Messages
from the Bible
A Sermon by Dr. Neil Chadwick
The story has been told that one day the well known Christian author, C.S. Lewis, walked into a room where a lively debate was in progress. The small group of people that had gathered there were having a discussion about the major religions of the world, and trying to decide what is the fundamental difference between these other religions and Christianity. As Lewis entered, the room became suddenly silent, and everyone turned to put the question to this great Christian thinker. His answer was short and simple. "One word," he said, "describes the difference between Christianity and all other religions. That word is 'grace.'" End of sentence, end of debate.
So what is this "grace"? The word is found over 160 times in the Bible (39 in the Old Testament and 124 in the New). As with many Bible words, this one has a variety of shades of meaning, depending on its use in a particular context.
Even in our day there are many uses for the word "grace". For example, many people use it when referring to the brief prayer at the beginning of a meal. In most homes, the host gets to chose who will "say grace." In this case, "grace" is the offering of thanks for the abundant gifts which are on the table.
Paul indirectly conveyed the same idea when he wrote to the Christians at Rome, "He who eats meat, eats to the Lord, for he gives thanks to God; and he who abstains, does so to the Lord and gives thanks to God." (Romans 14:6)
By the way, just in case you are at a loss for words when called upon to "say grace," here are a couple of ideas for prayers to use:
A popular one is, "God is great, God is Good, let us thank Him for our food. By His hand we must be fed, give us Lord our daily bread."
"As Thou didst bless the fishes, bless this food upon our dishes, and as sugar is lost in tea, may our souls be lost in thee."
Or, if everyone at the table is really hungry, "Bless this bunch as we much on this lunch."
And if you have already begun to eat when asked to "say grace," here's a prayer you can use, "Bless this food, oh my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name."
For example, soon you will be able to climb the hill at High Point, and view the beauty of the mountains and trees as the leaves once again become adorned in their beautiful red, yellow, and orange fall colors. Looking out at a small portion of New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania from the vantage point of this high elevation, you will be awed and delighted with what you will see. You will experience grace.
There was a beauty in Esther that attracted the king - she possessed a "grace" which in turn elicited his "grace."
An earlier related Old Testament story is that of Joseph who "found grace" in the sight of the Egyptian king, ". . . and he served him: and he made him overseer over his house, and all that he had he put into his hand." (Genesis 39:4) Obviously, this wasn't a matter of Joseph merely presenting a physically pleasing image (although later we learn that evidently Pharaoh’s wife was sexually attracted to him), but Pharaoh saw in Joseph qualities which were very pleasing to him, so much so that he favored Joseph with a very elevated position.
According to the accounts of the Greek gods and goddesses, the Graces spent much of their life feasting, as their presence was essential at the banquets of the gods: without the Graces, there could be neither pleasure nor dancing. Furthermore, it was the Graces who bestowed on mortals all the wealth and the virtues they possessed: beauty, wisdom, glory - even entertainment, pleasure, joy and happiness were their doing. But above all they were the goddesses of physical grace and of the beauty which enchants.
Once, Aphrodite (Greek goddess of love) had an unpleasant adventure, so she sought refuge in Paphos, on the island of Cyprus, where the Graces assumed her care; they bathed her, anointed her body with everlasting oil, and robed her in wonderful garments.
In the small village of Orchomenus, located in central Greece, west of Corinth, there was a sanctuary in honor of the Three Graces. Legend has it that three rough stones representing the three Graces were dropped from heaven. People made their offerings there, and conducted special festivities, called "Charitiae", which were held in honor of the Graces; these included both music and poetry.
As a result, we're going to say that "grace" is the attractiveness that draws the attention of an important person, say a king, or on the other hand, that which the king bestows on the subject - he sees the person as having grace. It also suggests that those who have "grace" bestow a blessing on other people.
Immediately, three other Bible people come to mind.
Moses was another man whom God favored: "And the LORD said unto Moses, I will do this thing also that thou hast spoken for thou hast found grace in my sight, and I know thee by name." (Exodus 33:17) Two verses later (v.19), God defends His choice of Moses simply by saying "I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious and will shew mercy on whom I will shew mercy."
