2 Corinthians 8:1
Now, brethren, we wish to make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the churches of Macedonia,
The grace of God refers to the goodwill, lovingkindness, and favor of God that is freely given to us so that we may partake in his divine life. See entry for Grace of God.
2 Corinthians 8:9
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 through His poverty might become rich.
(a) The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace is love that stoops and in this verse we have a fine example of condescending grace. Jesus comes down so that we may go up. As someone once said, the Son of God became the Son of Man so the sons of men might become the sons of God.
(b) Though he was rich. There is none richer than the Creator of all. Yet Jesus traded the comforts of heaven for the squalor of a world captive to sin.
(c) He became poor. Jesus was born into a poor family. We know this because Joseph and Mary brought a poor person’s offering to the temple when Jesus was dedicated (Luke 2:24).
(d) His poverty. Like sin and sickness, poverty is a curse that keeps people enslaved. Jesus bore this curse on the cross so that we might be abundantly blessed.
(e) Become rich? How do the poor become rich? By being adopted into the family of God. He who is a joint heir with Christ is the heir of all things (Rev. 21:7). He who has Christ has everything (Rom. 8:32).
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