Exploring Our Core Values: Grace

Welcome to our new blog series where we dive into the heart of our ministry’s core values: Grace, Transformation, and Connection. These values are the foundation upon which we build our community and our faith. They guide our actions, shape our relationships, and reflect our commitment to living out the gospel in our daily lives.

In this first installment, we will explore the value of Grace. We begin with grace because grace is integral to who we are. Grace is not just a concept; it defines our relationship with God and with each other. Join us as we uncover the depth and beauty of Grace and learn how to live it out in practical ways.

Unpacking Grace

It seems that grace is something that can be easily misunderstood. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

This was all God. We did nothing to deserve it. We did not work for grace. The best way to make sure we do not fall into the category of misunderstanding or misusing grace is by defining it. The only way to accomplish this is by delving into the context and original intention of the word grace.

The Greek word for grace is charis. There are 4 different connotations of this word. First of all, charis, in the ancient world, had the sense of something that brings happiness and satisfaction (David Guzik). It was something that awakened pleasure or secured joy.

The second aspect to this word applied to something beautiful. Beauty also gives us pleasure. When we go to the ballet and watch a dancer, we might be amazed by their beauty. Today we speak about how their movements are beautiful or graceful. The person who is marked by grace is considered lovely, elegant. We don't think of them as being marked by blemish or deformity. When you watch the graceful dancer, you're not thinking of their flaws—you're thinking of their beauty (Gusik).

The third idea from this word is related to supernatural power. It was used to associate with help or aid. In the ancient world, it was common for the ancients to think of the gods (or God) bestowing the supernatural grace and strength upon humans.

The final aspect carried with it the sense of undeserved kindness or approval or acceptance. This is the unmerited favor we are most familiar with. The reason for giving a charis gift was always found in the giver. It wasn't found in the one who received it. These ideas were carried over into the New Testament understanding of grace.

This final explanation is the most common understanding of grace. However, it is the best way for us to understand how God has bestowed grace upon us. It has only and always been about the Giver. Grace belongs to God. “God is a God of grace and He reveals Himself as being that God of grace throughout the Scriptures (Gusik).” We know the New Testament talks about how Jesus came in grace and truth. We assume grace began with Jesus. No, it began with God. In Exodus 34, God revealed Himself to Moses on Mount Sinai. It says that the Lord passed before Moses and proclaimed, “The LORD, the LORD God, merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth…” The grace of God is strung throughout the Old Testament. Grace is central to who God is.

Let me give you an example from the Old Testament. God showed His grace by sending spies to offer believing Rahab a way of escape from the coming judgment. She was a Gentile prostitute, but God shows kindness to the unworthy. That's what His grace does. So, when we go through the Bible, we can see God’s grace in the New Testament and in the Old Testament as well. It shows God to be a giving God, who gives life and love and mercy and forgiveness and deliverance. “He gives it all to people who don't really deserve these things. And the aspect of God's nature that gives to the undeserving, we can call that His grace (Gusik).”

Jesus only ever revealed who God is in His actions. John 5:19 says, “Very truly I tell you, the Son can do nothing by himself; he can do only what he sees his Father doing, because whatever the Father does the Son also does.” Grace does not end in the Old Testament.

“But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.”

- Romans 11

Grace cannot be earned. It is not based on works or any goodness of our own. David Gusik quotes, “Grace doesn't even really care if someone deserves it or not, because the reasons are in the giver. Grace deals with us completely apart from the principle of deserving. By its very nature, grace doesn't look for a reason in the person who receives. And so, we understand this, that grace is unmerited, it's undeserving. And therefore, we have to stop trying to give God a reason to give us His grace. The reasons are in Him (Gusik).”

Purpose of Grace in our lives

Grace resides solely in the Giver. The purpose of grace is that it is meant to transform us and it is meant to be given.

“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms” (1 Peter 4:10, NIV). Jesus led the way in this.

In the Gospel of John, Jesus forgives a woman who is caught in adultery. The Pharisees desired to trap Jesus. To accomplish this, they brought to him a woman who was recently caught in adultery with another man. The law stated that such individuals ought to be stoned. So, they presented this woman to Jesus belieiving He would stand by the law. Jesus surprised everyone by responding, “Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.” Obviously no one was still standing. Jesus did not condemn this woman. Rather, he extended grace, kindness, and forgiveness to her. She was called to extend grace to herself and to others. Jesus called her to leave her life of sin and this would ultimately have a transformative effect on those around her.

Let’s hear another example. After denying Jesus not once but three times, Peter encounters powerful grace. After His resurrection, Jesus meets with His disciples. He sits with Peter, and He restores relationship with him. Jesus does not condemn Peter but he gently restores him, asking him three times if he loves Him. With every response, Jesus commissions Peter to take care of His sheep. This expresses Jesus’ love for Peter and His trust in him.

In both of these examples, unworthy and undeserving individuals are restored into relationship with Jesus. But these individuald do not just receive grace. They are also invited to share grace with others. They are commissioned to extend this grace to others in and around their community.

Conclusion

To sum up, grace is a transformative force in our lives. It cannot be defined in just one way. It is multi-faceted. It is not meant for us alone. It is meant to transform each other into the image of Christ. Ultimately, our call to action is to extend grace to others just as the Ultimate Giver extended grace to us. We can apply this grace in three ways.

Recognizing grace: Learn to recognize that grace is a gift. It is not based on works. It is solely dependent on

Growing in grace: We can deepen our understanding of grace by applying it in our daily lives. We can study scripture and allow it to saturate our minds and hearts. (Romans 12:2; 2 Cor. 10:5)

Imitating Jesus: We can imitate examples of grace demonstrated by Jesus, extending grace, kindness, forgiveness, and love to others unconditionally.

“Now, what does that word grace mean? You have often heard it defined as the unmerited favor of God. Well, that is a definition, but it is only a limited definition of the word. Now, the word has taken on many different meanings throughout the years. When this word was used in the early stages of history, it meant a desire to bring to other people goodness, health and strength, beauty and loveliness. Later, it became a little more pregnant in its meaning and began to mean the actual activity which expresses the desire to bring others goodness instead of evil, health instead of sickness, beauty instead of ugliness, glory instead of punishment.”

- Alan Redpath

Discussion Questions:

• How have you seen grace extended to you?

• How can you pass grace on to others?