Grace

Grace found vs. Grace Given

Joh 1:17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

A basic distinction between Grace in the OT and Grace in the NT is that in the OT, men had to FIND Grace but in the NT, Grace is GOD’s gift to His children. Consider the first time Grace appears in KJV scripture.

But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD—Gen 6:8

Now let us consider the last time it appears in scripture (NT)…

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen—Rev 22:21

In the OT, Grace had to be sought. In the NT, it is freely given to us through Jesus and we share it with others. Scriptures like John 1:14,16 prove that. IN the OT, individuals found grace but in the NT, its given to ALL who’ll receive it. The book of Hebrews even asks us to come BOLDLY to the throne of Grace to pick up Grace and Mercy for any time of need.

Consider the following two scriptures which shed more light on the source and object or target of Grace in the NT:

And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth—Joh 1:14

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace—Joh 1:16

This verse 16 is one of the most awesome statements ever penned yet many cannot rejoice in its awesomeness because of a lack of comprehension of what Grace truly is. This scripture makes an assertion that born again saints have received of the fullness of Christ which according to John 1:14 is Grace and Truth. And in verse 16 he is saying we have ALL (not just pastors and apostles) received GRACE for GRACE. That is amazing! What is this Grace then that we have ALL received?

GRACE DEFINED

In many Christian circles, the standard definition of Grace is the unmerited favour of GOD. While this is not entirely wrong, it is a very incomplete definition. Grace is much bigger than the favour of GOD. It is actually the SOURCE of the favour, elegance, acceptance, loveing0kindness, mercy, beauty, charm, pleasantness, loveliness, affectionate regard etc. Grace is not the benefit but rather the source. I will prove it.

Grace is first and foremost a person or a spirit. Zech 12:10 calls him the Spirit of GRACE. Who is this Spirit of GRACE? He is GOD. You may know him as the Spirit of GOD but GOD is spirit (John 4:24) anyway so the Spirit of GOD is GOD. The spirit of a spirit is a spirit. The Holy Spirit is GOD.

Do not get confused. All that is being said is GOD is Spirit. This Spirit manifests in an innumerable number of ways depending on the need. For e.g. GOD is the Sprit of Wisdom, the spirit of Knowledge, the Spirit of Might etc. He is also the Spirit of Grace in Zech 12:10. This Spirit of Grace who is GOD has a throne and you know it as the throne of Grace (Heb 4:6). The throne of Grace is the throne of GOD. God and His Spirit are one and the same. SO when John1:14 say that Jesus is full of Grace and truth, it’s simply another way of saying the earthen body of Jesus is full of GOD. What is the body of Christ? It’s His Church. She is full of GOD or full of Grace and Truth. And if you are born again, you belong to this body and have received John 1:17, i.e. you too have received Grace for Grace. The amplified bible says it this way…we have received one grace after another and spiritual blessing upon spiritual blessing and even favor upon favor and gift [heaped] upon gift.

NOW that we have the understanding of the identity of Grace, let’s consult some Hebrew and Greek dictionaries…

According to the Strong’s Hebrew and Greek Dictionaries, Grace is from a Greek Word χάρις which is transliterated as Charis. The Strong’s number is G5485. Grace or Charis is defined as :

From G5463; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): – acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).

Of special importance to today’s post is the part underlined. Grace is the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life. SO grace is not primarily the reflection in the life but rather the divine influence upon the heart. Grace is that which influences our Spirits/hearts. He is the Holy Spirit. This is Grace or the Spirit of Grace.

The reflection is not grace but rather the benefits of Grace. When God influences your spirit with His presence, the result is gratitude, acceptance, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thankfulness. This is the reflection in the life or the result of having a GOD encounter. A result of Grace is, where you might have once been deemed unworthy for a particular position in life, after GOD has influenced your heart with his presence i.e. himself, you will be highly sought after and deemed of much worth. Grace is GOD extending himself to touch a life and the resulting outflow of abundance as a result of that encounter with GOD a.k.a the divine influence.

Thayer defines Grace as that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good will, loving-kindness, favour

The 2a) goes on to say teh following of Charis … of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues.

The question is what affords all of these cool things? What produces these qualities in/for a life? It is ONLY GOD. He is the only one who can afford joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness, good will, loving-kindness, favour for you and for me. He can afford it. He is Grace.

Grace is the fullness of Christ. Jesus is FULL of Grace.

Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.

Grace is the Spirit that made the Son of man Christ (anointed). Put differently, Grace is the Oil or Sprit that anointed Jesus with extraordinary ability (Zech 12:10 and Heb 10:29).

In conclusion Grace is not the benefit but rather the source of the benefit. We are invited to confidently draw near to him and his throne i.e. the throne of Grace fearlessly, that we may receive some benefits such as mercy [for our failures] and find grace to help in good time for every need [appropriate help and well-timed help, coming just when we need it]—Heb 4:16

Grace is a person sometimes called the Spirit of Grace. That is why Apostle John signed his second letter the following way and I too sign of this blog entry the same way. GOD bless you and …

Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love—2Jn 1:3