The Divine Favor!

A husband and wife didn't really love each other. The man was very demanding, so much so that he prepared a list of rules and regulations for his wife to follow. He insisted that she read them over every day and obey them to the letter. Among other things, his "do's and don'ts" indicated such details as what time she had to get up in the morning, when his breakfast should be served, and how the housework should be done. After several long years, the husband died.

As time passed, the woman fell in love with another man, one who dearly loved her. Soon they were married. This husband did everything he could to make his new wife happy, continually showering her with tokens of his appreciation.

One day as he was cleaning house, she found tucked away in a drawer the list of commands her first husband had drawn up for her. As she looked it over, it dawned on her that even though her present husband hadn't given her any kind of list, she was doing everything her first husband's list required anyway. She realized she was so devoted to this man that her deepest desire was to please him out of love, not obligation. -Unknown

The usual definition of grace, "unmerited favor," is not broad enough in scope to fully define all that is meant by the term. Check out: Luke 2:40; Colossians 4:6; and Ecclesiastes 10:12. W.E. Vine defined grace this way: "That which bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard;...on the part of the bestower, the friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds, graciousness, lovingkindness, goodwill generally...especially with reference to the Divine favour or grace, e.g. Acts 14:26..." (Expository Dictionary of NT Words, 509-510)

The biblical definition of grace, in respect to salvation is a summary of all God has done to effect the salvation of man. This includes all of God's acts which show favor to undeserving mankind. God's grace is more than mere passive pity. It expresses itself in real, concrete acts of love (Romans 5:8). It runs through all He has done for man's salvation.

By grace:

a) He has sacrificed His son (Hebrews 5:8-9), and
b) He has revealed His plan of salvation (1 Corinthians 2:9-12; Galatians 1:11-12; Ephesians 3:1-5; Titus 2:11-12; Ephesians 2:4-7; Romans 6:4-5; Matthew 16:18; Acts 20:28; Ephesians 5:25-27).
However, keep in mind that grace excludes salvation by meritorious, or commendable works (Romans 4:4; 11:6).

Why do we need grace? Can we get along without it? The reason that grace is needed is sin: all have sinned (Romans 3:10; 23). In the Bible, the spiritual state of man is seen in many passages, such as: 1 Kings 8:46; Proverbs 20:9; Ecclesiastes 7:20; Psalm 14:2-3). Since man sold himself into the bondage of sin (John 8:34), and since all sinned (Romans 3:23), therefore, all are under the sentence of death (Ezekiel 18:20; Romans 6:23).

Looking at it laid out for us this way, it all sounds pretty grim, doesn't it? But God, in His matchless love, provided the ransom price for man's sins. He provided His son to die in man's place (2 Corinthians 5:21; 1 Peter 1:18-19).

Please allow me to leave you with some things to think about. While the grace of God is demonstrated in many ways, none is greater than its manifestation in His Son (Romans 3:23-24). This He did for us even though our salvation is not merited. Man has sinned and deserves hell. No works we could do would earn or merit salvation. Salvation is that which is given by God's grace; it's a favor man has definitely not merited! Thus, salvation is the gift of God!

Prayer:

May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
and the love of God,
and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit
be with us all,
now and evermore.
Amen.

God bless you,

Giselle