I love talking about God's
grace. It has changed me. All I want to do with my life is tell
people about this wonderful gift that God extends to man. It's that
great! My heart sings the wonderful praises of grace as Paul
describes them in Ephesians, chapter one. In that passage, we see
Paul describe God's grace as both glorious and full of riches (vv.
6&7). After a cursory reading of the New Testament, it's easy to
see why Paul would describe it as such, since grace seems to be the
theme that permeates every book, chapter, and nearly every verse. The
reason for this is because the early church fathers, especially the
Apostles, knew grace to be the center of God's message to men.
For this reason, it is
of utmost importance for us to rightly understand both what grace is
and the nature of what is given to us through the grace of God. If we
do not rightly understand these two things, then our understanding of
every book, chapter, and nearly every verse will be twisted and we
will end up believing something entirely different from what those
great men who authored the New Testament meant for us to understand.
This would be a terrible mistake because if we misunderstand what
grace is and the nature of what is given to us, we will also miss the
message God desires to deliver to men.
Most people I meet,
including myself, would be terrified to come to the end of their
lives only to have God say, “Sorry, you misunderstood what I was
trying to say to you.” To make sure this does not happen, let's
examine what grace is, and the
nature of what is given to us through the grace of God. Even if
you disagree with my understanding, at the end of this article you
will be strengthened in yours, because you will see the holes in my
logic and be able to say, “See right there? That is where he was
wrong.” If that is the case, I would appreciate it if you make
known to me why I am wrong so that I do not have to undergo the
embarrassment of standing before the God I have misunderstood all my life.
What
Grace
Is
We could get technical
and go into the Greek to examine the word charis, which
is
the
word
from
which
we
get
our
English
translation,
but
I
do
not
believe
that
this
is
necessary
because
the
word
grace
and
the
Greek
word
charis carry
the
same
meaning
(hence
why
translators
have
translated
it
the
way
they
have).
I
have
a
huge
Webster's
dictionary
in
my
home,
and
when
I
looked
up
the
word
grace
in
the
theological
sense
of
the
word
(not
to
be
confused
with
the
prayer
one
says
before
eating
a
meal)
this
is
what
it
said:
Grace – the unmerited love and favor of God toward mankind; a
special virtue, gift, or help given to a person by God
What
I find interesting is that we often speak of the gift of
God's grace. The reason why I
find this interesting is because by definition, grace itself is a
gift. There is a sort of redundancy within this commonly used phrase,
but it is this redundancy that drives home what is being said and
enlightens our minds to the character of God displayed through grace.
A verse in Paul's
letter to the Ephesians drives home this redundancy to a greater
degree than any other verse in all of scripture, magnifying God's
undeniable goodness toward
man
in
such
a
way
that
my
heart
just
cries
out
for
joy,
AMEN! A
way
of
saying,
I
agree!
Preach
it
Paul!
This
is
what
the
verse
says:
For
by
grace
are
ye
saved
through
faith;
and
that
not
of
yourselves;
it
is
the
gift
of
God,
not
of
works,
lest
any
man
should
boast.
-
Ephesians
2:8,
9
Do
you
see
the
beautiful
redundancy?
This
is
what
Paul
is
saying
– You're
saved
by
grace,
which
is
a
gift.
This
salvation
is
accomplished
through
faith.
Since
faith
is
not
something
you
do,
rather
it's
a
mental
state,
the
“giftness”
of
it
all
is
maintained
because
one
cannot
work
for
a
gift
(otherwise
it
isn't
a
gift,
it's
a
wage).
He
goes
on
to
say that
none
of
it
(God's
gracious
gift)
is
of
us,
reiterating
again
that
it
is
a
gift.
Then
he
flat
out
says
grace
is
a
gift.
Further,
he
says
that
it
is
not
of
works,
which
is
the
antithesis
of
a
gift.
Lastly,
the
reason
God
gives
this
gift
as
a
gift
is
so
no
one
can
say
that
they
did
something
to
earn
it,
which
would
to
take
our
minds
off
of
the
gift
of
God
and
place
it
on
ourselves,
because
the
focus
is
on
God's
love
of
giving. What
a
wonderful display
of
God's
character
is
revealed
here
by
Paul!
