Understanding the grace of God
Grace in Greek is charis; it can mean (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness.
Grace is kindness and blessing. It is a gift we give to others and a gift we receive from God. Grace is a gift given, no strings attached and nothing required. In our culture, this is so hard to understand and accept. We want to earn our place in the world, to be the provider for our family, to work hard and require that those around us work hard. We see our blessings as arriving because of the hard work we put in to get that car in the driveway, the food on the table, and the clothes on our back. We call these blessings, but that’s not really grace. Grace requires no sweat, no long hours, nothing.
We receive favor, not because of anything we do. Favor from God comes because He gives it. Period.
We work hard to eliminate uncertainty in our lives, and that is part of what makes grace difficult to accept. Because we fear the future and have this need to control the outcome, we forget that at the end of the day God wants us to lean into the uncertainty and rely solely on His grace. God in His grace is fighting for us and asking us to rely on and trust Him.
We often get the meanings of mercy and grace mixed up. Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness; it is an undeserved gift. Mercy is grace on steroids, an undeserved gift combined with deliverance from judgment.
Dig into the following verses to get a clearer picture of God’s favor, kindness and grace:
Esther 2:16-17
Jeremiah 31:2-3
John 1:15-17
Acts 20:32
Romans 3:20-24, 4:15-17, 5:12-21
2 Corinthians 12:8-9
Ephesians 2:4-9
Hebrews 4:16, 12:15
When you understand the grace of God, the uncertainties of life suddenly become opportunities to see His goodness. God is more committed to the outcomes than you could ever be; He’s asking you to trust Him. God is so much bigger than you and I, and He’s got enough grace to handle your life and what He has planned for you.
At Centerpoint, we are breaking down every barrier that keeps people from the love of God. We don’t shy away from the hard questions. No matter where you are in your faith journey, you are welcome to join us! Atheist, agnostic or Jesus-follower, there is a seat for you at our table.