God’s Grace Is Sufficient

My grace is sufficient for thee. — 2 Cor. xii. 9.

The apostle Paul, though not inferior to the other apostles in gifts and plenary inspiration, and in labours and success more abundant than them all, was nevertheless subject to like infirmities, passions, and temptations as other men. He had, indeed, received larger supplies of grace than most others, but this did not render him in any degree independent and self-sufficient, nor exempt him at all from those conflicts and temptations which are commonly experienced in the Christian warfare; nor from the need of those means of improvement which a gracious God has appointed for the preservation and edification of his people while sojourning upon earth. We find him, therefore, much given to prayer, and often requesting the prayers of others in his behalf; also observing a rigid discipline toward himself, in keeping his body under, lest while he preached to others, he himself should be a castaway.

Paul was favoured with very full revelations of gospel truth, without being dependent on the teaching of men. In this respect his preparation for the work of the ministry was peculiar; the ascended Saviour himself condescended to become his Teacher. He was also favoured with frequent visions, and with the knowledge of the future destinies of the church. On one occasion he was caugjit up to Paradise and to the third heavens, where he heard things which it was not lawful for a man to utter. By this heavenly rapture, the faith of the apostle must have been greatly strengthened, and his desire of a constant participation of the joys of heaven, rendered very intense. But such is the infirmity of even the holiest men, and such the tendency to selfexaltation, that the enjoyment of, any high privilege, or the reception of any distinguishing honour, is apt to puff up the mind, and produce a degree of self-exaltation; or, at any rate, of self-complacency. Paul the apostle was not exempt from the danger of being exalted above measure by his abundant revelations, therefore his divine Master put him, by way of prevention, upon a course of painful discipline. He sent him "a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan, to buffet him." Whatever might be the precise nature of the apostle's affliction, we know that it gave him much uneasiness; for he prayed, not merely once or twice, but thrice that it might be removed. His prayer was heard and answered, but not in the way which he desired; but in one which seemed better to infinite wisdom. The thorn was not removed, but God said, " My grace is sufficient for thee." By which answer he was assured, that he should be supported under the severe trial which he felt to be so grievous; and, doubtless, he might infer from this answer, that benefit might be derived from the affliction laid upon him.

There is not a word in the whole vocabulary, of richer import than the word grace. It expresses the beginning, the middle, and the end of man's salvation. It was grace, that is, undeserved love or favour which moved the eternal mind to devise the plan of redemption. It was grace which designated the persons who should be made partakers of salvation. It was grace which induced the Son of God to condescend to become man, and to become "obedient unto death" — thus offering himself an expiatory sacrifice for our sins. " Ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor, that we through his poverty might be made rich." It was grace which caused the church to be founded, means of salvation to be established, and the gospel to be preached. It is grace which brings down the Holy Spirit to enlighten to regenerate, to sanctify, to comfort, and to conduct triumphantly to heaven the redeemed heirs of glory. And it will be grace which will crown with everlasting felicity, all those who have " an abundant entrance administered to them, into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ." As the foundation of the spiritual temple of the Lord was laid in grace, or the love of God; so the top stone shall be brought forth with the shouting, " Grace, grace unto it."

Although the words of our text were primarily addressed to Paul for his support and encouragement; yet they were recorded in the sacred volume, that we also might derive consolation from them; for they are equally suited to the case of every believer; and " those things that were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the Scriptures, might have hope." It will not, therefore, be a departure from the spirit of the text to consider these words as containing a promise from God to all believers, that God will never leave them nor forsake them; but that in all exigencies, and under all trials, his grace shall be afforded in sufficient measure to enable them to perform the duties which may devolve upon them; or to sustain with patience and fortitude the burdens which they may, under the dispensations of Providence, be called to bear.

Our object in the remainder of this discourse, therefore, shall be to apply the promise to believers in those circumstances in which they specially need comfort and encouragement.

1. In the first place, then, the words may be applied to such as are labouring under a conviction of sin, and are oppressed with a sense of guilt. Whether such have already believed or not, there is encouragement in these words to induce them to embrace the promise; for the fountain of grace is so rich, that there is no possibility of its being exhausted; and so free, that all are invited to come and take of the waters of life. To an awakened conscience, the recollection of past sins, with all their aggravations, is exceedingly painful and terrifying. To them the judgment day presents a scene awfully alarming. And the language of their hearts is, "What, must I do to be saved?" To all who are thus pursued by the demands of the law, and the upbraidings of conscience, I would say, You need not despair. There is hope in your case. The gospel brings you glad tidings. The burden of its message is, salvation by grace — " grace abounding to the chief of sinners" — " grace reigning through righteousness, unto eternal life." " Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shall be saved." To all who are bowed down under the burden of their sins, I am authorized to preach the sufficiency of divine grace for their complete pardon, and perfect justification from all the demands of the law. Sinners who are at ease in Zion, and " alive without the law," persuade themselves that it is an easy thing to obtain pardon and reconciliation with God; not from any exalted estimation which they entertain of the grace of the gospel, but from their very low estimate of the evil and illdesert of their sins; and of the spirituality and binding obligation of the law. But when the light of conviction breaks in upon their minds, and they are made to see the exceeding sinfulness of sin, and the infinite holiness of God; and that " the law is holy, and the commandment holy and just and good," the humbled and contrite sinner can with difficulty be induced to believe that a holy God can, consistently, extend favour to such a guilty creature; or that such sins as his can be forgiven by a God of infinite holiness. They, who are thus convinced of the demerit of their sins, are precisely in the situation most favourable to the reception of the gospel. They are the sick who need the Physician. All who ever believed have been placed in similar circumstances. God condescends kindly to reason with such, " Though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow; though they be red like crimson, they shall be as wool.,, "It is a faithful saying, and worthy of all acceptation, that Jesus Christ came into the world to save sinners, of whom (says Paul) I am chief." " The blood of Christ cleanse th from all sin." And " He is able to save to the uttermost all who come unto God by him; seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them."

