Let's Get Active 3 - Active Grace

What is Grace?

Noun

• grace

• grace (outworking)

• mercy

• favor (feeling)

• present ⇔ grace

• grace (system)

• grace (act)

Verb

• to show gracious kindness

• to give graciously

• to pity

• to forgive graciously

• to plead for compassion

• to be gracious

Adjective

• gracious

Grace refers to the condition of being given or shown favor, especially by someone in a position to exercise goodwill by meeting a particular need. Grace can also refer to the manifestation of such a disposition of kindness in the form of material benefaction, including the giving of gifts, the approval of one’s request, the granting of freedom or mercy, and the deliverance or salvation from evil or harm.

In the New Testament, the idea of grace is expressed with the Greek noun χάρις (charis, “grace”; Luke 2:40). Although this word occurs in most of the nt writings, almost two-thirds of its occurrences are in Paul’s letters. The verbs χαρίζομαι (charizomai, “to give graciously”; Phil 2:9) and χαριτόω (charitoō, “to bestow favor”; Eph 1:6) are related to charis and express additional aspects of the concept. The nt also has a related word for gift, χάρισμα (charisma; 1 Cor 12:4), which denotes something that is graciously given. Instead of using an adjectival form of charis, the nt places the term in the genitive or dative cases when using it to modify another noun.

Grace is a Gift

Ephesians 2:4–10 NKJV

4 But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, 5 even when we were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved), 6 and raised us up together, and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

The word charis conveys the idea of a favorable disposition toward another—Mary is described as finding favor (charis) with God (Luke 1:30), Jesus grows up in the favor (charis) of both God and humans (Luke 2:52), and the early church finds favor (charis) with the people (Acts 2:47) and with God (Acts 4:33; 13:43). Grace (charis) can also refer to an act born out of grace, such as healing, the canceling of a debt, the release of a prisoner, or monetary and spiritual gifts. Paul also describes his calling to be a minister of the gospel as the grace of God (e.g., Rom 1:5; 1 Cor 3:10; Eph 3:7–8). Most importantly, grace is associated with the salvation of humanity through the life and death of Jesus, who is understood to embody the grace of God (e.g., John 1:14–16; Acts 15:11; Rom 5:15–17). For this reason, the gospel is described as the good news of God’s grace (charis; Acts 20:24, 32), and Paul adapts the common Graeco-Roman letter opening from χαίρειν (chairein, “greetings”) to χάρις (charis, “grace”) in order to reflect the grace of God manifest through Christ (e.g., Rom 1:7; Col 1:2). In several of his letters, Paul emphasizes the unmerited nature of grace in order to proclaim that, due to the death of Jesus (understood as a free gift), God’s redemption and promised salvation is now accessible through faith in Jesus, apart from following the customs of the Jewish law (e.g., Rom 11:5–6; Gal 2:19–21; Eph 2:8–9). In the nt, the salvation that is obtained through faith in Jesus is the ultimate expression of God’s grace to all men (Titus 2:11).

Grace is Given to Save

Romans 3:21 NKJV

But now the righteousness of God apart from the law is revealed, being witnessed by the Law and the Prophets,

Romans 3:22 NKJV

even the righteousness of God, through faith in Jesus Christ, to all and on all who believe. For there is no difference;

Romans 3:23 NKJV

for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,

Romans 3:24 NKJV

being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus,

Romans 5:6 NKJV

For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Romans 5:7 NKJV

For scarcely for a righteous man will one die; yet perhaps for a good man someone would even dare to die.

Romans 5:8 NKJV

But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Grace is Given to Stay

2 Corinthians 12:7 NKJV

And lest I should be exalted above measure by the abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I be exalted above measure.

2 Corinthians 12:8 NKJV

Concerning this thing I pleaded with the Lord three times that it might depart from me.

2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

2 Corinthians 12:10 NKJV

Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Hebrews 4:14 NKJV

Seeing then that we have a great High Priest who has passed through the heavens, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold fast our confession.

Hebrews 4:15 NKJV

For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.

Hebrews 4:16 NKJV

Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Grace is Given to Serve

Romans 12 NKJV

1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. 3 For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you, not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think soberly, as God has dealt to each one a measure of faith. 4 For as we have many members in one body, but all the members do not have the same function, 5 so we, being many, are one body in Christ, and individually members of one another. 6 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; 7 or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; 8 he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness. 9 Let love be without hypocrisy. Abhor what is evil. Cling to what is good. 10 Be kindly affectionate to one another with brotherly love, in honor giving preference to one another; 11 not lagging in diligence, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord; 12 rejoicing in hope, patient in tribulation, continuing steadfastly in prayer; 13 distributing to the needs of the saints, given to hospitality. 14 Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse. 15 Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep. 16 Be of the same mind toward one another. Do not set your mind on high things, but associate with the humble. Do not be wise in your own opinion. 17 Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men. 18 If it is possible, as much as depends on you, live peaceably with all men. 19 Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is written, “Vengeance is Mine, I will repay,” says the Lord. 20 Therefore “If your enemy is hungry, feed him; If he is thirsty, give him a drink; For in so doing you will heap coals of fire on his head.” 21 Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Grace is Given to Supply

Genesis 22:6–8 NKJV

So Abraham took the wood of the burnt offering and laid it on Isaac his son; and he took the fire in his hand, and a knife, and the two of them went together. But Isaac spoke to Abraham his father and said, “My father!” And he said, “Here I am, my son.” Then he said, “Look, the fire and the wood, but where is the lamb for a burnt offering?” And Abraham said, “My son, God will provide for Himself the lamb for a burnt offering.” So the two of them went together.

Philippians 4:19 NKJV

And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.