Wrong Verses Right: 2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

“My grace is sufficient… My strength is made perfect in weakness.”

And He said unto me, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. ~2 Corinthians 12:9 KJV

Wrong Interpretation:

Certain professing Christians claim that this means “God’s grace (redefined as mercy) is all you need because your laxity or sinful weaknesses are what will make you perfect due to His grace overflowing onto it.”

Right Interpretation:

When God said to Paul that His grace was sufficient, it meant that the amount of grace God gave to Paul was enough. This means God did not allow favor (grace) in certain areas of Paul’s life, which made Paul weak in those areas. We discover his weakness was an infirmity or sickness of the flesh.

Paul learned that God gave him a “thorn” in the flesh from the devil to hinder him from full prosperity. Paul learned to overcome his infirmity by glorying in it. Two things result from this: 1.)Paul learns to be temperate in all circumstances whether being abased or abounding. 2.) Paul learns that his glorying sends a message in the spirit realm that his joy or peace cannot be stolen because of his faith in God.

For those who are “running the race” to perfect themselves, God restricts grace to slow them down so they can work on their inner strength. As they learn to remain joyful in their abased circumstances, this is one part of what it means to be made perfect in weaknesses and this is a part of how the REAL power of Christ rests on them.

This example in scripture is not for the sinner who is not yet saved to demonstrate grace before salvation.