God
loves
to
give
gifts!
He
is
lavishly
generous
to
the
core!
So,
what
we
see
is
that
God's
grace
is
free
of
charge.
We
are
called
to
fully
indulge
in
its
wonder.
I
believe
that
most
of
us
would
agree
with
what
I
have
written
concerning
God's
grace
up
to
this
point,
and
I
hope
that
you
are
relishing
with
me
in
the
beauty
of
God's
wonderful
love
poured
out
upon
men.
But
this
is
where
things
get
sticky.
We
all
agree
that
God
is
full
of
love
and
generosity,
but
where
I
think
there
is
a
great
division
is
in
the
nature
of
what
is
given
to
men
as
a
gift
from
God.
The
reason
why
I
say
this
is
because
I
have
heard
more
than
one
person
say
with
confidence
and
joy
that
God
is
full
of
love,
grace,
generosity,
and
kindness,
because
He
gives
us
the
gift
of
salvation
through
the
atonement
Jesus
made
for
our
sins (to
which
I
say
AMEN!!),
but
then
they
add
a
condition
for
grace
such
as,
you
have
to
do
something
to
use
the
gift
God
has
given
to
us.
If
you
don't
use
it,
it
is
not
made
effective
in
your
life.
It
is
with
this
idea,
that
we
must
use
the
gift
of
grace
to
make
it
effective,
that
I
disagree.
I
would like to share an illustration that I was told by someone who
truly loves God. This man used this illustration to support the idea
that we must use God's grace. I do not discount this man's sincerity,
or
passion
for
God's
goodness
and
love,
but
I
do
disagree
with
his
understanding
of
the
nature
of
what
has
been
given
to
us
by
God.
I
was
told
by
this
man
that
the
atonement
of
Christ
is
like
if
I
were
to
give
you
the
keys
to
a
brand
new
car.
The
keys,
the
title,
the
car,
are
all
in
your
possession
and
they
are
free
of
charge
– you
didn't
do
anything
to
get
them.
Grace
abounds!
But,
what
use
is
a
car
if
it
sits
in
your
garage
and
you
never
use
it?
In
order
to
enjoy
the
gift
you
must
get
in
the
car,
turn
the
key,
push
the
gas
pedal,
steer
with
the
wheel,
fill
it
with
gas,
and
keep
up
with
maintenance,
among
other
things.
I
was
stumped
by
this
illustration
for
quite
some
time.
I
thought,
He's speaking in my
native tongue of grace,
but this is a
different dialect that I
have never heard.
I
pondered
this
illustration
for
quite
some
time
because
something
in it just
didn't
seem
to
fit
well
with
what
I
believed.
It
was
at
least
a
year
before
I
finally
understood
why
I
disagree.
What
this man said was right as long as it is understood that God's grace
is like a car. If God's gift of the atonement were like a car, I
would have to use it in order to receive its benefits. The problem
however, is that God's gift is not like a car. The nature of a car is
very different from the nature of the gift that God gives to men. In
order to understand why this is true, we must
first
understand what God's gift is, then we can explore its nature and how
its nature contrasts with the nature of a car.
The
Nature
of
What
is
Given
to
us
Through
the
Grace
of
God
To
begin,
let's
return
to
the
Webster's
dictionary
definition
I
cited
earlier.
The
first
of
the
two definitions
states
that
grace
is
God's
unmerited
love
and
favor
toward
mankind.
After
studying
the
first
two
and
a
half
chapters
of
Romans,
I
have
come
to
understand
that
it
is
unmerited
because
there
is
nothing
in
any
of
us
that
would
make
God
desire
us.
God's
love
is
unearned
and
undeserved.
This
means
that
God's
love
is
a
gift
– it's
grace.
At
this
point,
most
of
us
still
agree
and
can
rejoice
together.
