1Moreover, brothers, we make known to you the grace of God which has been given in the assemblies of Macedonia, 2how in a severe ordeal of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded to the riches of their generosity. 3For according to their power, I testify, yes and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, 4begging us with much entreaty to receive this grace and the fellowship in the service to the saints. 5This was not as we had expected, but first they gave their own selves to the Lord, and to us through the will of God. 6So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace. 7But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.
8I speak not by way of commandment, but as proving through the earnestness of others the sincerity also of your love. 9For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that you through his poverty might become rich. 10I give advice in this: it is expedient for you who were the first to start a year ago, not only to do, but also to be willing. 11But now complete the doing also, that as there was the readiness to be willing, so there may be the completion also out of your ability. 12For if the readiness is there, it is acceptable according to what you have, not according to what you don’t have. 13For this is not that others may be eased and you distressed, 14but for equality. Your abundance at this present time supplies their lack, that their abundance also may become a supply for your lack, that there may be equality. 15As it is written, “He who gathered much had nothing left over, and he who gathered little had no lack.”
16But thanks be to God, who puts the same earnest care for you into the heart of Titus. 17For he indeed accepted our exhortation, but being himself very earnest, he went out to you of his own accord. 18We have sent together with him the brother whose praise in the Good News is known throughout all the assemblies. 19Not only so, but he was also appointed by the assemblies to travel with us in this grace, which is served by us to the glory of the Lord himself, and to show our readiness. 20We are avoiding this, that any man should blame us concerning this abundance which is administered by us. 21Having regard for honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men. 22We have sent with them our brother whom we have many times proved earnest in many things, but now much more earnest, by reason of the great confidence which he has in you. 23As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker for you. As for our brothers, they are the apostles of the assemblies, the glory of Christ. 24Therefore show the proof of your love to them before the assemblies, and of our boasting on your behalf.
6 So we urged Titus, that as he had made a beginning before, so he would also complete in you this grace. 7 But as you abound in everything—in faith, utterance, knowledge, all earnestness, and in your love to us—see that you also abound in this grace.
Abounding in grace is difficult for many believers. They come to Christ joyfully, receiving Him as a free gift of God, not of anything that they have done, and then life continues. Their expectations for themselves are often greater than reality. They expect to be a perfect person, mature in the Lord, freed from the flesh patterns that they developed over a lifetime of sin. They disappoint themselves. This is because as the disciple John informs us, “8 If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” (1 John 1:8 WEB) Once we come to Christ as our Savior, we are still faced with a sin problem. It is good to think of sin in our lives as having three tenses. At salvation, we are saved from the penalty of sin (justification). After our salvation experience, as we submit to the Holy Spirit, we are saved from the power of sin (sanctification). And when we leave this earth, we will be free from the presence of sin (glorification). We were saved by grace and we remain saved by grace, not by anything we do or don’t do.
Unfortunately, some believers believe they must maintain a certain spiritual level to remain saved. Such is not the case. God DOES expect us to have spiritual fruit in our lives, but this fruit is not “saving” fruit. It is the fruit of becoming more and more like Jesus. Theologians refer to this second stage as “sanctification.” They sometimes refer to the first stage as “justification”. Things become confused for the believer who doesn’t understand the difference between justification and sanctification. This confusion is needless. When you are in Christ, you are made holy (meaning you have been washed in His blood), and the King James writers referred to this as “being sanctified.” That confuses some. But you still must deal with sin in your life and “work out” your salvation gradually. This refers to slowly and steadily becoming more Christlike by renewing your mind (Romans 12:2), a process also known as sanctification.
Scripture tells us that living the Christian life out requires submitting daily to the Holy Spirit and letting Him have His way in our lives. Never mistakenly believe that this has anything to do with being saved. You were saved by grace, and you continue to be saved by grace, and not by something that you have done or are not doing. You certainly may have a checklist that you use to help you remember to do certain things that help you feel close to the Lord. The reality is that He is near all the time, but you have to take the time to talk to Him and listen to Him. That’s the real stuff that makes your “to-do” list have spiritual meaning. Relax and enjoy His abundant grace in your life. Be still and listen. Abound in His grace!