Through His Poverty We Might Be Rich (2 Corinthians 8:9)

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” (2 Corinthians 8:9)

Why should we denounce anything other than the humiliation of cross? In other words, why was Christ Jesus the Lord born in an animal’s shelter and cut off all power on the cross like that? Why does the Scripture say that God opposes the proud but compassions on the humble over and over? The proud mind says that he can handle life without any help. The modern science mind says proudly as if they can solve all human problems. They say it’s a matter of time. Needlessly say it’s not true. Human problem resides within. Jesus says that what comes out of man defiles a person.

“He went on: ‘What comes out of a person is what defiles them. For it is from within, out of a person’s heart, that evil thoughts come—sexual immorality, theft, murder, adultery, greed, malice, deceit, lewdness, envy, slander, arrogance and folly. All these evils come from inside and defile a person.’” (Mark 7:20-23)

The Scripture consistently and faithfully tells the promise of restoration from the fall of race. The restoration cannot be done by humans for the whole race fell in Adam. The only way possible for the race is inevitably death, says the Scripture. But the problem of death is that it is not the end but after death judgment follows. No one can escape the judgment of God and henceforth no one will be saved. As Apostle John says this is what God has done to fulfill the promise of restoration. “God so loved the world He gave His begotten Son that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

Jesus’ death is the eternal substitutionary death of everyone who believes in Him. He became the victim sacrifice in our place and the high priest at the same time who brought the blood in the heavenly tabernacle. Although Jesus the Son of God was given all power in heaven and on earth, when He was reviled He reviled not. Instead, He submitted Himself to the Father in heaven who will judge righteously. Apostle Peter tells that the Son of God died in our place by His stripes we were healed, so that we might live for righteousness to God.

“For to this you were called, because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that you should follow His steps: ‘Who committed no sin, Nor was deceit found in His mouth’; who, when He was reviled, did not revile in return; when He suffered, He did not threaten, but committed Himself to Him who judges righteously; who Himself bore our sins in His own body on the tree, that we, having died to sins, might live for righteousness—by whose stripes you were healed. For you were like sheep going astray, but have now returned to the Shepherd and Overseer of your souls.” (1 Peter 2:21-25)

There is no other way to come to the Father except through Jesus Christ. There is no other way to receive Christ except through the humiliation, guilt, and shame of the cross. The Scripture tells that we are from dust and will return to dust. Man is not designed and made without God. Man is not made to have what it takes. But man is made to be the indwelling place of Immortal God in Jesus Christ. Man is made to live on with the total and complete dependence upon God. The Sermon on the Mount starts with this truth, saying “Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:3)