It speaks of God’s thinking and action toward mankind. It is all that God is free to do for man because of the Cross of Christ. Some one has penned that grace is God’s riches at the expense of Christ. That grace is extended to every individual in the simple phrase -- whosoever will may come. That leaves no one out of the reach of a loving God who is not willing that any should perish. In order to receive the benefits of this grace plan, each person must be willing to accept what God has provided. Individual effort is of no value for none is equal to the work of God manifested in sending the Savior. Into the equation of whosoever must enter faith -- which each individual possesses. When that faith is directed toward God’s grace provision of the Savior, the result is a destiny with the Father, an eternal inheritance, and eternal life. Many passages address God’s unmerited favor toward us --
… “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.”(2 Cor 8:9)
The Apostle John wrote --
… “And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”(John 1:14)
Paul, in writing to the believers in Rome stated --
… “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.”(Rom 5:1-2)
To the Ephesians he wrote --
… “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.”(Eph. 2:8-9)
Peter challenged his readers with these words --
… “Grow in grace and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.”(II Peter 3:17)
The following acrostic gives us insight into the word “charis.”
- G -- grace becomes the policy of God’s plan for the ages.
- R -- redemption is the objective of God’s grace plan
- A -- atonement becomes the means of that grace plan coming to mankind
- C -- Christ is the central Person in the grace plan
- E -- eternal life is the result of receiving God’s grace plan of salvation
When we are grace oriented, it has an effect on how we think and act. Our motivation for service becomes gratitude rather than obligation. Our attitude toward others becomes one of acceptance, realizing that Christ died for them just as he died for us. A grace attitude levels the ground and leaves no room for partiality, prejudice, or superiority of one over another. Grace, instead, fosters and cultivates humility, sensitivity, kindness, and gentleness. It should cause us to have great appreciation for our Savior and the fact that He has accomplished everything that is necessary for us to have an eternal relationship with the Heavenly Father.