Consider 2 Corinthians 9:8, which reads, “And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work.” Herein a divine promise is made that we will always have all sufficiency in all things so that we may abound unto every good work. The promise is certain because it is given by our omnipotent God, who is completely able to make all grace abound toward us.
Contextually, the wonderful blessings of this promise come as a result of our practicing God’s teaching on sowing and reaping. Specifically, we will reap for two reasons: (1) Our sowing has been bountiful. (2) God has promised, through His grace, to bless us.
Let us reflect upon the ability of our God to bless us. In this lesson we will show an example of how our God is able to bless us in what we do when we follow His commandments.
Our God is able to save us. This salvation is exclusively through the Christ. “Wherefore He [Christ] is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by Him, seeing He ever liveth to make intercession for them” (Hebrews 7:25). The blessing of salvation is bestowed when we obey the Gospel. “And being made perfect, He became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey Him” (Hebrews 5:9). Obedience opens the door to man’s greatest gift, that is, the gift of salvation. Seeing that our God is able to save us, He is also able to provide all that we need.
Our God is able to provide all that we need to suffice in this world. Philippians 4:19 informs us, “But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Jesus Christ.” When we trust God, sow bountifully, and are beneficiaries of His multiple blessings, then we can understand and appreciate David’s proclamation, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want” (Psalm 23:1). The fundamental promise of receiving God’s blessings are clearly affirmed by Jesus, when He said, “But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matthew 6:33). Do the math: Seek; seek first; seek the kingdom of God; and then all these things are added. Seeing that our God is able to save us, and is also able to provide all that we need, He is also able to keep that which we commit unto Him.
Our God is able to keep (guard) that which we commit unto Him. Paul was both committed and persuaded that God would keep that which he had committed unto Him (2 Timothy 1:12). He committed his body for suffering, yea, his all, and yet he uttered, “I am not ashamed.” His commitment was unfailing, “against that day,” which is the Second coming of Christ.
The Christian need not be concerned about God’s love or His ability to act toward those who love Him. The Hebrew writer says, “Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me” (Hebrews 13:5-6). Our God “is able to do exceedingly abundant above all that we ask or think” (Ephesians 3:20). Seeing that our God is able to save us, and is also able to provide all that we need, and He is able to keep that which we commit unto Him, then there is no reason why we cannot believe that God is able to do all.
In conclusion, we have learned two lessons. First, God is able to make all grace abound toward us that we will always have all sufficiency in all things. Second, His grace and His ability are unquestionable.
In order to receive His abounding grace, we must commit to and trust in Him. This commitment and trust begins when we obey the Gospel of Christ. Faith in Christ, activated, is a commitment to follow Christ. Repentance of sins is a commitment to live in Christ. Confession of Christ is a commitment to unashamedly identity Him as the Christ. Baptism into Christ is a commitment to live worthily as one who has been forgiven of sins. Let us obey and trust in the One Who is able to keep that which we have committed unto Him against that day.
