What is God's Grace?

The Grace of God

What Does the Word of God Really Teach?

Vessel: Denny Anthony

What exactly is the Grace of God? The pulpits teach (generally) that God’s Grace is:

-Undeserved favor with God
-God’s undeserved kindness
-Right standing with God
-Concession
-Compassion of God regardless of human action

We have been shown to view God’s Grace as being a stand alone concept rather than a set of God’s attributes.

Let us give thought to the Apostle Paul’s perspective of God’s Grace that should be viewed by those who truly love the precious Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. Let us take a close look into the Greek word (Strong’s) used by the Apostle Paul in his letter to the church in Rome (Ro. 5:15):

xa/riv (Charis) – Translated “Grace” (from 5463):

1-grace
a-that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2-good will, loving-kindness, favor
b-of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3-what is due to grace
a-the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
b-the token or proof of grace, benefit
1-a gift of grace
2-benefit, bounty

Notice that the definition describes God’s attributes (Jn. 1:14b) and not a tolerance for continual sin or “undeserved favor” regardless of the fallen state of man (see Heb. 10:26-27).

Let us take a look at the passage that has been used as a license to sin.
Ephesians 2:8-10 (NIV):

8-For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9-not by works, so that no one can boast. 10-For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The Gift of God is Grace (which is the nature and character of Almighty God). Salvation is the result of the gift. Instead of looking at Grace in the typical way that it is taught; let us try to see Grace in reality. Grace is the character, nature, outlook, and likeness of God found in the second Adam, namely Jesus Christ. Galatians 5:17-21 is clear that the Kingdom of God will not be inherited by those conformed to the fallen state of man, rather by those who are in the image of God. God created man to be in His image and likeness, this is the purpose for humanity (Ro. 8:29).

In essence, I interpret this scripture (Eph. 2:8-10) to read, “It is by the nature, character, and likeness of God that you are saved through faith in Christ Jesus. Grace is the gift of God made possible by the sacrifice of His only begotten Son, not by human effort so that man cannot boast of unity with God apart from God. For we are a new creation of God’s workmanship designed to personify His image and likeness through our unity with Christ. This has been God’s original design for us since Adam and Eve.” Simplifying it even more, “It is not by our work in God, rather by God’s work in us that we are saved from the deformity of sin which leads to eternal ****ation.” Consider “Grace” to be a one word description of the indwelling of the Holy Spirit.

Paul explains this concept in greater detail in Titus 3:5-7 (NKJV):

4-But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, 5-not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, 6-whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7-that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

It is God’s mercy by which He places His disposition into us. Still, our lifestyles reveal His disposition. This is fluent with 1 John 2:6. This also explains how we can be “perfect” and “Holy” as our Heavenly Father (Matt. 5:48; 1 Pe. 1:15-16).

Titus 2:11-12 (NKJV):

11-For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12-teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…

It is clear that “The nature of God” brings salvation. Let’s look into the word Salvation in this passage. It originates from the word swthriða:
1-deliverance, preservation, safety, salvation
a-deliverance from the molestation of enemies
b-in an ethical sense, that which concludes to the souls safety or salvation
1-of Messianic salvation
2-future salvation, the sum of benefits and blessings which the Christians, redeemed from all earthly ills, will enjoy after the visible return of Christ from heaven in the consummated and eternal kingdom of God.
With this brought to light, let us take a look at Romans 5:20-21 (NIV):

20-The law was added so that the trespass might increase. But where sin increased, grace increased all the more, 21-so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

I interpret this passage to mean something like this: “The more rules and boundaries there are the more Christ makes us free. The greater our chance of failure, the more His Holy Spirit rises up within us to meet and exceed the expectations.” See, where the enemy wishes to make things more difficult, God has more capacity in us to succeed. The more impossible the demands are, the more God’s power will be revealed. This makes the disposition of Christ even more of a reality.

May we view God’s grace as it should be viewed: the supernatural ability and nature of Jesus Christ within us in a world where sin is all too common-place; or even more accurate: the vicarious life of Jesus Christ manifested in those who are His. God is making His desires our own and proving what is impossible with man to do: to please the Father and be saved from the kingdom of His enemy.

Remember, the disciples asked Jesus after His encounter with the rich man, “Lord, who then can be saved?” Jesus response was, “With man this is not possible, however with God all things are possible.”(Matt. 19:25-26)

Simply put, if we are in the image and likeness of the world (that has been conformed to the likeness of the devil), then we will inherit the kingdom of God’s enemy. However, if we are transformed into the likeness of God (by Christ in us, or Grace), then we will inherit God’s Kingdom.

Supporting scriptures: Gal. 2:20; 3:26-27; 5:5, 17; 2 Cor. 5:17, 21; Ro. 8:10; Phil. 1:20; 2:5-11; Jn. 17:22-23

[MahogonySnail]

thanks for that i think its the best explanation of grace I've seen, i've saved a copy

[shiningthrupain]

Thanks....for sharing this!

Blessings to you family. It is so vital for us to truly understand this. A good knowledge and understanding of God's Grace will help us to be productive in our knowledge of God. It also helps us to keep God's perspective.

[wisdomseeker]

Thankx for the post.
Simply put, if we are in the image and likeness of the world (that has been conformed to the likeness of the devil), then we will inherit the kingdom of God’s enemy. However, if we are transformed into the likeness of God (by Christ in us, or Grace), then we will inherit God’s Kingdom.
This kinda sparked a couple verses to mind you might enjoy.
ecclesiastes chapter 11,3

If the clouds be full of rain, they empty themselves upon the earth: and if the tree fall toward the south, or toward the north, in the place where the tree falleth, there it shall be.

Also in revelation about the balances
revelation chapter 6,5


And when he had opened the third seal, I heard the third beast say, Come and see. And I beheld, and lo a black horse; and he that sat on him had a pair of balances in his hand.
6


And I heard a voice in the midst of the four beasts say, A measure of wheat for a penny, and three measures of barley for a penny; and see thou hurt not the oil and the wine.

Also in daniel its revealed about judgment
daniel chapter 5 ,5

In the same hour came forth fingers of a man's hand, and wrote over against the candlestick upon the plaister of the wall of the king's palace: and the king saw the part of the hand that wrote.
6

Then the king's countenance was changed, and his thoughts troubled him, so that the joints of his loins were loosed, and his knees smote one against another.


25

And this is the writing that was written, MENE, MENE, TEKEL, UPHARSIN.
26

This is the interpretation of the thing: MENE; God hath numbered thy kingdom, and finished it.
27

TEKEL; Thou art weighed in the balances, and art found wanting.
28

PERES; Thy kingdom is divided, and given to the Medes and Persians.


May be found on the right side when we fall not wanting.
Love a friend in God

"Remain in Me and I will remain in you... Apart from Me, you can do nothing..." Abandonment to Christ is the only way to ensure that He is our "Lord" (Possessor of body and Master of mind). When once we get to the point where Christ does everything He desires to do from within our body, Then He is our LORD. We know that not everyone who says to Him "Lord, Lord" will enter. The enemy would have us believe that "Humpty Dumpty had a great fall and all... couldn't put Humpty back together again," However, once we are crucified with Christ, there is no weapon formed against us that even has the capacity to prosper. Christ has condemned the "prince of this world." There is no need for worries. Rejoice in the Lord, always... The dead in Christ shall rise.