What is Grace? — God is a Gift

Apr 13

Apr 13 What is Grace?

One of the most important aspects or components of God’s plan for rescuing, saving and redeeming His lost children is His grace.

For by grace you are saved through faith, and this not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not as a result of works, so that no one may boast. Eph 2:8-9

Time and culture inevitably cause words to morph, change and/or accumulate meaning. Grace is definitely one of those words. Here are 2 quick examples of how time and culture shift words.

1) “Cloud” Then: “a visible mass of particles of condensed vapor (as water or ice) suspended in the atmosphere of a planet such as the earth or moon.” Cloud Today: “any of several parts of the Internet that allow online processing and storage of documents and data as well as electronic access to software and other resources.”

2) Tablet Then: “a flat piece of stone, clay, or wood that has writing on it.” Tablet Today: “a general-purpose computer contained in a touch-screen panel.”

In society and in the church, the word grace is used very commonly and frequently. This becomes confusing and problematic when we, as Christians use it in nearly every context imaginable except the real biblical definition. This should become evident later when we look at the meaning of grace as it is in the original Greek text from the Textus Receptus, which is widely considered to be the most reliable of the original Bible manuscripts.

Grace has become a catchall word to describe any good thing that God causes to happen and or the bad things God prevents from happening. For example a wonderful new job is credited to the “grace of God.” when in reality this is instead His provision. Another example would be “We avoided that traffic accident by the grace of God.” This is His loving protection, but not biblical grace. Grace is so much more than “God wants to help me’, “He gets me out of undesirable situations and/or gives me what I need or didn’t deserve.”

The most widely used description or way of explaining God’s grace that I have encountered is the acronym;

God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.

It is true that when someone accepts the salvation that comes from God through Jesus’ death and resurrection, they are adopted into His family and will be blessed His sharing the abundance or “riches” with us as our inheritance. However this is not original language, biblical grace.

There is a very real disconnect between many biblical Greek and Hebrew words and their use and meaning in the English language and in western society today. Some of these words and their attached concepts are cornerstones in a true, correct and healthy relationship with God. These words have a completely different meaning in the original text and context compared to how we define and use them today. These words have been co-opted, appropriated or usurped for other uses, purposes and descriptions. Grace is one of those words. It is of the utmost importance to be correctly handled, transmitted and understood. It is a pivotal, key word in coming to a true, salvation with God which ultimately the most important endeavor in this life. Grace has a crucial and essential place in God’s plan of drawing us to Him that we might be saved, transformed and sanctified. Its’ importance cannot be understated. Salvation is God giving us what we don’t deserve. His provision is giving us what we need. Grace is neither of these.

One of the necessary undertaking to “Rightly handle the Word of Truth” (2 Tim 2:15) we must understand, correctly and accurately the key words in scripture. Many words in the Bible are easily translated, with no different shades of meaning from the original language or cultural definition. Words such as lake, trees or food are adequately translated with no special “beyond translation” insights or meaning. When any language is translated to another there are meanings and concepts that are foreign to those who have not lived it. This is why it is so important to grasp what grace really is, what it does, what it doesn’t do and what effect it has on the most important relationship in this life, our relationship with God and the working out of our Zoë life with Him.

Because the meaning of words in daily conversation which are also used in the Bible such as faith or grace have vastly different meaning in the Bible, it’s easy to see why people can miss out on some of the best traits of God’s character and nature when they study the Bible and try to understand how to relate to God and His ways. Words used to represent Biblical concepts, have a much narrower range of application and definition versus their cultural counterparts.

By contrasting how the word grace is used in our daily conversational English, the churches commonplace definition and its biblical meaning we should gain insight into the why the wide gulf of usage exists. Without the aid of original language tools, such as The Discovery Bible, we have little to no chance of being aware of the differences between these words and their meaning nor can we assimilate how significant and important coming to an understanding of these concepts is. This is especially true if we come to see the need for a true and clear picture of God’s character and nature that will help us as we seek to understand how we are to walk with Him.

Grace in the Dictionary

Here is a brief list of common examples of the usage of grace from the English dictionary.

