Grace...what is it?

[gloryseeker]

Grace has taken on many concepts. Some think of it as being similar to the grace period on a loan. Your payment is due on the first, but not late until the 10th and thereby equate grace as a free period in which sin can be repented of.

Others use the term that the Amplified Bible has coined, "Unmerited favor." This seems okay in the sense that we are saved by grace and we didn't deserve what Jesus did for us, but it would seem to me that would be a very shallow interpretation.

Paul said that everything he was he contributed to grace... How does that play into it?

What is grace?

[ChristopherHall]

I was taught that many, if not most, confuse grace with mercy.

In this sense "grace" is receiving from God what we don't deserve.

And "mercy" is not receiving from God what we do deserve.

[gloryseeker]

How are those definitions arrived at? The first time the word grace is used in the Bible is with Noah.

Gen 6:8
8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

Was the grace that Noah found undeserved?

Gen 6:9
"...Noah was a just man and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God..."

It seems it would be hard to make a consistent argument that grace was just receiving from God what we didn't deserve.

Also, if you think about it this grace also came with a plan to build the ark and escape judgment.

In the opening statements of the majority of the Epistles (all but about 3) we find statements about grace multiplying in our lives. Therefore, it has a multiplication factor to it. If we don't deserve it, then do we just get more of what we don't deserve?

[AUTHORgio]

I have heard 2 preachers say that grace is the ability God gives us to do the right thing. I personally like that teaching.

[Adino]

What is Grace? Here's a good article on the topic:

The Proper View of Grace1 (http://www.inchristalone.org/TwoViewsGracePt1.htm)

The Proper View of Grace2 (http://www.inchristalone.org/TwoViewsGracePt2.htm)

The Proper View of Grace3 (http://www.inchristalone.org/TwoViewsGracePt3.html)

The Proper View of Grace4 (http://www.inchristalone.org/TwoViewsGracePt4.html)

[scotty]

Favor,

Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord,

All of Gods people are favored of Him. He favors those who serve Him. His favor for me is sufficient...

JMO

[Neck]

Grace has taken on many concepts. Some think of it as being similar to the grace period on a loan. Your payment is due on the first, but not late until the 10th and thereby equate grace as a free period in which sin can be repented of.

Others use the term that the Amplified Bible has coined, "Unmerited favor." This seems okay in the sense that we are saved by grace and we didn't deserve what Jesus did for us, but it would seem to me that would be a very shallow interpretation.

Paul said that everything he was he contributed to grace... How does that play into it?

What is grace?

The unmerited Favor of God! Is not an interpretation.

No matter how you view Grace, Christ was crucified before the foundations of the world were laid.

So how could you do anything to get God's favor.

John 1:16 after John shares with you who Jesus is states this....

Verse 16, "And of his fullness have all we received, and Grace for Grace".

Which can also be translated Grace upon Grace or his continued favor.

To call the unmerited favor (Grace) of God a shallow interpretation.

Is to deny the power of the Cross of Jesus Christ.

Without which Acts 2:38 is completey a dead verse in eternity.

Without the Grace of God there is no power if there is power in Acts 2:38 as a verse or formula alone.

Remember what is the Power of God?

You can answer that question...

[Neck]

Favor,

Noah found favor in the eyes of the Lord,

All of Gods people are favored of Him. He favors those who serve Him. His favor for me is sufficient...

JMO

God favors all men. For in that when we were yet sinners he died for us.

It is up to us to show all me the Grace of God...

[Joelel]

Grace is the gift of salvation.G5485
χάρις
charis
khar‘-ece
From 5463 graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): - acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

Eph.2
[8] For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

[gloryseeker]

Actually I don't disagree with anything you said. I would only say that you misunderstood what I meant by, "a shall interpretation." That was not to imply in any way that the power of God is a shallow concept, but that was to question the teaching that grace is only favor that was not deserved.

[Joelel]

Actually I don't disagree with anything you said. I would only say that you misunderstood what I meant by, "a shall interpretation." That was not to imply in any way that the power of God is a shallow concept, but that was to question the teaching that grace is only favor that was not deserved.

You need to click on quote and reply so we know who your responding to.

[Neck]

Actually I don't disagree with anything you said. I would only say that you misunderstood what I meant by, "a shall interpretation." That was not to imply in any way that the power of God is a shallow concept, but that was to question the teaching that grace is only favor that was not deserved.


Understood. I know we are all close on our understanding of the God's grace.

To be honest I am 43 years old and spent my growing up in a UPCI ministers and teachers home.

Spent most of my adult life in a very large UPCI church.

It has only been recent that I have found a personal understanding of God's Grace towards me...

[Neck]

You need to click on quote and reply so we know who your responding to.

I think was ressponding to me..

[gloryseeker]

Understood. I know we are all close on our understanding of the God's grace.

To be honest I am 43 years old and spent my growing up in a UPCI ministers and teachers home.

Spent most of my adult life in a very large UPCI church.

It has only been recent that I have found a personal understanding of God's Grace towards me...

While unmerited favor does reflect what grace is, it is incomplete. To have unmerited favor is to simply have a good deed or an act of kindness that we didn’t deserve. This is actually a good definition for defining grace between two people. However, God’s grace is much different than man’s grace. We find many examples of this in the Bible where an individual will “find grace in the eyes” of another. While this may be a good definition of defining grace between people, we will have a problem if we take this definition and apply it to the scriptures that describe our being saved by grace (Ephesians. 2:8) because salvation would be reduced to just an act of kindness that we didn’t deserve. Though we are undeserving of salvation, it is far greater than a mere act of kindness. It was a transaction that allowed the very power of God to reside within people.