The third one we'll mention is Mary - the angel who announced to her the birth of Jesus, said, "Do not be afraid, Mary, you have found favor with God" (Luke 1:30 - even though the translation uses "favor", the word is "grace").
Paul had this in mind when he wrote, ". . . at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace. And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace." (Romans 11:5,6)
This is what explains the popular definition of "grace" as being "the unmerited favor of God."
Well anyway, that's what we say it means, but I'm not sure we believe it. How easily we backslide into the quicksand of "performance" religion. Our question is like that of the "Rich Young Ruler" (Mark 10:17) and of the Philippian jailer, "What must I do to be saved?" (Acts 16:30)
The emphasis always ends up being on the "do" - it's hard to believe that all that is needed is to believe. We are ever so quick to develop a "to do" list. To be a good Christian you need to read the Bible, pray, go to church, and of course, obey the rules. Even when we talk about the "fruit of the Spirit" - love, joy, peace - we reduce it to a list of items on a self help list. We think we have to work hard to love, drug or entertain ourselves to be happy, or medicate ourselves to achieve peace of mind. Before long, Christianity devolves to the level of all other religions, and we succumb to a performance mentality where we must do something to win our Heavenly Father's approval. The problem is, "grace" doesn't work that way.
If there is obedience, it doesn't come about because we need to obey to get grace, rather, we obey out of the gratefulness of having received it. The "Fruit of the Spirit" isn't produced because we grit our teeth and say, "I have to love you and forgive you, otherwise I won't get to heaven." Let's not forget that what we call Christian characteristics and Christian behavior comes about as a result of the Holy Spirit's action, not our own. That's why they are called fruit of the Spirit, not fruit of a self disciplined life. Interestingly, one of the items on the list, is self discipline. So even self discipline comes as a result of the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives!
It seems to me that ever since Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945) railed against "cheap grace", we have been worried that we have not worked hard enough to warrant His grace. But can't you see the contradiction? Grace and work cannot be included in the same sentence!
Here's the truth about grace. When God looks at you, He is delighted. Remember our earlier definition? "Grace is the delight one experiences when beholding something that is beautiful." Yes, because of what Jesus accomplished by dying on the cross, God sees you as beautiful.
The Greek word for grace - "charis" - is from the same root as the verb "charein" which means rejoice. Yes, God rejoices in you and me. The Greeks were wrong to bring God down and create Him in their own human image, but they got this part right - God is a God of mirth and merriment, good cheer, pleasure, joy and happiness. However, this grace of God spills out and is dispensed to us - out of God's abundant supply of grace, He "graces" our lives with abundant gifts - spiritual gifts, spiritual fruit, and even, at times, material blessings.
C.S. Lewis had it right. Grace is the distinguishing mark of Christianity. Christians are people who simply and completely believe in God's grace, believe that God is delighted with the beauty He sees in them, and offers free, unencumbered gifts to His children. Paul stated it clearly:
"For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God -- not by works, so that no one can boast." (Ephesians 2:7,8)
But this connection between grace and mercy can be tracked throughout the Old Testament from Moses to Jonah.
David wrote this song to celebrate God's mercy and grace, "The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and plenteous in mercy." (Psalms 103:8)
Another Psalm echoes the thought, "Gracious is the LORD, and righteous; yea, our God is merciful." (Psalms 116:5)
When Hezekiah reinstituted the Passover as part of a national effort to restore worship of Jehovah, he sent out a letter to be read in all the towns and villages throughout Israel. Among other things, the letter said ". . . the LORD your God is gracious and merciful, and will not turn away his face from you, if ye return unto him." (II Chronicles 30:9)
Later, during another period of renewal, after Nehemiah had finished rebuilding Jerusalem's walls and the Levites were leading the people in worship, they recited once and again these words,
". . . thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. . . ." (Nehemiah 9:17 - also, 9:31)
The prophet Joel, during the great calamity of the locust plague, called the people to repentance: "Rend your heart, and not your garments, and turn unto the LORD your God: for he is gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, and repenteth him of the evil." (Joel 2:13)
And finally, Jonah, the reluctant prophet who presumed to scold God for not destroying the city of Nineveh, also admitted to a correct understanding of the character of God: "I knew that thou art a gracious God, and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness. . . ." (Jonah 4:2)
As the Psalmist wrote long ago, "The LORD will give grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly." (Psalm 84:11)
1. Why is it that C.S. Lewis commented that the fundamental difference between Christianity and the other major religions of the world is "grace"?