A virtue coming from God

A state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance

Approval, Favor Mercy, Pardon

An act or instance of kindness, courtesy, or clemency

A temporary exemption or reprieve

A short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks

“He accepted his advice with grace.”

Biblical grace is most often defined in a concordance as “unmerited favor”. This leads us to yet another word that we use with many variations of meaning which muddies the waters even more. Let’s take a look how the word "favor" is used in societal settings.

Favor in the Dictionary

Here is a brief list of common examples and definitions of the word favor from the English dictionary.

To bestow a privilege upon.

“We hope the final decision will be in our favor.”

A special privilege or right granted or conceded.

A politician attempting to keep the favor of the voters

Gracious kindness to do a kindness for. “She did you a favor.”

A small gift or decorative item i.e. a party favor.

To treat gently or carefully. “She favored her injured leg”

To bear a resemblance to someone. “He favors his father”

We seem to call something favor when we see God as having made the way for something we want, need or desire such as a promotion at work, favorable test results from the doctor or being granted a building permit for our church construction project, We tend to call something grace whenever we feel that God has intervened in our lives, either by showing us kindness or preventing calamity, pain, and or suffering.

Common Views of Grace in Christendom.

Here is a brief list of common examples of fairly standard views of grace. These quotes were gleaned from some church or ministry web pages I came across.

“In His grace, God is willing to forgive us and bless us, even though we fall short of living righteously.”

“Grace is the love of God shown to the unlovely, the peace of God given to the restless, the unmerited favor of God.”

“Grace is the opposite of karma, which is all about getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.”

None of these is true grace. God being kind to you is mercy, but not grace. The two are not interchangeable. When the person says “Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.” that is a actually a description of salvation but it is not “xaris” grace. The modern church has changed the meaning of grace to line up with how we dispense societal “grace”. When someone fails us we say that we are “giving grace” as if it’s a pardon. This is kindness, empathy, or forgiveness but not what God says grace is.

Here’s a quote from my good friend Dr. Gary Hill that I think brings important context.

“The view of grace in the mainstream church has become tolerance. Grace becomes something where God always overlooks. In fact, grace is consistent with God’s character, which does not overlook darkness. It overcomes darkness.” Grace is not tolerance. God does not overlook. He overcomes.”

What Grace Really Is

The Greek word for grace used in the New Testament as mentioned earlier is “xaris”. The Discovery Bible (by Dr. Gleason L Archer Jr. and Dr. Gary Hill) defines grace as “inclined, favorable toward, leaning toward to share benefit”. In the Old Testament the Hebrew word for “grace” is 4b ḥēn – graciousness (because "leaning towards"), unmerited favor – preeminently God's grace, demonstrating how He inclines (extends Himself) towards people; show favor, sharing help from a kind disposition; gracious.

This root supremely refers to the Lord's favor leaning towards people out of His kind disposition to bless them. Grace includes every way God extends Himself – reaching out to people to freely "give Himself away"

Grace = Unmerited Favor

I have pondered long and hard to find the best way to understand and describe what the phrase “unmerited favor” means in this context. Then one day, a friend said this to me, “I’m not Christian. No god to adore, no god I adore.” The first thing that came to my mind was, “God would say and is saying to her”, “I adore you! You don’t think I exist. You think that you are the reason all of this is here and yet, I’m the one who made this for you and put you here. In spite of your declaration that I do not exist I am drawing you to myself.” In spite of my ego standing in defiance in the face of the King of Kings, The Great I Am, His response is to call us all the more. As I have studied the Bible looking at the places the word “xaris” is used, I find this definition holds true to this image. A good test of our understanding of any biblical word is top make sure it applies in all of the places it is used in the scriptures. If what you believe the word “faith” to be, does not pass the test in every biblical mention, then you need to dig deeper.

When you contrast “xaris-grace” with the way we regularly employ it, the paradigm shift comes into crystal clear focus. The confusion and error this has caused is beyond detrimental as we try to walk daily to live and grow in our relationship with our heavenly Father.

