- Should grace be desired for more than simply acknowledgement of our blessings on occasion?
- Is the Biblical concept of ‘grace’ the same today as God’s GRACE in the New and Old Testaments?
What is grace?
We associate it with good things as in praying before eating and receiving mercy for those things we ought not to have done.
Paul frequently opens his letters to various churches with grace, peace and other gentle words of greeting. The Apostle then encourages believers in a spirit of grace given to all by God.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
First Letter of Paul *[and Sosthenes]
to the church at Corinth 1:3 – LSB
*Sosthenes = "saviour of his nation" - a Jew at Corinth who was seized and beaten in the presence of Gallio
And they all took hold of Sosthenes the leader of the synagogue, and began beating him in front of the judgment seat. But Gallio was not concerned about any of these things.
Gospel Grace
- Grace appears over 100 times in the Bible
- most frequently used in the New Testament.
The Greek word used by the Gospel writers and Apostles is χάρις pronounced: khar’-ece.
grace
- that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
A brief look at varied New Testament use of grace, favor and graciousness reveals a much deeper and satisfying application of grace through Christ.
For of His fullness we have all received, and grace G5485 upon grace G5485.
Gospel of John 1:16 Legacy Standard Bible
Old Testament Grace
God’s grace before its fullness in Christ was proclaimed to the world
The Hebrew Bible or Old Testament also demonstrates God’s grace in action and in word. In Hebrew:
ḥēn חֵן
Translated in English as ‘grace‘ 38x and also as: favour (26x), gracious (2x), pleasant (1x), precious
But Noah found favor H2580 in the eyes of Yahweh.
Genesis 6:8
The favor and blessings of grace extend not only between the Lord God and man but also between the mortal flesh and blood of individual souls blessing one another.
Perhaps no blessing of grace is any better known than a benediction of parting the LORD spoke to Moses.
“Speak to Aaron and his sons, saying, Thus you shall bless the people of Israel: you shall say to them,
יְבָרֶכְךָ יְהוָה וְיִשְׁמְרֶךָ׃ ס
יָאֵר יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וִיחֻנֶּךָּ׃ ס
יִשָּׂא יְהוָה פָּנָיו אֵלֶיךָ וְיָשֵׂם לְךָ שָׁלֹום׃ ס
בְּמִדְבַּר (Numbers) 6 :: Westminster Leningrad Codex (WLC)
The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the LORD lift up his countenance [or face] upon you and give you peace.
“So shall they put my name upon the people of Israel, and I will bless them.”
Blessing between the LORD and Israel from Numbers 6:24-26,27
Gracious people chosen for God’s grace
And of course most everyone desires at times to receive at least a portion of joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, favour, grace, charm, elegance and acceptance.
Who receives grace?
Is God’s grace all-inclusive or exclusive?
Let’s take a brief look.
The Example of Noah
Then Yahweh saw that the evil of man was great on the earth, and that every intent of the thoughts of his heart was only evil continually. And Yahweh regretted that He had made man on the earth, and He was grieved in His heart.
But Noah found favor in the eyes of Yahweh.
Then God said to Noah, “The end of all flesh has come before Me; for the earth is filled with violence because of them; and behold, I am about to destroy them with the earth.
Genesis 6:5-6,8,13
Abraham’s Grace though Faith
And Melchizedek king of Salem brought out bread and wine; now he was a priest of God Most High. Then he blessed him and said,
“Blessed be Abram of God Most High, Possessor of heaven and earth; And blessed be God Most High, Who has delivered your enemies into your hand.”
Genesis 14:18-20a
Now it happened that when Abram was ninety-nine years old, Yahweh appeared to Abram and said to him,
“I am God Almighty;
Genesis 17:1-2
Walk before Me and be blameless, so that I may confirm My covenant between Me and you,
And that I may multiply you exceedingly.”
Then Abram fell on his face, and God spoke with him…
Grace and Mercy
25:17 וְעָשִׂיתָ כַפֹּרֶת זָהָב
“You shall make a mercy seat of pure gold…
Grace is related to but NOT equal to mercy.
Mercy is a transaction granted by a greater one to a lesser recipient.
Grace is a part in a transaction by which supplication (or plea) may have been made from one to another. At times they are even equals — but often not.
In fact God or a king or any human authority may grant grace without you even asking.
תְּחִנָּה
supplication,
supplication for favour
- to man or
- to God
“And I will pour out on the house of David and on the inhabitants of Jerusalem the Spirit of grace and of supplication,
so that they will look on Me whom they have pierced;
and they will mourn for Him, as one mourns for an only son, and they will weep bitterly over Him like the bitter weeping over a firstborn.
Zechariah 12:10 LSB
“In that day a fountain will be opened for the house of David and for the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for impurity.
from Zechariah 13:1 – approximately 480 B.C.
MORE about GRACE in every age NEXT TIME when we will ask: "WHO NEEDS GRACE?" (You've probably guessed the answer already.)
For from His fullness, we have all received and grace upon grace.
Gospel of John 1:16 – Berean Literal Bible
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