Grace is a central theme in Christianity and for many a most difficult concept to understand, being the subject of many books, theological discussions, conferences and sermons. The reformation was fought over how Christians should understand grace and even today many people who self identify as Christians still find a proper understanding of the Gospel of grace elusive. Many of the common stereotypes and caricatures of Christianity arise because of a misunderstanding as to the importance and nature of Grace. In its basic form Grace is an unearned undeserved gift from God, in recognition that everything we have both materially and spiritually exist through the nature of love which emanates from him.
Every religion holds to a central idea that God is good and ultimate whilst we as human beings are flawed and prone to sin. Each religion has its own distinct pathway to solving the 'sin' problem but most require the believer to do something to earn Gods favour in order to attain certain rewards. A Muslim believer is required to observe the five pillars of Islam, Jews are required to obey the laws of the Torah. Others require certain rituals to be performed or acts of meditation to raise themselves up to the divine.
Christianity is unique among faiths asking nothing from its believers other than an opening of the heart and mind to receive the free gift of Grace through faith in Jesus Christ. In the Old Testament Grace was understood as Gods favour and kindness in the way that he blesses Israel and he is celebrated by the Hebrews as the source and giver of everything. Sin is recognized as the barrier between Man and God and the sacrificing of animals, namely lambs and goats in the temple was seen as the price that needed to be paid in a symbolic act as an atonement for sin. This was a foreshadowing of the spotless lamb in the person of Jesus Christ who by his own sacrifice would then make Grace available not just to Israel but to all people in the world.
Jesus was Gods gift to us "God so loved the world that he gave his only son"(John 3:16) As Christians we believe that however much we try we cannot reach the state of perfection that was revealed to us in the person of Jesus Christ and because we cannot attain ultimate goodness by our own efforts there is realistically always sin to some degree in our lives and sin carries a price in terms of cost to ourselves and others both morally and spiritually. If sin has a cost then a price should fairly be paid to redeem the harm that it does. Otherwise there is no justice because love cannot be served by sin as love is the ultimate goal of life.
Agape love is the selfless concern for the well being of others and the sacrificial love of Jesus dying on the cross is the ultimate act of Grace and the price that God paid to redeem our sins, even though as humans we do not always recognize it or are unable or unwilling to pay that price. It is by having faith in Gods Grace and not our own good works and deeds that we are liberated into spiritual life and closer communion with God through the power of the Holy Spirit.
It is common for people to reject the idea of Grace in favour of punishment, that people should receive their just desserts for what they do. This is an idea of justice that tends to deny the effects of our own sin but that others should be condemned for theirs, with the notion that we can always change our behavior by our own efforts. To admit that we cannot always is more honest and to recognize that we all carry these sins to a lesser or greater degree brings us to a point of humility and opens us up to the idea of Grace. Without Grace we can be left with spiritual consequences such as guilt, anxiety, low self esteem, denial and condemnation and no real means of redemption.
Many ask "Why did there have to be a dead body to atone for sin"? We believe that sin causes death in our spirit as well as our body, that this IS its cost. It was sin that brought about the execution of Jesus in an unjust corrupt act and that the human sin of all history was borne by him on the cross. In overcoming death and returning to life he also overcame the effect of sin (ie Death) but made available to us a new type of life. Some argue that his death on the cross was merely symbolic, an extreme portrayal of sacrificial love but when we truly understand and believe in Gods grace with the faith of our hearts, it allows us to experience the new 'born again' spiritual life that he promised.
Grace may give the impression that good works or moral behavior do not matter but if faith is the channel by which we receive Grace then our actions must be the evidence of its living presence in our lives. We could presume Gods generosity and take it for granted rather than allowing it to change us. By halfhearted faith we can be lulled into complacency and still continue in sin but when we receive Gods Grace we are to be inspired and changed. Faith without works is useless (James 2:26). But our work in faith is not a response out of duty or fear but rather a relationship motivated by our love for him, he who loved us first.
We may become suspicious at the idea of a free gift or believe that we are not worthy of it but the Bible tells us that Gods gift of Grace is equally available to all people, we just get to choose whether to accept it or not and because it is based on what God has done for us rather than our own good deeds it serves to bring humility and is aimed at preventing us from boasting so much about what we do. In this we see a God of love and generosity which leads believers to respond likewise in faith love and hope toward all people.
Jesus shows us the way in his teachings, his parables and through his actions. We think of The Samarian women at the well, The woman caught in adultery, The Prodigal son, The lost sheep, The thief on the cross and Zacchaeus the tax collector as examples of Gods grace concerning those who were despised sinners and outcasts.
One of the best known hymns in all of history 'Amazing Grace' was written by John Newton the captain of a slave trade ship transporting slaves from Africa to the Americas when following his Christian conversion he became an ardent opponent of the slave trade and campaigned for its abolition. He later wrote the hymn outlining the importance of Grace in his own transformation. Grace is often seen as synonymous with forgiveness and whilst forgiveness has a place within it, Grace reflects a deeper truth about the nature of Gods love. What does Grace mean to you and is it important in your life ?
For by Grace you have been saved through faith and this is not your own doing, it is a gift from God, not the result of works so that no one may boast (Ephesians 2:8)
For you know the Grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake's he became poor, so that by his poverty you may become rich. (2 Corinthians 8:9)