2. Again, these words are calculated to afford comfort and encouragement to such as are struggling with the inbred corruptions of their own hearts, and with the temptations of the wicked one; who feel " another law in their members, warring against the law of their mind;" " the flesh lusting against the spirit;" "so that when they would do good, evil is present with them" — tending to bring them again into captivity to the law of sin and death; so that their feelings are expressed by groanings, which cannot be uttered. And when they cry, their language is, " O wretched man that I am, who shall deliver me from the body of this death!"

Now, although in this conflict between the old and new man, human strength is weakness, yet, when we feel our weakness most, we are strong in the Lord, for " His strength is perfected in our weakness." What Christ said to Peter, in the view of his temptation and fall, may be applied to every humble penitent; " I have prayed for thee, that thy faith fail not." Were it not for his intercessory prayers in our behalf, we could not hold out in opposition to any powerful temptation. That he does thus intercede for all believers, in all ages, we know from the prayer which he offered for for them while upon earth: " I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from the evil which is in the world."

3. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ will be sufficient to support and comfort believers under the severest trials, the heaviest afflictions, and most violent temptations, to which they may be subjected. Afflictions are the lot of the people of God in this world. It is written, " Many are the afflictions of the righteous;" " they who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution;" and, " through much tribulation we must enter the kingdom." As Christ was, all his life, a sufferer, "a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief," his disciples should calculate upon having the same lot in the world as their Master. Indeed, this seems to be made a condition of our participating of his glory. " If we suffer with him, we shall also reign with him. If we deny him, he also will deny us." But human strength cannot bear up under these calamities. We need help. We must have an almighty arm on which to lean. Christians have suffered inconceivable agonies in the times of persecution; which they endured even unto death, and that too in the most cruel forms. But they were sustained by an unseen hand. Christ never forsakes his followers in the time of their distress; and the Holy Spirit will not leave them comfortless. Their richest joys are sometimes experienced in the midst of the furnace of affliction. When the three children were seen walking unhurt in the midst of the fiery furnace, there was seen one like to the Son of man in their company. It was verily the Son of man himself; and this was written for our learning, that we might trust to his presence and aid in the hottest fire of persecution. His promise is, " My grace is sufficient for thee." Even in death we need not fear; for " precious in the sight of the Lord, is the death of his saints." And a royal saint of old sweetly sang, in the view of this termination of human life, "Though I walk through the valley and shadow of death, I will fear no evil; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

A lively faith in the realities and glories of the heavenly inheritance will disarm death of all its terrors, and cause us to think all our afflictions light and of momentary duration. Thus the matter appeared to Paul: " These light afflictions which are but for a moment, work out for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. While we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are unseen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things that are not seen are eternal." It is faith that gives the victory over the world, whether it assails the Christian by its blandishments or by its terrors. And this victory it achieves, through the grace of Christ, by bring ing the unseen world into view.

4. But grace is requisite to enable us to act, as well as to suffer. Arduous duties are incumbent on the Christian. He is placed and continued here to glorify his Maker and Redeemer, to benefit his fellow-creatures, and to secure the salvation of his own soul. The performance of duty often requires strong resolution, and much painful self-denial in the disciple of a crucified Redeemer. Some are called of God to the arduous work of the gospel ministry, for which no human wisdom, or human power is sufficient. " Who is sufficient for these things?" But Christ has promised to be with his ministers " always to the end of the world." We are commanded, indeed, "to be strong," but not in our own might, but " in the power of the Lord."

Some are called in the Providence and by the Spirit of God to forsake father, mother, brothers and sisters, and to bid adieu to their own native land, and beloved country, to spend their days among the uncivilized heathen, subjected to many privations, and exposed to numerous dangers from a savage people, and from a deleterious climate. But they need not be dismayed; their Master will accompany them, and he says, " My grace is sufficient for thee."

1. How truly blessed are they who have obtained an interest in the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ; and how solicitous should we all be to have this matter placed on a secure foundation. All his people may confidently say, "The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want."

2. Christians should habituate themselves to confide implicitly, under all circumstances of affliction, and in the performance of all arduous duties, on the all-sufficient grace of Christ. It will ever be to them according to their faith. But if they are doubtful of his aid, and distrust his promises, the consequences will be unfavourable. What Christ, above all things, demands of his followers is, that they trust him.

3. All who have been made partakers of the grace of God, are bound to exercise unceasing gratitude for such unmerited favour. If you have been chosen unto life eternal, it was to magnify his glorious grace. If your sins are pardoned, and your persons accepted and justified, it is by the grace of God in Christ. If you have been regenerated and made partakers of the divine nature, it is not by works of righteousness which you have done, but by his grace that you are saved. Even the chief of sinners, who believe in Christ, may exult in the unsearchable riches of his grace. Where sin abounded, grace shall much more abound. Thanks be unto God for the unspeakable gift of his grace! Amen.