But
let's
get
less
ambiguous
and
more
specific
about
what
God's
love
is
because
I
can
say
with
all
the
heartfelt
intention
I
can
muster
that
I
love
my
wife,
but
without
substance
and
form,
I
am
simply
spitting
out
words
without
anything
to
back
up
what
I'm
saying.
Love
is
not
merely
verbal,
it
is
substantial, and God's
love
contains
the
greatest
substance
known
in
all
the
universe.
What
is
the
substance
of
God's
love?
Reasonably,
the
substance
of
God's
love
would
be
found
in
the
Gospel.
If
that
is
true,
then
the
book
of
Romans
is
the
best
place
to
go
because
it's
essentially
Paul's
dissertation
of
the
Gospel.
That's
why
when
a
lot
of
people
talk
about
the
gospel,
they
almost
always
stick
close
to
the
book
of
Romans.
In
it,
Paul
proves
the
gospel.
The
first
two
and
a
half
chapters
of
the
book
are
quite
condemning,
though
rightly
so.
Paul
reveals
the
fullness
of
the
implications
surrounding
the
idea
of
sinful
men
in
the
hands
of
a
just
God.
He
must
do
this
to
box
men
in
so
that
there
is
no
wiggle
room.
We
cannot
save
ourselves.
We
are
condemned.
But
thankfully,
God
is
not
only
just,
He
is
loving
as
well.
This
is
where
it
gets
good
– really
good!
When
Paul
shifts
from
speaking
of
God's
wrath
to
speaking
of
His
love
in
Romans
3:21,
he
says
this,
“But
now
the
righteousness
of
God
without
the
law
is
manifested,
being
witnessed
by
the
law
and
the
prophets.”
But
why
does
he
begin
to
talk
about
righteousness?
This
is
a
point
I
want
to
drive
home
by
going
back
to
a
book
that
was
very
familiar
to
Paul.
So
familiar
and
so
foundational,
in
fact,
that
Paul
quotes
from
it
in
nearly
every
chapter
of
the
book
of
Romans,
and
references
it
time
and
again.
That
book
is
the
book
of
Isaiah.
In
Isaiah
56:1
the
prophet
speaks
from
the
other
side
of
Christ.
That
is,
he
speaks
from
the
perspective
of
one
who
was
looking
forward
to
the
Messiah,
not
backward.
This
is
what
he
says,
“Thus
saith
the
Lord,
'Keep
ye
judgment,
and
do
justice:
for
my
salvation
is
near
to
come,
and
my righteousness to be
revealed.'”
Notice
the
connection
between
righteousness
and
salvation
in
this
verse,
then
notice
that
Paul,
in
giving
his
dissertation
of
the
gospel,
and
having
proved
that
man
has
no
righteousness,
says,
“the righteousness of
God without the law
is manifested”!
Wow!
The
point
I
am
making
is
driven
further
when
we
realize
that
the
theme
of
the
book
of
Romans
is
righteousness
by
faith
– remember,
not
of
works,
it
is
the
gift
of
God,
lest
anyone
can
boast.
Now,
in
order
to
help
us
understand
why
the
notion
that
a
new
car
is
like
the
gift
of
the
atonement
is
false,
we
need
to
contrast
the
nature
of
a
car
and
the
nature
of
righteousness,
which
is
the
gift
of
the
atonement
– The
substance
of
God's
love
and
grace.
If
God
were
to
give
a
gift,
He
would
give
the
best
gift.
I
think
that
anyone
would
agree
with
that.
That
is
exactly
what
He
has
done
in
extending
to
us
the
gift
of
righteousness.
Righteousness
is
attributed
to
man
when
he
believes
on
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
(Romans
3:22,
4:11).
When
someone
has
righteousness
from
God,
it
is
final.
He
is
righteous.
That's
the
end
of
it.
When
God
makes
a
promise,
He
keeps
that
promise.
It
has
nothing
to
do
with
man's
behavior
that
follows.
God
does
not
turn
back
on
His
promises.
He
says,
“You
will
be
made
righteous
if
you
believe
on
the
Lord
Jesus
Christ
and
stop
relying
on
your
own
righteousness
to
come
to
me.”
