The word ‘Grace’, one of the most important Christian vocabulary words, occurs 155 times in the New Testament. The New Testament Greek word is the feminine noun ‘Xaris’ (pronounced ‘Karis’. The Greek word is translated in English versions of the Bible as ‘grace’ (119 times) and also as ‘gracious gift’. The Greek verbal form of the word ‘Xairow’ is used to mean ‘be cheerful’, ‘be calmly happy’ or even ‘be well-off’. ‘Xaris’ is used as a form of greeting. It means something which brings joy, delight, pleasure, goodwill, kindness and mercy, etc. In the New Testament letters, or epistles, the writers often used this word to wish their readers God’s gracious favour. Indeed, Xaris primarily means God’s unmerited or undeserved favour on sinners. This means God forgives the sin of a person in his grace. God also grants his kindness and mercy to the sinful but repenting people for meeting each and every need of life to sustain it so that he can lead his life fruitfully and effectively as faithful and regenerate person. ‘Grace’ is used in the context of the salvation of man from sin wrought by God in his loving kindness that was to come according to the Old Testament prophets. Both the prophets and apostles in the New Testament preached the gospel of salvation in God’s grace. Grace is not merely ignoring or forgiving man’s offence against God, but it also means God granting the offender his blessings and effecting a total change in the latter’s life.

The concept of Grace needs to be seen in contrast with anything merited. Grace is God’s unmerited and undeserved gift of God to believing people. It is not something that one can earn. It is entirely a matter of trust in a sovereign and loving God. It is God’s favour bestowed on undeserving people. This also means God’s continued gracious and merciful attitude towards believers and continued work within their lives so that their new lives are fruitful and productive for the service of love, grace and care for others towards eventual glory and praise to God. This must be continued steadfast love for the faithful living in this world and surrounded by evil. God gives us his grace out of his covenant relationship of love and faithfulness with us made in Jesus Christ. Apostle Paul wrote, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6:23). Saint John wrote in the most spiritual gospel, “From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17).

Because of his grace, God wants our lives to be holy and undefiled by worldly desires. In his letter to the believers, who were persecuted during the first century, Saint Peter exhorted them: “Therefore, prepare your minds for action, be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance. But just as he who called you is holy, so be holy in all you do, for it is written: “Be holy, because I am holy.”

Christian life begins in God’s grace, and it also culminates in grace. To be fruitful in life, one needs to live in humility. Suffering, grace and glory go together in an authentic life of faith. God saves man from the bondage of sin in his unmerited grace, and he also gives his grace to the transformed person to sustain that new life to be fruitful. Someone has nicely put the idea thus: “A barren Christian is a contradiction in terms.” God gives his people gifts of grace to be faithfully used for his glory and service to fellow beings.

Grace of God is given so that the faithful ones can grow and mature in faith and are empowered to fight against the wiles of the devil, against any falsehood.

There are multiple verses in the Holy Bible about God’s grace that he manifested in the life, teachings, sacrificial death and resurrection of Christ. All believers should study them for their own benefit. Famous evangelist D. L. Moody said, “The scriptures were written not to increase knowledge, but to change lives.” As sincere believers, we need to firmly believe that God, in his grace and foreknowledge, has chosen us to be saved from the bondage and the seminal consequences of sin. He also sustains our life of faith and commitment to his cause in his grace given us daily, in our times of joy and more so in our times of sorrow, and in trial and temptation.

God also wants each one of us to faithfully use all our spiritual gifts to serve others and bring glory to God’s holy name. We should spare no pains to put our trust in God for his guidance and strength so that we can publish his holy name and also preach the Good News that he gave to the sin-sick world: the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ.

If and when we suffer for truth, we should remember that our suffering can become a means to further grace. In the words of the Christian thinker William Penn: “No pain, no palm; no gall, no glory; no cross, no crown; no thorn, no throne.”

Sincere believers need to continually teach one another the vitally important doctrine of Grace. At the heart of our faith lies God’s grace. Without grace, we would deserve God’s wrath, judgement and eternal separation from him.

_______________________________________

The writer is a Christian Theology teacher and Church leader