2. What is the purpose of "saying grace" before meals?
3. If grace is defined as "the delight one experiences when beholding something that is beautiful," what are some examples that come to mind of such experiences?
4. What are two examples of Old Testament people who "found Grace" in the eyes of a monarch?
5. In Greek mythology, what was the term used for Aglaia, the goddess of beauty, Euphrosyne, the goddess of mirth and merriment, and Thalia, the goddess of good cheer and youthful beauty?
6. What did Noah, Moses and Mary have in common?
7. If "grace," or "favor" is something granted without there being any requirement, obligation or duty, how does this help us understand God's grace?
8. How are we much like the "Rich Young Ruler" (Mark 10:17) and the Philippian jailer? (Acts 16:30)
9. What are some of the items commonly found on the list of things one must do to be a good Christian?
10. Why are the Fruit of the Spirit called fruit of the Spirit?
11. We know that salvation is free but not cheap. Why? And does repudiating "cheap grace" mean that we have to work hard to attain it?
12. There are two key verses having to do with our receiving grace through faith, Romans 5:1,2 and Ephesians 2:7,8. What is the basic message of these verses?
13. According to Moses, David, Hezekiah, Nehemiah, Joel and Jonah, what is the companion of grace?
Grace, Not Works - Romans 11:5,6
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This practice was exemplified by Jesus at the "Last Supper" when, as Luke reports, "He took bread, and gave thanks and brake it, and gave unto them, saying 'This is my body which is given for you: this do in remembrance of me.'" (Luke 22:19)
While the word "grace" has many other meanings, the most fundamental meaning for "grace" can be expressed this way: "Grace is the delight one experiences when beholding something that is beautiful."
When we transfer this to the human side, one Biblical example of this idea is that of Esther, the young Jewish woman who became Queen of Persia at the height of it's imperial glory. Here's what was written about her in Esther 2:17, "And the king loved Esther above all the women, and she obtained grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins; so that he set the royal crown upon her head, and made her queen instead of Vashti." (KJV)
When New Testament writers chose this word, "grace," they were choosing a word which was rich in historical use and meaning.
In ancient Greek mythology, there were three goddesses who were considered to be inseparable sisters - they were called the "Three Graces" (Charites). Their names were Aglaia, the goddess of beauty, Euphrosyne, the goddess of mirth and merriment, and Thalia, the goddess of good cheer and youthful beauty. Their role was simply to dispense charm and beauty. Consequently, "grace" meant, first of all, "the joy radiated by one who exemplifies nobility of sentiment," as well as the joy and pleasure he or she spreads not only throughout the external world but also in the hearts of men. It was also synonymous with grace and amiability, beneficence and gratitude.
Of course, Christians are not believers in such mythologies. However, this background provides us with an understanding as to what the first readers of the Bible may have been thinking when they came across this word, grace.
The first one is "Noah [who] found grace in the eyes of the LORD." (Genesis 6:8) Because he was attractive to God, God "graced" Noah with protection from the great flood.
There's yet another feature of this word "charis" that must not be overlooked. This "grace," or "favor" is granted without there being any requirement, obligation or duty. There is no expectation of return, it is given freely, it is not something that is earned or deserved.
"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." (Romans 5:1,2)
One last thing. In Scripture there is a wonderful connection between God's mercy and His grace. We find this in the favorite verse: "Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need." (Hebrews 4:16)
To Moses, God revealed Himself as "The LORD God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abundant in goodness and truth." (Exodus 34:6)
Mercy is the pity God has toward men and women have so severely suffered from the consequences of their own sins and the sins of others. Grace is the free gift of forgiveness abundantly bestowed upon all who are beautified by simply believing. Have you received that gift? Do you know that God, your Heavenly Father sees you as good and beautiful, and delights to give good gifts to His children? (Matthew 7:11)
Grace, Not Works - Romans 11:5,6
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