A
car, on the other hand, is something I can put away in a garage and
never use. I can choose not to open the door and get in, fill it with
fuel, or maintain it. I can even drive a car into a pole and total
it, at which time I can never enjoy it again, unless I like looking
at cars in the junkyard. But that is precisely why junked cars
go
to
the
junkyard
– they
are
junk.
But
I
cannot
junk
God's
righteousness.
In
summary,
righteousness
is,
by
nature,
something
you
are
whereas
a
car
is
something
you
use.
Righteousness
is
not
something
you
can
use
or
choose
not
to
use;
it
is
given
and
cannot
be
revoked.
A
car,
on
the
other
hand
can
be
covered
up,
or
destroyed,
and
can
even
corrode.
Righteousness
is
a
non-physical
attribute,
a
car
is
by
nature
physical.
Righteousness
is
unlike
any
gift
man
can
give!
To
what
can
you
compare
it?
I
would
like
to
clarify
what
I
mean
when
I
say
that
righteousness
does
not
depend
on
my
actions
that
follow
after
it
is
given.
The
law
reveals
my
sin
and
makes
me
an
unrighteous,
condemned
sinner
in
the
hands
of
a
wrathful
God.
But
when
Jesus
came,
he
came
to
fulfill
the
law
in
my
place
and
take
the
punishment
I
deserve
(Matthew
5:17).
Since
He
has
taken
that
punishment
for
me,
it
would
be
unjust
if
God
were
to
make
me
pay
for
what
has
already
been
paid
after
I
have
accepted
Jesus
as
my
substitute.
Paul
clearly
says
that
Jesus
took
our
sin
upon
Himself
as
our
substitute,
and
freely
gives
us
righteousness.
We
become
righteous
in
Jesus,
not
ourselves,
when
we
have
faith
in
His
substitutionary
work
(2
Corinthians
5:21).
The
law,
which
condemns
me
as
a
sinner,
is
taken
away
and
I
stand
clean
before
God
on
the
basis
of
the
One
who
earned
salvation
for
me.
(Romans
7)
Since
He
earned
it
for
me,
it
is
irrevocable
and
does
not
depend
on
my
actions,
rather
it
depends
on
His
finished
work.
When
one
first
hears
this,
their
immediate
reaction
is
almost
always
negative,
but
I
challenge
anyone
who
does
not
agree
to
search
the
scriptures
and
see
if
what
I
have
written
is
true.
Further,
I
challenge
them
to
look
deeply
into
their
own
conscience
to
see
if
their
reason
for
disagreeing
has
any
root
in
pride,
desiring
to
have
some
merit
before
God.
I
am
not
making
accusations,
I
simply
desire
all
men
to
see
the
fullness
of
God's
glorious
and
rich
grace
that
can
be
poured
out
on
all
men
who
will
receive.
But
before
we
can
receive,
we
must
humble
ourselves
so
that
God
can
lift
us
up
(James
4:10).
As
long
as
pride
stands
in
the
way,
the
throne
that
would
otherwise
be
a
throne
of
grace
will
remain
a
throne
of
wrath.
I
desire
that
all
men
come
to
God
and
receive
from
His
good
hand
what
can
never
be
made
effective
by
the
self-effort
of
men.
Are
you
hungry
and
thirsty?
Please,
come,
eat
and
drink
with
me
the
only
bread
and
wine
that
satisfy!
Isaiah
55:1-3
Ho,
every
one
that
thirsteth,
come
ye
to
the
waters,
and
he
that
hath
no
money;
come
ye,
buy,
and
eat;
yea,
come,
buy
wine
and
milk
without money
and without price.
Wherefore
do
ye
spend
money
for
that
which
is
not
bread?
and
your
labour for
that
which
satisfieth not?
Hearken
diligently
unto
me,
and
eat
ye
that
which
is
good,
and
let
your
soul
delight
itself
in
fatness.
Incline
your
ear,
and
come
unto
me:
hear,
and
your
soul
shall
live;
and
I
will
make
an
everlasting
covenant
with
you,
even
the
sure
mercies
of
David.
