Understanding Grace

There were those in the Roman church of the first century who decided it was good to sin more so that God would provide more grace. Paul pointedly puts a stop to such thinking. “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we who are dead to sin live any longer therein? Are you ignorant that all we who were baptized into Christ Jesus wear baptized into His death? We were buried therefore with Him through baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised from dead through the glory of the Father, even so we also might walk in newness of life,” Romans 6:1-4.

We have our own misconceptions today. In the literature I have come across the following categories, with a brief description of each. “Salvation grace,” as the name implies is the grace of God that brings salvation to mankind. “Numerous grace” is the idea of grace being provided on many occasions to us as we sin on many occasions. “Forgiveness grace” is a supernatural ability to forgive others who offend us. “New grace” is the grace that is provided to a person each new day to replace the grace used up by the previous days sins. “Freedom grace” is the opportunity not to worry about expectations others have for me, but instead to be faithful to the person God created me to be. “Future grace” provides a person with the confidence that as problems arise in the future, God will be there helping them to press on. If you’re keeping count, you know that is six different “graces.” Seems like there should have been seven, but no, there are six.

These different aspects of grace are not mentioned in the Bible, at least not under the heading of “graces,” but they are written of as though with authority and more than a couple articles can be found on these graces. We do find a list in the Bible to which men have given the title, “Christian Graces.” In 2 Peter 1:5-7, we read, “adding [ . . .] all diligence, in your faith supply virtue; and in your virtue knowledge; and in your knowledge self-control; and in your self-control patience, and in you patience godliness, and in your godliness brotherly kindness; and in your brotherly kindness love.” There you have what we call the Christian Graces: virtue, knowledge, self-control, patience, godliness, brotherly kindness, and love, and yes, there are seven in this Biblical list. Peter goes on to say, “If you do these things you will never stumble,” in verse 10, highlighting their importance and I can only agree with Peter in that. But Peter doesn’t call these “graces.”

As we proceed, I have no doubt some will think I am nitpicking. So first, please understand that my point is not to denigrate, or cast aspersions on any of the ideas mentioned above. Certainly, 2 Peter 1:5-7, must be upheld as Biblical truth and we should do our best to meet that standard. The “six graces” from some of the literature on grace are fine ideas. What I’m saying is that by referring to these as “grace” we dilute and/or weaken the true meaning of the grace of God depicted in the Bible.

The true meaning of the grace of God as used in many Bible verses, some of which we will consider here, is singular and narrowly applicable. It doesn’t mean ten or twenty different things. It means one thing, and we must hold fast to that one thing. Grace and mercy are very closely related when speaking of God and the salvation He has provided to mankind. A good way to understand these two terms, is that mercy means withholding punishment that is deserved and should be expected to occur, while grace means providing a blessing that is not deserved and should not be expected to occur. In God’s plan for man’s redemption, they are inextricably woven together. We plead for mercy. We praise for grace. “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Heb. 4:16.

“But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions - it is by grace you have been saved, “ Eph. 2:4-5. Making us alive is saving us. We were made alive with Christ, by grace we were saved. Christ is the grace of God.

“That in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus: for by grace ye have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God;” Eph 2:7-9. God shows His grace in Christ. Christ is the grace of God. It is not because of anything we have done because then it would be earned and God would owe us and grace would not be a factor.

“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people,” Titus 2:11. Grace offers salvation, a blessing provided to us that is not deserved and should not be expected were it not a gift from God. The undeniable factor that God gifted due to His grace, the factor that brought salvation to mankind, was Christ.

“He has saved us and called us to a holy life - not because of anything we have done but because of His own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time,” 2 Tim. 1:9. We didn’t do anything to achieve our salvation, we couldn’t have (Rom 5:6,8. We were yet weak. We were yet sinners.) It was God’s purpose, His intention, His decision, before time, or even the earth, began. Weak, sinners being saved is grace in action. It was Jesus on the cross who brought this grace to earth. Jesus is the grace of God.

“For sin shall no longer be your master; because you are not under the law, but under grace,” Rom. 6:14. Under the rule of law, a law broken means a punishment given. One law broken means guilt of the whole law broken. Mercy is revoking the punishment. Grace is providing the sinner with the opportunity of salvation. Jesus accomplished this by taking the punishment on Himself on the cross. Jesus is the grace of God.

God’s grace was extended to mankind from before the beginning of time. But it did not occur until Jesus died on the cross. At that point, and not before that point, salvation was made an option for mankind because Jesus had paid the debt of our sins. We were given mercy in that we were not assigned to an eternity in Hell, although we had earned it because of our sins. We were given grace in that we were given the opportunity to live in Heaven eternally with God by having our sins pardoned through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross.

Some will still be lost because they will refuse to take advantage of the opportunity Christ has given them. Those who are saved will know that they were saved by the grace of God, the sacrifice of His Son on the cross, because they will know they were unworthy. God didn’t force anyone to be saved. What a He did do, because of His grace, was provide a path for those who believed and were willing to follow His word to have the blessing of eternal salvation. That is God’s grace. Nothing more. Nothing less.