For Grace to have any meaning requires admitting that we are all sinners and effectively equal in the eyes of God. From our perspective, there is an ocean of difference between an ordinary decent person and the worst and most violent criminal. From God's perspective, we are all sinners and our differences in achievements and flaws and sins so slight in comparison to an omniscient and omnipotent God to be effectively nonexistent. To believe and appreciate Grace is to admit to yourself how badly you need it. Doing that means understanding how much alike we all are. People being people are often loath to do that. It is better to pretend that we have earned our salivation due to our superiority or efforts.
Some time ago, I read an interesting article on Grace. What it emphasized was not so much the "actual gift," but dealt more with the one bestowing the grace. The fact that God is willing to share of His abundance in care for His creation is willing and acting with the gift of grace.
It is not some "glitzy, o my stars what a gift gift," but that God is willing and able to share of His goodness to those who have hurt Him, ignored Him, denied Him, ridiculed Him.
In spite of all of those acts and statements AGAINST Him, He still gives us His Goodness,,,
In the Old testament whenever someone says if I have found favor in your eyes, that word for favor is the word that gets translated as grace. In the New testament whenever Jesus grew in stature and in favor with God and men, that's one of the few times that the Greek word fharis is translated as favor, the rest of the times is translated as Grace.
Grace is actually a Latin word. We have a gracilis muscle in our face that helps us smile. And then there are gracious hosts and graceful ballerinas... And then on top of that we have everyone giving their own definition to what they feel God's grace is. But it's simpler for me just to think about it as God's favor.
Interesting perspective, and I think you raise a good point. There is a degree to which favor has been hijacked by the prosperity gospel people, so I’m a bit hesitant toward it. And I like the religious connotation that grace carries, but you’re right that it can leave the definition a bit murky.
Apparently, grace also has a PR agent. For a few years there, I was noticing that many of the big Christian bands seemed to be focusing on the same "word of the year". And grace was one of those words/years. I rarely listen to contemporary Christian songs anymore. Too many of them are sung not as unto the Lord, but as if the vocalist is trying to become the next American idol. Yo, dog, it's not about you.
I absolutely hate how common that lack of assurance is. One of these days I’m going to finish up this book I’m writing on it to hopefully help the next generation not struggle so badly with it.
For Grace to have any meaning requires admitting that we are all sinners and effectively equal in the eyes of God. From our perspective, there is an ocean of difference between an ordinary decent person and the worst and most violent criminal. From God's perspective, we are all sinners and our differences in achievements and flaws and sins so slight in comparison to an omniscient and omnipotent God to be effectively nonexistent. To believe and appreciate Grace is to admit to yourself how badly you need it. Doing that means understanding how much alike we all are. People being people are often loath to do that. It is better to pretend that we have earned our salivation due to our superiority or efforts.
Well said
Some time ago, I read an interesting article on Grace. What it emphasized was not so much the "actual gift," but dealt more with the one bestowing the grace. The fact that God is willing to share of His abundance in care for His creation is willing and acting with the gift of grace.
It is not some "glitzy, o my stars what a gift gift," but that God is willing and able to share of His goodness to those who have hurt Him, ignored Him, denied Him, ridiculed Him.
In spite of all of those acts and statements AGAINST Him, He still gives us His Goodness,,,
That’s a good framing of it
In the Old testament whenever someone says if I have found favor in your eyes, that word for favor is the word that gets translated as grace. In the New testament whenever Jesus grew in stature and in favor with God and men, that's one of the few times that the Greek word fharis is translated as favor, the rest of the times is translated as Grace.
Grace is actually a Latin word. We have a gracilis muscle in our face that helps us smile. And then there are gracious hosts and graceful ballerinas... And then on top of that we have everyone giving their own definition to what they feel God's grace is. But it's simpler for me just to think about it as God's favor.
Sorry, *charis* not fharis
Interesting perspective, and I think you raise a good point. There is a degree to which favor has been hijacked by the prosperity gospel people, so I’m a bit hesitant toward it. And I like the religious connotation that grace carries, but you’re right that it can leave the definition a bit murky.
Apparently, grace also has a PR agent. For a few years there, I was noticing that many of the big Christian bands seemed to be focusing on the same "word of the year". And grace was one of those words/years. I rarely listen to contemporary Christian songs anymore. Too many of them are sung not as unto the Lord, but as if the vocalist is trying to become the next American idol. Yo, dog, it's not about you.
Love this piece!! So much truth here
I absolutely hate how common that lack of assurance is. One of these days I’m going to finish up this book I’m writing on it to hopefully help the next generation not struggle so badly with it.