Inclined Toward

The element of “inclination” is missing in most of the writing, teaching and definition of Biblical grace. “Xaris” “inclined, favorable toward, leaning toward to share benefit” is the missing piece of the puzzle. My best illustration is when the scene where a parent, whose child is very close walking crawls to a piece of furniture, usually a sofa or chair, and pulls themselves up to the standing position. Then they turn around to look back at you to see what your reaction will be. You lean forward, toward the child, extend your arms to them and say “Come on! Let go of the couch and come to me. Walk.” That is what God is always saying to us. “Let go of that finite thing you’re holding onto and come to me so I can give the infinite, Myself, in exchange.

The most commonly used way to describe God’s grace, “God’s riches at Christ expense” points more to our adoption into His family with the benefit of having Christ as my righteousness and inheritance. That describes salvation but not grace. If we lose the drawing, “inclined toward” aspect of grace, you lose the assurance of His desire for intimacy (Ginosko) with you.

The Importance of Grace as drawing

No one can come to Me unless the Father who sent Me draws him. John 6:44
I have loved you with an everlasting love; Therefore, I have drawn you with lovingkindness. Jeremiah 31:3 b

The common view or understanding of God’s character and nature is of a God who is passively hoping that we find Him or longing for us to come closer but unable or unwilling to intercede. I know many who possess this view and I was one of them. Sadly, we are then missing one of the most important aspects of His plan for salvation and sanctification, which is His passion for so seek and save that which was lost. He passionately wants us to find Him and to abide with Him. We were created to be with Him, to be loved by Him.

Grace in Salvation and the Sanctification Process

When I discovered that God is actively calling me and drawing me to Himself, reaching His arms out and calling my name for me to come to Him I suddenly understood that He really wanted me and this has assured me going forward to know my seeking is going to lead to union with Him. The “favor” of xaris is that He wants us to find Him and come close to Him so that we will be as it says in James 1:4 perfect (whole) and complete.

If any of us were harboring doubt concerning His desires and intentions for His children, look no further than these 2 verses.

2 Peter 3:9 The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.
1 Thes 5:23 Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The word “may” in this verse means that we should allow Him to sanctify us. It doesn’t mean “if” He desires to or “if’ He will. When I know He is calling and drawing me, I am so encouraged and energized. He wants me to “get it”, to find Him and be “with Him and in Him”.

If you have come to accept the gift of salvation and adoption offered freely to you by the Lord, you are assured that that God drew you to Himself.

Eph 2:8 For by grace (drawing, inclination) you are saved. We know the Lord is “holy”. The Greek is described in the Discovery Bible this way. “The fundamental meaning of 40 (hágios) is "different" so a temple in the 1st century was called hagios ("holy") – because different from other buildings Hagios also has the aspects of “Set apart for a purpose”. A big part of that “purpose” is for God to bring us to Himself. Jesus said in Luke 19:10 "For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." His mission to earth had this as its core this objective. He came to rescue us and bring us home with Him to heaven forever.

Grace is at the Core of the Father’s Heart

We are most familiar with the “titles” of God which speak of His attributes such as Yahweh-Rohi, The Lord my shepherd or Yahweh-Tsidkenu, The Lord our righteousness. But God’s “name” means “The one who lives forever to give Himself away”. In the drawing of God and His “leaning toward us to share benefit” the immediacy of His desire for us to always draw ever nearer to Him is blunted or nullified. Because He is inclined toward me, drawing me, I’m assured that He wants me passionately. The Bridegroom’s passion for His bride burns brighter than many suns. If I think that my Father in heaven only “hopes’ I’ll come to Him that I might be freed from the hopelessness of captivity of the flesh, sin and all that goes with it, I have am sadly deluded. In that scenario I am left with the prospect of sanctifying myself by my own intellect, efforts and strength. That is the most utterly bleak and futile course I can imagine.

If you take away the “inclined toward” or “drawing”, you are describing salvation but not grace. You received eternal life when you deserved death and punishment. As the song says; “He paid a debt He did not owe. I owed a debt I could not pay.” That’s the cross. Grace is the drawing power to bring us out of our flesh, ego, troubles, bondage and into relationship and intimacy, (ginosko) the goal of this life.

