The Grace Principle: EVERYDAY GRACE

Paul's Online was birthed by God out of his grace to us. The principle is that those who have been on the receiving end of God's grace will be on the giving end as well.

In 2 Corinthians 8 the Apostle Paul writes to encourage the Corinthian Christians to fulfill their pledge of financial support to the church in Jerusalem. This is a well known passage to anyone who has been in any church for any length of time. Almost every tithing sermon series includes this passage since no one could be in worse financial shape than the Macedonian Christians who are the model of generous giving.

Here's what Paul wrote: "1And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. 2Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. 3For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, 4they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. 5And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God's will. 6So we urged Titus, since he had earlier made a beginning, to bring also to completion this act of grace on your part. 7But just as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us—see that you also excel in this grace of giving." The grace principle is that those who've received grace from God can relate to what grace is and will not only be willing, but will be eager to give grace to others.

Many have clarified the meaning of grace using these definitions: Justice is getting what we deserve. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. Grace is getting what we don't deserve. As sinners who have "earned death" (see Romans 6:23) if we get what we deserve (justice) we will get eternal separation from God. But God, who is rich in mercy (Ephesians 2:4) sent Jesus to take the punishment of our sins for us so we can avoid getting what we deserve (mercy). Here's the awesome news -- when we receive Jesus by accepting this gift of eternal life he offers us, we receive his grace -- we get what we don't deserve - we get eternal life.

It's like the little boy waiting for dad to get home to give him the spanking he deserves for not obeying his mom that day (justice). But instead of a spanking the boy, the dad tells his son what Jesus had done for him by taking his sin punishment and then he has his son spank him instead, taking the punishment the boy deserved (mercy). Then the two go out and get an ice cream cone together (grace).

Don't you think, as a result of this experience, that the boy would think differently, not only about not wanting to disobey his parents, but about wanting to share this grace with others; to offer grace to those who need to know what this is like?

This is what Paul was challenging the Corinthian Christians to do; "9For you know (by experience) the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich." He was encouraging them to finish the work they had pledge to do so they would... "excel in this grace of giving."

Paul's Online is motivated to connect those who know this grace firsthand, by experience, with those who do not know it yet. We simply want to excel in this grace of giving ourselves to God and to those in our community who need what God wants to give to them. This may be financial help like the Christians in Jerusalem needed. But it may be many different kinds of things like help in reconciling a marriage or family relationship, addiction support, and any number of real needs people have. We want to help others because we know what it is like to have been helped by God and others who have been on the receiving end of his grace.