Grace Notes

Steven R. Cook

www.christonly.com

The Greek word charis, which is translated grace, appears 155 times in the New Testament, and from that number the apostle Paul uses the word 130 times. Grace refers to the unmerited and unlimited favor that God shows toward the undeserving because of the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.

Three uses of Grace (charis):

1. Charis refers to the quality or attribute present in a thing that made it beautiful or attractive (i.e. appearance, actions, words Luke 4:22; Eph. 4:29; Col. 4:6).

2. Charis also refers to the favor one person did for another, which reflected his mood. Aristotle described charis as “something that is conferred freely without expectation of return, and finding its source in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver.” Some people derive satisfaction from being gracious to others. A gracious disposition leads to gracious acts (Luke 6:32-36).

3. Charis was also used as a response one gave for a favor shown; that is, a thank you (1 Cor. 15:57).

Categories of Grace:

1. General Grace: God shows kindness to all mankind, both the righteous and wicked (Matt. 5:45).

2. Prevenient Grace: The preparatory work of the Holy Spirit in the heart of the one who will believe in Christ for salvation (Jo. 16:8-9).

3. Irresistible Grace: The elect respond to God’s offer of salvation (Jo. 6:37, 44; Acts 13:48; Rom. 1:1, 6–7; 8:28; 1 Cor. 1:1–2, 24, 26; Eph. 1:18; 4:1, 4; 2 Tim. 1:9).

4. Saving Grace: The salvation provided to the elect because of Christ’s substitutionary work on the cross (Eph. 2:8-9).

5. Provisional Grace: The provision of God for His children so they might advance to maturity and fully live the spiritual life (Eph. 1:3).

a. Growing Grace: The opportunity to apply biblical truths and principles to the situations of life (2 Pet. 3:18).

b. Cleansing Grace: The kindness God shows His elect in forgiving their sin after salvation and restoring fellowship (1 Jo. 1:9).

c. Suffering Grace: The provision of God that enables the believer to face adversity with joy (2 Cor. 12:9-10).

d. Dying Grace: The grace God gives His children as they face death (Ps. 23:4).

6. Rule of Grace: The rule of life that governs the Christian’s beliefs and behaviors (Tit. 2:11-14). Grace as a rule of life is contrary to any other system of law, including the Mosaic Law; which is said to be changed (Heb. 7:11-12), obsolete (Heb. 8:13), and a ministry of death (2 Cor. 3:7-11).

7. Eternal Grace: The blessing God gives to His elect when He brings them into eternity (Rev. 21:1-4).

Steve’s Summary Observations:

1. Grace is all that God is free to do for people based on the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross, whereas religion rejects grace and seeks to earn God’s approval through works of the flesh. In grace, God does all the work and men benefit from it (Eph. 3:7). In religion, men do all the work, and God is supposed to be pleased with their efforts (Luke 18:9-14).

2. We bring to God our helplessness (Rom. 5:6), sin (Rom. 5:8), and death (Eph. 2:5), and in return He gives us the work of Christ (1 Cor. 15:3-4), forgiveness (Col. 1:13-14), and eternal life (Jo. 10:28).

3. Grace is given only the helpless and undeserving (e.g. Barabbas; Matt. 27:15-26; cf. Rom. 5:6-8)

4. Grace eliminates pride (Rom. 3:27).

5. Grace is unlimited (Rom. 5:20-21).

6. Grace never gives the believer license to sin (Rom. 6:1-2), but rather instructs us to deny ungodliness, to live righteously, and to look forward to the return of Jesus Christ who is our blessed hope (Tit. 2:11-14; cf. Jude 1:4).

7. Mosaic Laws and Grace Laws are absolutes and the believer should never try to mix the two (Rom. 6:14; 7:6; Gal. 5:1-4).

8. One is saved by grace (Eph. 2:8-9) and lives by grace (2 Pet. 3:18), and performs works as a “thank you” response to God’s kindness (1 Jo. 4:7-11). Divine commands are compatible with grace, so long as they do not become a substitute for it.

9. Grace is learned through daily study in the word of God. The ignorant believer always gravitates toward legalism, and thinks his works win God’s favor.

10. Faith is non-meritorious and the only way to receive God’s grace (Rom. 3:28; Eph. 2:8-9).

11. Grace is a demonstration of God’s sovereignty, and there is no worthiness or merit in those who are blessed as the recipients of His kindness.

12. It is by grace that we are able to draw near to the throne of God (Heb. 4:16) and never by works (Dan. 9:18-19).

13. The person who rejects the gospel rejects the “Spirit of grace” (Heb. 10:29).

14. The Bible is clear that man by his own efforts can never measure up to the God’s standard of perfect righteousness (Isa. 64:6; Matt. 5:48; Rom. 8:3-4; 10:3-4; Gal. 2:16; Eph. 2:8-9; 2 Tim. 1:9; Tit. 2:11; 3:5-7).

15. It is by the grace of God that Christ tasted “death for everyone” (Heb. 2:9).

16. As church age believers, we are living in the dispensation of Grace and are not under the Mosaic Law at all (Rom. 6:14). There were 613 commands given to Israel during the dispensation of Israel, and there are approximately 1051 commands given to believers under the dispensation of Grace. We do not sacrifice animals, keep the Sabbath, pay tithes, practice religious circumcision, or keep any other mandate God gave to Israel.

17. Grace teaches us to serve one another according to our spiritual gifts (1 Pet. 4:10).

18. God is “opposed to the proud, but gives grace to the humble” (1 Pet. 5:5)

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