The process of transformation and sanctification is usually a long and twisting path. It is easy to feel that you are getting nowhere or, maybe worse, that you’re arrived. If I do not hear and feel Him calling, drawing and beckoning by grace, it obscures or hides His intense desire for His children, His bride to be free to be in His embrace. This will lead us into the good works He created for us to walk in and that is one of the greatest blessings of life. Because of true grace, I know He is reaching out to me, and calling me to be where He created me to be, with Him forever.

As happens so many times in the “ways of God” “His ways are not our ways. We must surrender to have victory and we must die to live. The cost of the life and being drawn to the Father is the death of our self/ego. Blessedly, the more we see of Him, the more willing we are to pay that price of the loss of all things. We can begin to understand, despite the pain and sorrow that accompanies this path, it is a small price to pay for the wonders of ginosko relationship with the Lord. He is the treasure stored up in heaven and our undeserved reward.

John 3:30 "He must increase,~ but I must decrease.~

The Greek verb tense denoted by the symbol ~ (which you can find in The Discovery Bible app) makes the verse read this way. "He must increase, continuously but I must decrease continuously. We now find that there is a need for us to come closer and closer, day by day to our Father’s heart. Grace is actively drawing us to Him so that He can impart and infuse us with Himself.

And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect. Rom 12:2

The Greek word for “transformation” is “metamorphoo” where we get the word metamorphosis, a miraculous process in nature that is also a picture of our sanctification and transformation into His original vision for us.

He will continue to use grace to draw us until we are all the way home with Him. You see throughout the epistles, where Paul is receiving grace and desiring for those he writes to have or receive more grace.

Because the flesh is not rendered completely dead yet, the ego still stands defiant in the face of God but in spite of that, He continually draws us and beckons us to come near to be changed. We all need continued and continuous drawing. He started drawing us before we accepted His amazing offer of salvation and He has never stopped that drawing because He wants us closer and closer to Him, so that we will be like Him.

Grace is the wonderful gift of God that no man can earn. Grace, as God intended it, is so much more exciting than the things, we in our fleshly humanness, have turned it into. There are parts of our hearts that are still resisting and trying to get “Ego” or flesh back up on the throne where it thinks it belongs and deserves to be. Grace is drawing us to Him which actually causes the death of our flesh but makes us alive in Him.

Now this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom You have sent. John 17:3

The word for “know” in this verse in the Greek is “1097 ginōskō – properly, to know, especially through personal experience (first-hand personal, intimate experiential knowing)’. You come to know the Lord, not because you are a diligent scholar or pray for hours, although that can be a part of your journey. You come to Him because of grace. Since we are still in the process of this metamorphosis,

The purpose of creating the human race life was to share the majesty and beauty of what He was already made and enjoyed with us. Just as earthly parents love to share that which has blessed and amazed them throughout their lives, such as the wonders of nature, amazing people, adventures, landscapes or delicious food with their children, He wanted to see the look of wonder on our faces and the joy in our hearts when He revealed the countless wonders in all He has made.

Grace to Bring Us into Unity with Him

Jesus says in John 17:22-23

I have given them the glory (weight) You gave Me, so that they may be one as We are one, I in them and You in Me—that they may be perfectly united, so that the world may know that You sent Me and have loved them just as You have loved Me.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil 1:2

The word “peace in the Greek is not the cessation of hostilities or troubles, it is “wholeness with God” It is being ever more united with God from having a growing number of “joined connectors” with Him from being transformed.

Grace is the gift He gives of Himself and your receiving that gift was His desire and goal in creating you in the first place that you would be “one with Him”. His name is, after all, the One who lives forever to give Himself away. He is always calling. Are we tired enough of our own ways, choices and the outcomes of those to allow Him to do as He wishes? He can get us there. A journey of 1,000 miles begins with one step in the right direction. Let’s encourage and build one another up as we go to Him together.