by God

c) It will “buffet”

2. Praying about the Removal of the thorn in the flesh

“Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me” 2 Corinthians 12:8

a) Natural to pray for the thorn to be taken away

b) Natural to pray insistently for the thorn to be removed

3. Plan of God Revealed

“And He said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” 2 Corinthians 12:9

a) Promise of Grace to bear the thorn in the flesh

b) Promise of Grace that will provide Strength in times of weakness

c) Promise of Sufficiency of Grace

(III) APPROPRIATE RESPONSE TO THE PROMISE OF GOD’S GRACE

“Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

1. More than mere acceptance of infirmities in life

“Therefore most gladly I will boast in my infirmities…” 2 Corinthians 12:9

2. There is Gladness in the heart when faced with “thorns in the flesh”

“Therefore I take pleasure…” 2 Corinthians 12:10

a) In infirmities

b) In reproaches

c) In persecutions

d) In distresses

3. There is the hope of the power of Christ

“That the power of Christ may rest upon me” 2 Corinthians 12:9
“When I am weak, then I am strong” 2 Corinthians 12:10