What is grace?

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Grace is defined as favor, and yet it is unmerited. To try to stuff both the meaning of the term and the fact of it being giving without merit into a verse as a hard definition is a misnomer. The blogger makes this error because he doesn't make this simple distinction.
 
jej00n said:
Thank you for sharing :o I still have a lot to learn.
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Here is my point of view (and I will try and respond directly to the blog when I have some sleep), but God has shown us that grace can't be earned. If we add something to it, it becomes merited, or we have earned it in some way. The common misconception is that this gives us a license to sin, but this isn't true because it rejects other scriptures that says God will cause us to walk in his statutes.

Consider this passage:


Ephesians 2:8-9English Standard Version (ESV)
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

And this:

Philippians 2:
12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, 13 for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.


14 Do all things without grumbling or disputing, 15 that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. 17 Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. 18 Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
 
I believe there are 2 aspects to grace. #1 = it is unmerited in which we don't do anything to receive it. It is something that God has done in Christ Himself. It is God's character of love for us being displayed towards us.

God accepts us and values us and doesn't condemn us because of Christ Himself - I call this "acceptance grace"

#1 Grace never leaves us in the condition we were found in. Grace is also the empowering influence on the heart of man that transforms us to be outwardly by the renewing of the mind by the Holy Spirit what the Father sees us in our new creation which is in Christ.

I call this "empowering grace". True grace being utilized will have both in action in our lives.
 
There are 2 aspects to grace. The very first thing that Jesus does with the woman caught in adultery is that He gets rid of her accusers - the religious Pharisees that wanted to condemn her because the "bible" said so in the Old Covenant...she was to be stoned. ( the law condemns us )

Jesus was the only one qualified to condemn her but He didn't.


1) acceptance grace - which has nothing to do with our behavior - as seen with the woman caught in adultery. Our Lord beautifully says " I do not condemn you".

It is in knowing you are not condemned that releases the other aspect of grace.

2) now, go and sin no more - this is empowering grace.

Empowering grace enables you to be who the Father sees you are in Christ now because you are a new creation in Him.


The religious mindset says to the woman caught in adultery - 'Do not sin and we will not condemn you."

The grace of God and the blood of Jesus speaks of better things in this New Covenant of grace!

"Knowing" that we are not condemned in Christ "releases" the life of the empowering grace to transform us. It's all about Christ! It's His fruit being manifested in us!

Acceptance grace which is not based on our behavior needs to be cemented in our hearts before empowering grace is able to be manifested.


What believers in a self-effort/self-performance D.I.Y. holiness/righteousness based mindset and the self-appointed "fruit inspectors" have a very hard time with is the "acceptance grace" part.

This just drives them nuts and I understand why - it is scandalous and it "conflicts" with their religious man-made traditions.
 
However, the definition of Grace as unmerited favor is wrong. I used to define grace as making up of two parts - unmerited and power.
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Its all one work working together, unmerited grace is the authority by which we can believe God in respect to a work of Christ’s faith that he merrited by his own self.

He gives us the authority to believe as the one source of faith . unmerited to us according to his merrit or work of faith, labor of His love.
But after hearing James Ryle (Truthworks.org) preaching in Grace Chapel (gracechapel.net) on 23 Jul 2006 "Living a Legacy Part 4", I have to drop the unmerited part and just keep the power part. The unmerited part comes from God's mercy and need not be repeated in grace.
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What God joins together the father of lies calls separate,.and what God call separate the father of lies brings together.

Grace is the gift of His mercy that he bestows on us, not of us, lest any boast in false pride. We have that treasure as His authority in us but is never to assume it could come from us.That would be blasphemy to have the faith of Christ in respect to siners.


2Corinthians 4:7 But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency of the power may be "of God", and not "of u"s.

