Grace is often defined as God’s unmerited favor but this definition seems too simplistic, Grace seems to be more than that.
Others say that Grace is divine empowerment to do what’s right. This definition is intriguing and seems to have a foundation in Paul’s statement that:
. . . the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. . . (Tit. 2:11-12)
Some have treated Grace as a commodity to be obtained through merit of their own while others have argued that this is no Grace at all. Augustine emphasized that Grace was a gift [with a whole bunch of qualifiers, e.g., no external considerations could factor into God's bestowing Grace, otherwise it ceases to be a gift]. I say that Grace apart from the manner in which it is communicated is nothing (at least nothing that we can know). Grace is known only through its expression and Grace is expressed through the various charisms of the Triune God (e.g. atonement - Rom. 5:15-16 & eternal life - Rom. 6:23).
James D.G. Dunn said concerning Paul’s theology of charisms:
Its significance for Paul’s concept of the body of Christ can be easily illuminated. (a) Its very formation, charis-ma, indicates that it denotes the result of the act of gracious giving (charizesthai, “give graciously”). It is only a matter of shorthand to describe charisma as the result or effect or expression of charis, a “concrete materialization of God’s grace.” By definition, a charism is the result of God’s gracious act; it is divine grace come to effect and expression in word or deed. Thus Paul can use it as a summary for both what Christ has accomplished and for the various gifts bestowed on Israel, as well as for particular blessings to or through individual believers. But his most common usage is in reference to charisms for the assembly, both of speaking and doing.
The Theology of Paul the Apostle, (Grand Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1998), 553-54.
B”H
Posted in Charismatic Issues, Theology
