Grace fundamentally is a kindness, favour shown towards someone that is undeserved, unmerited, unearned, unsolicited, and requiring no contribution of the receiver; and this grace is always commensurate to the “fatness” and generosity of the giver.
For grace to be grace, according to the above definition,
It must be an act of kindness
Grace must be good! It must be a luscious offer. It must be an attractive package. It must be of desirable content. It must be enviable. It must be appreciable. It must be a “wow” This is why others often count lucky those who obtain grace in a form or the other. So the psalmist calls it a “good thing”the LORD will give grace and glory: no good [thing] will he withhold from them that walk uprightly. (Psalms 84:11 KJV)
It must be undeserved, unmerited
One must not qualify for it. A competition must not be put on ground to select the best candidate. The giver of grace must not carry in his hand a list of candidates and begin to examine them, their qualifications, their accountability, their hardworking attitude, or any ability of these intended receivers. Nothing must make the receiver worth it. Nothing must put one candidate above the other. No candidate must stand a better chance because of any quality of his.for God resisteth the proud, and giveth grace to the humble. (1 Peter 5:5 KJV)
But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble. (James 4:6 KJV)
Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did [it] ignorantly in unbelief. And the GRACE of our Lord was exceeding ABUNDANT with faith and love which is in Christ Jesus. (1 Timothy 1:13-14 KJV)
It must be unearned
Candidates must not pay a dime for it. None must “lobby” in any way for it. You mustn’t pay a sacrifice for it. None must “bribe or pay” his way through. No sentimental connection must be involved. It must not be earned. No certificate, no begging for it. It must not require some sacrifice or “paying the price”. It must not require any form of labour, whether mental, physical, or spiritual in order to get it from the giver.If Abraham had God's approval because of something he did, he would have had a reason to brag. But he could not brag to God about it. (Romans 4:2 GW)
It must be unsolicited
It must not have been asked for. Candidates should not be selected based on, “who ask is who gets” basis. Influence must not be involved. Candidates must not have pressed the giver in any way for it. In fact, perhaps the giver should in no way be affiliated to the receiver(s).Christ arrives right on time to make this happen. He didn't, and doesn't, wait for us to get ready. He presented himself for this sacrificial death when we were far too weak and rebellious to do anything to get ourselves ready. And even if we hadn't been so weak, we wouldn't have known what to do anyway. (Romans 5:6 MSG)
Requiring no input of the receiver
It must not need the receiver to do a thing to get it, lest all the above characteristics are made void. The moment the choice candidate of grace must do something to get the grace, then some will be denied grace because they are not “able” enough to earn grace; then a measure of qualification is already involved. In this way, it will stop being grace.Therefore we define grace as a giver doing something without a “because” that is from the receiver’s end, but all cause from and of the giver. The moment the “because” comes from the recipient, then there is an element of boasting already. You doing whatever you want to do for whom you want to do it, without him asking for it from you, is perfectly GRACE.
Grace should make the humble receiver thankful, not boastful. Giving a so-called grace to a person because of something he has done is no more grace, but a prize!
Money paid to workers isn't a gift. It is something they earn by working. (Romans 4:4 CEV)
Then what becomes of [our] pride and [our] boasting? It is excluded (banished, ruled out entirely). On what principle? [On the principle] of doing good deeds? No, but on the principle of faith. (Romans 3:27 AMP)
Now God’s grace is God doing something for man because of Himself, not because of man. Anything God does because of His own zeal, not man; because of His love, not man’s love; because of His own desire, not man’s; because of His own prayer, not man’s is equal to Grace. This is why it’s amazing! If we did something for it, then it would no longer be grace but a reward. Then some prize would be higher than others. There would be first prize, second prize… but the grace of God is equal, without special candidates, without favourites. Alleluia!
Grace is always commensurate to the “fatness” and generosity of the giver
How rich and generous you are determines how big a gift you can give…In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS GRACE; (Ephesians 1:7 KJV)This is how we truly know how rich our God is, when we look at what He did for us in Christ Jesus.
Now we know what grace is. Let’s humbly serve in gratitude and love.
Let him who receives instruction in the Word [of God] share all good things with his teacher [contributing to his support]. (Galatians 6:6 AMP) We appreciate you comments. Prove your love for this article and site by hitting the like button or share this on popular social networks and blogs. You are blessed!