In Tit 1:4, the benediction from Paul is "Grace, Mercy and Peace". (which matches well with 2Tim1:7 7 for God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control).
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Yes by the mercy of God we receive the grace of God. The fruit of His Holy Spirit of Christ,, the Spirit of grace working in us to both will and do His good pleasure as imputed righteousness is our self control
 
"Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return. Grace is love coming at you that has nothing to do with you. Grace is being loved when you are unlovable…. The cliché definition of grace is “unconditional love.” It is a true cliché, for it is a good description of the thing. Let’s go a little further, though. Grace is a love that has nothing to do with you, the beloved. It has everything and only to do with the Lover. Grace is irrational in the sense that it has nothing to do with weights and measures. It has nothing to do with my intrinsic qualities or so-called “gifts” (whatever they may be). It reflects a decision on the part of the Giver, the one who loves, in relation to the receiver, the one who is loved, that negates any qualifications the receiver may personally hold…. Grace is one-way love.” - Paul Zahl
 
Grace is the unmerited favor of God. It is where God shows us mercy, kindness, and patience instead of the judgment that we deserve for sinning against Him. God's grace cannot be earned by our actions or sincerity. Grace is based on the character of God and not on our sincerity, performance, or ability to keep the law. Otherwise, grace would not be grace.

Rom. 11:6, "But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works, otherwise grace is no longer grace."

Gal. 2:21, "I do not nullify the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the Law, then Christ died needlessly."

2 Timothy 1:9, "who has saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was granted us in Christ Jesus from all eternity."

God's grace operates sovereignly in the lives of believers.

1 Corinthians 15:10 - But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me did not prove vain; but I labored even more than all of them, yet not I, but the grace of God with me.

2 Corinthians 1:12 - For our proud confidence is this: the testimony of our conscience, that in holiness and godly sincerity, not in fleshly wisdom but in the grace of God, we have conducted ourselves in the world, and especially toward you.

2 Corinthians 12:9 - And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness." Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me.
 
FreeNChrist said:
"Grace is love that seeks you out when you have nothing to give in return...Grace is a love that has nothing to do with you, the beloved. It has everything and only to do with the Lover...It reflects a decision on the part of the Giver, the one who loves, in relation to the receiver, the one who is loved, that negates any qualifications the receiver may personally hold…. Grace is one-way love.” - Paul Zahl
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...and people still (falsely) preach they got this Grace because God knew they'd "vote for Him".
 
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Thanks for sharing this! I had been confusing Grace, as something that was more then unmerited. Like, being graced with an "opportunity" to proceed onwards! But, not thinking Grace wasn't unmerited favor. Because it is!

Must of had my view of Grace, confused with the "Parable of the Talents". Going to have to proceed onwards differently now! Thanks!

 
preacher4truth said:
...and people still (falsely) preach they got this Grace because God knew they'd "vote for Him".
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"Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering, but our own unbelief." - John Calvin
 
FreeNChrist said:
"Since no man is excluded from calling upon God the gate of salvation is open to all. There is nothing else to hinder us from entering, but our own unbelief." - John Calvin
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Correct, as far as we know, because we don't know who the elect are, but God does. From the "Calvinist" pen of the Holy Spirit via Paul concerning this:

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. - 2 Timothy 2:8-10

Note, it doesn't say "for the sake of all". So, the "all" of Calvin is qualified, it is speaking of none other than the elect and the preaching is for none other than the elect.
 
preacher4truth said:
Correct, as far as we know, because we don't know who the elect are, but God does. From the "Calvinist" pen of the Holy Spirit via Paul concerning this:

Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound! Therefore I endure everything for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation that is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory. - 2 Timothy 2:8-10

Note, it doesn't say "for the sake of all". So, the "all" of Calvin is qualified, it is speaking of none other than the elect and the preaching is for none other than the elect.
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Not interested. Back to the OP....

“This grace of God is a very great, strong, mighty and active thing. It does not lie asleep in the soul. Grace hears, leads, drives, draws, changes, works all in man, and lets itself be distinctly felt and experienced. It is hidden, but its works are evident.” ― Martin Luther
 
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