2 Corinthians 8:5 Grace Isn’t Just Received

2 Corinthians 8:5

And this they did, not as we hoped, but first gave their own selves to the Lord, and unto us by the will of God.

To understand the full weight of this verse, it must be read in its proper setting—2 Corinthians 8:5–9. Paul is not introducing a new doctrine here; he is unfolding a principle already at work in the lives of believers.

• The subject is giving, but not merely the act of giving.
• The example is the churches of Macedonia.
• The recipients are the saints in Jerusalem.
• And the governing theme throughout the passage is grace.

We often think of grace strictly in terms of what we receive—especially salvation. And rightly so. We are saved by grace. But the grace Paul emphasizes in this passage is not grace received, but grace expressed.

The Macedonian believers had received grace from God, and that grace produced graciousness. Their giving did not begin with resources; it began with surrender. They first gave themselves to the Lord, and because of that, their generosity followed naturally.

Titus was then sent to Corinth—an act of grace in itself—not to command, but to instruct. The Corinthian believers were not lacking spiritually. They abounded in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in diligence, and in love. Paul’s appeal was simple and searching: since grace had touched every other area of their Christian life, it ought to be evident in their giving as well.

To make his point unmistakable, Paul directs their attention to Christ. Our Lord lacked nothing, yet He willingly became poor for our sakes. His grace was not theoretical; it was costly. And through His poverty, we have been made rich—rich in salvation, rich in service, and rich in the sure hope of eternity.

#GraceThatGives #GenerousGrace #BiblicalGiving #ChristianStewardship #GraceInAction

Grace Isn’t Just Received—It’s Meant to Be Given

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2 Corinthians 8:5 Grace Isn’t Just Received