The word ’grace’ is found 170 times in 159 verses in the KJV. Grace is defined as unmerited kindness or favor of God toward mankind. At Today in the Word, we read, ”The New Testament word for gift (charisma) has often been translated as grace. All God’s gifts reflect His grace, and the fact that they are gifts means that they are free and cannot be earned. The New Testament’s theology of grace is rooted in the Old Testament idea of God’s favor, which is shown to those who do not deserve it and cannot help themselves.” Bible Hub teaches…
charis: grace, kindnessOriginal Word: χάρις, ιτος, ἡ
Part of Speech: Noun, Feminine
Phonetic Spelling: (khar’-ece)
Definition: grace, kindness
Usage: (a) grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness.
The first time we see the word ’grace’ is in relation to the old Testament character, Noah:
And YHVH said, I will destroy man whom I have created from the face of the earth; both man, and beast,and the creeping thing, and the fowls of the air; for it repenteth me that I have made them. But Noah found grace in the eyes of YHVH. Genesis 6:7-8
Stating that Noah found grace implies that God, or YHVH, showed kindness to Noah alone in that day. We keep in mind that Genesis was originally written in Hebrew. The Hebrew word here is: חֵן This is translated grace or favor. The last verse in the New Testament of Christ Jesus reads
”The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.” Revelation 22:21
This is written to those who believe in and are servants of Christ, ie, His church.
”This is the revelation of Jesus Christ, which God gave Him to show His servants what must soon come to pass. He made it known by sending His angel to His servant John,” Revelation 1:1
John wrote to the Church but the letter was actually from Christ and His Holy Spirit.
” John, To the seven churches in the province of Asia: Grace and peace to you from Him who is and was and is to come, and from the seven Spirits before His throne, and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler of the kings of the earth.” Revelation 1:4-5
The revelation of Jesus begins and ends with ’grace.’
So Who Receives this Grace?
We know that Noah found grace.
Proverbs 3:34 shows us that God gives grace to the lowly. God bestows grace upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem according to Zechariah 12:10. This happens when the Day of the Lord arrives and when they look on the pierced Christ Jesus.
”And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced,…”
Those in Christ receive grace because when Christ came, grace also came.
” John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.“ John 1:15-17
As with all promises we find in God’s word, grace is received through the Lord Jesus Christ.
“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” Acts 15:11
So what should we say and do about grace. Perhaps the song writer says it best…
God bless you Happy New New Year!