The first usage of the word grace defines it from God’s perspective. In Genesis 6:8, we read that “…Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” As we read through the story of Noah, we find that Noah didn’t just find favor in God’s eyes, but this favor also brought provision and ability to Noah. A plan of God, the ability of God, and the knowledge of God was given to Noah to escape impending destruction. This same theme is carried into every other place we find the grace of God. As you read through this book, you will see that there is also an equipping that comes into our life through grace.

[gloryseeker]

More Than Unmerited Favor

In the book of Ephesians where Paul speaks of our salvation he states:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

In this verse of scripture, we can see where the definition of unmerited favor came from. We certainly understand that we did not deserve Jesus dying on the cross for us. We know by reading John 3:16 that it was in God’s great love for us that this gift of salvation was made available, but look a little deeper into this scripture.

Paul stated that in everything he was, it was by the grace of God. Then Paul writes to the Ephesians and tells them that they are saved by grace. I want you to stop and look at the first six words of this scripture, “For by grace are you saved…”

This statement is very important! We know that our salvation was Christ’s work on the cross. When Jesus paid the price for all of our sins, our salvation was purchased. This work of Jesus was obviously grace because Paul said that we are saved by grace.

There are a couple of things that are very common knowledge about salvation. One is that we did not deserve it (unmerited) and the other is that it is a gift (favor). Here we see how grace received the definition of unmerited favor. However, if we look at the word saved in this verse from the King James definition, we find that it means “heal, preserve, save, do well, be (make) whole.” In other words, it is not an act of kindness that was given to us but deals more with the power and authority that will move us to a new realm of operation in this life.

Let me define this with a word I used in the previous verse - the word provision. Everything needed for your healing, preservation, salvation, and wholeness is found in grace. Salvation is the definition; grace is the provisional aspect of what has been made available to us to experience our complete salvation.

The last statement of Ephesians 2:8 is that this grace which gives us the ability to experience our salvation is a gift. A gift is something without cost. In other words, the Lord has presented us with every provisional aspect of heaven to experience the salvation He purchased for us. All of this that has been made available is received by faith. The provision has already been supplied. Therefore, we are not trying to get God to do things for us; instead, we should live our lives in a faith mode receiving what has already been provided. In my estimation the three most powerful words in the New Testament are, “It is finished!” Everything you need for you to become what God created for you to be has been done. It is all complete and nothing else needs to be done, except for us to receive it.

[RandyWayne]

I recently posted this example a few weeks ago here in another thread, but I like the example given by Chuck Swindol in his book, Grace Awakening. To paraphrase, forgiveness is "forgiving" the man who killed your son. Grace is forgiving, then accepting that same man into your own home to replace the son he killed.

[gloryseeker]

I recently posted this example a few weeks ago here in another thread, but I like the example given by Chuck Swindol in his book, Grace Awakening. To paraphrase, forgiveness is "forgiving" the man who killed your son. Grace is forgiving, then accepting that same man into your own home to replace the son he killed.

To me, that just sounds like true forgiveness.

[Bro-Larry]

Favor and grace are very often used interchangeably in KJV, but they are in fact two different things. Favor can be earned by works, but grace most certainly cannot. (Rom 11:6) Noah earned favor from God by building the ark. (Heb 11:7).

"Unmerited favor" does not the define grace, it just tells us how we got it.
Grace in my definition, is the free gift of God (Jesus), which He gave to us expecting nothing in return. In my perception, Grace is a person: Jesus.

[Bro-Larry]

More Than Unmerited Favor

In the book of Ephesians where Paul speaks of our salvation he states:

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.” (Ephesians 2:8)

In this verse of scripture, we can see where the definition of unmerited favor came from. We certainly understand that we did not deserve Jesus dying on the cross for us. We know by reading John 3:16 that it was in God’s great love for us that this gift of salvation was made available, but look a little deeper into this scripture.

Paul stated that in everything he was, it was by the grace of God. Then Paul writes to the Ephesians and tells them that they are saved by grace. I want you to stop and look at the first six words of this scripture, “For by grace are you saved…”

This statement is very important! We know that our salvation was Christ’s work on the cross. When Jesus paid the price for all of our sins, our salvation was purchased. This work of Jesus was obviously grace because Paul said that we are saved by grace.

There are a couple of things that are very common knowledge about salvation. One is that we did not deserve it (unmerited) and the other is that it is a gift (favor). Here we see how grace received the definition of unmerited favor. However, if we look at the word saved in this verse from the King James definition, we find that it means “heal, preserve, save, do well, be (make) whole.” In other words, it is not an act of kindness that was given to us but deals more with the power and authority that will move us to a new realm of operation in this life.

Let me define this with a word I used in the previous verse - the word provision. Everything needed for your healing, preservation, salvation, and wholeness is found in grace. Salvation is the definition; grace is the provisional aspect of what has been made available to us to experience our complete salvation.

The last statement of Ephesians 2:8 is that this grace which gives us the ability to experience our salvation is a gift. A gift is something without cost. In other words, the Lord has presented us with every provisional aspect of heaven to experience the salvation He purchased for us. All of this that has been made available is received by faith. The provision has already been supplied. Therefore, we are not trying to get God to do things for us; instead, we should live our lives in a faith mode receiving what has already been provided. In my estimation the three most powerful words in the New Testament are, “It is finished!” Everything you need for you to become what God created for you to be has been done. It is all complete and nothing else needs to be done, except for us to receive it.

This is a very good post, GS