Defining What Grace Is
This message shows how grace imparts to the believer in Jesus Christ.
If I asked most preachers what grace means, the majority would prefer to define it as being unmerited favor. This definition is superficial, inaccurate and falls well short of grace’s incredible impartation. It is also passive, which is not the truth, as grace is active, found in God and man, and benefits the recipient.
If I talked to someone trained in Reformed theology, they would reference a different type of grace called “Saving grace”. Likewise, this falls into the category of inaccurate but straightforward.
Old Testament -Law of First Mention.
The first mention of grace in the Bible is a positive attribute of Noah. Being a positive attribute in Noah is incredibly powerful because it lays the foundation for showing that man can have it:
GENESIS 6:8 BUT NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD.
The Attributes of a Gracious Person. Moses then goes on to describe a gracious person.
GENESIS 6:9 THIS IS THE GENEALOGY OF NOAH. NOAH WAS A JUST MAN, PERFECT IN HIS GENERATIONS. NOAH WALKED WITH GOD.
Therefore, we find a powerful key to growing grace in our lives; we need to walk with God.
The Greek word in the New Testament is Charis and translates as “a gift”. Therefore, grace is a gift.
Grace is More Than Unmerited Favor. Grace is often defined as unmerited favor because, favor is initially a gift through being God’s son or daughter.
Both favor and grace require nurturing and growing. We will find it is so much more than unmerited favor.
A gift is a gift, regardless of whether it is merited or unmerited. And we see that God finds grace in some people but not others. Therefore, it is both deserved and unmerited.
The Difference Between Grace and Favor.
Grace that Comes UPON us.
LUKE 2:40 AND THE CHILD GREW AND BECAME STRONG IN SPIRIT, FILLED WITH WISDOM; AND THE GRACE OF GOD WAS UPON HIM.
So, grace is a free gift that has been given to us free of charge.
Favor Grows. Favor is initially a gift of being a son or daughter, and then grows on the basis of decisions made.
LUKE 2:52 AND JESUS INCREASED IN WISDOM AND STATURE, AND IN FAVOR WITH GOD AND MEN.
It is Active. It Strengthens Us.
Grace can strengthen us; therefore, it is a gift that benefits the recipient:
HEBREWS 13:9 IT IS GOOD FOR OUR HEARTS TO BE ESTABLISHED BY GRACE,
Grace is a Gift That Benefits the Recipient.
Remember that grace is the Greek word charis. The term charis refers to a gift that actively benefits the recipient. Grace establishing us means it is working actively in our life.
An Impartation.
When God gives grace to someone, there is an impartation that occurs. But on the other hand, favor is a reward for making correct decisions.
All Sufficiency and Abundance for every Good Work.
It provides everything a person needs to complete what God has for that person to do.
2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 AND GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TOWARD YOU, THAT YOU, ALWAYS HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS, MAY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.
It Works Powerfully in You. It is Active not passive!
ACTS 4:33 WITH GREAT POWER THE APOSTLES CONTINUED TO TESTIFY TO THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD JESUS. AND GOD’S GRACE WAS SO POWERFULLY AT WORK IN THEM ALL
Here we see that grace “works” powerfully!
Empowers in Weakness:
2 CORINTHIANS 12:9 AND HE SAID TO ME, “MY GRACE IS SUFFICIENT FOR YOU, FOR MY POWER (DYNAMIS) IS MADE PERFECT IN WEAKNESS.” THEREFORE, MOST GLADLY I WILL RATHER BOAST IN MY INFIRMITIES, THAT THE POWER OF CHRIST MAY REST UPON ME.
Now we can come up with a definition of what grace is.
GRACE IS THE EMPOWERING PRESENCE OF GOD ENABLING YOU TO BE WHO GOD CREATED YOU TO BE, AND TO DO WHAT HE HAS CALLED YOU TO DO.
Impartation to others
Grace is an impartation that Gives, and it has an Effect.
EPHESIANS 4:29 LET NO CORRUPT WORD PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR NECESSARY EDIFICATION, THAT IT MAY IMPART GRACE TO THE HEARERS.
Impartation of grace can come from God or man; it can be a simple word of encouragement or a gift of money:
2 CORINTHIANS 9:8 AND GOD IS ABLE TO MAKE ALL GRACE ABOUND TOWARD YOU, THAT YOU, ALWAYS HAVING ALL SUFFICIENCY IN ALL THINGS, MAY HAVE AN ABUNDANCE FOR EVERY GOOD WORK.
So, a broader definition would simply be: AN IMPARTATION THAT BENEFITS THE RECIPIENT.
But in some respects, this does not reflect the cost that Jesus paid on the cross, so I would offer the following definition, remembering that you carry the very presence of God:
GRACE IS THE EMPOWERING PRESENCE OF GOD, EITHER DIRECTLY IMPARTING TO A PERSON FROM GOD, OR THROUGH A PERSON IMPARTING UPON OTHERS, WHICH ESTABLISHES AND GROWS THE KINGDOM OF GOD AND REVEALS THE NATURE AND CHARACTER OF GOD.