Grace: Awesome Ability (Ephesians 3:1-2; 6-8; 14; 4:7,29; 6:24)

GRACE

Grace (charis), 5485, [Strongs], occurs 155 times in the NT, and 100 times in the Pauline epistles. You would think that with such frequency of use, that there would be a general consensus as to the meaning and definition of the word, which to a large degree there is, however, the most common uses of "grace", in sermons and writings, are not descriptive of the word, but are merely an echo of religious bias, colored by denominational precedent but having no true bearing on the Greek meaning of (charis).

GET OUT OF JAIL

Most commentaries opt for God's "unmerited favor", and relegate this to the act of salvation rendered towards us, through Jesus Christ, and His blanket forgiveness of our sin. However, the constant repealing of our offenses has little or nothing to do with (charis), and more to do with mercy. Often what is "caught", though maybe not directly taught, is that the "born again" person can randomly commit any acts of offense, and God's "grace" will cover whatever; wherever; whenever, because of this blanket "get out of jail free" card, available to be used over and over again.

FIRST, this type of gospel produces, at best, shallow Christianity, with little or no real conversion, with perhaps many experiencing no real change in their lives, and having a "license" to sin, without repercussions.

SECONDLY, this vague definition of the word has little or no bearing on the real meaning, and is of no added value to a strong relationship in and with Christ.

RELIGIOUS TRADITION

Religious tradition will, of course, get offended at such an assertion, but in an era of "political correctness", it is better to speak the truth than to miss out on the blessing of all the good that the Father wants us to experience and enjoy.

IMPARTATION

(Charis) has more to do with the impartation of God's ability and power, to fulfill and accomplish the calling on our life, through the covenant that we have entered into, than the act of salvation through Jesus Christ. Jesus fulfilling the covenant, released the (charis) of God towards us, to do what He has called us to do.

MAIN EVENT

Yes, God's (charis) brought salvation, but if we stop there, it's like receiving a ticket to a concert or show, and stopping at the doors; being so excited that we have the ticket, but never actually going past the doors, to experience the main event!

In Ephesians alone, the word is used 14 times, or over 10%, of all the uses, employed by the Holy Spirit, in the Pauline epistles. The first few references definitely refer to "salvation" (Eph.1:6-7; 2:5,7-8), but then the coloring and definition of the word is broadened, to encompass it's fuller meaning:

EPHESIANS 3:1 "For this cause" (KJV)..[literally. "For this (charis)]"...referring to giving the Gentiles, non Jews, access to all that the Holy Spirit of God is.

LEGAL RIGHT

In other words, because of the covenant with Abraham, and Jesus coming to fulfill it, the 'power switch' has been turned on, and every person in the world now has a legal right to enter into life with God the Father, AND, experience the fullness of that life, in power!

EPHESIANS 3:2 "If you have heard of the dealing out of the "grace" (charis) of God, which is given to me towards you..." Paul, referring to his apostolic calling, speaks of the power and ability of God, in and through him, to bring about the conversion of the nations, and their entering into the fullness of the covenant.

EPHESIANS 3:6-8 "That the nations should be joint-heirs and joint-bodies and joint-partners of His promise, in Christ, through the good news, of which I became a servant according to the gift of the grace (charis) of God, given to me...to me is this grace (charis) given, that I should announce the good news among the nations: the unsearchable riches of Christ.."

EPHESIANS 3:14 "For this (charis), I bow my knees..." The purpose of Paul's prayer and intercession, was to bring about, the total manifestation of the nations entering into the fullness of the covenant.

EPHESIANS 4:7 "In each one of us is given grace (charis), according to the measure of the gift of the Christ..." Grace IS NOT just something that is given to us, but it is something that is given "in" each one of us, referring to the very specific and laser accurate calling on our lives, by the Father.

EPHESIANS 4:29 "Don't allow any rotten words to go forth out of your mouth, but only allow good words to go forth, out of your mouth, so that your words will give, and infuse, the ones hearing you, with strength (charis)" (paraphrase).

EPHESIANS 6:24 "(Charis) to all those that love our Lord Jesus Christ..."

FORCE of POWER

It is consistently obvious, just from these uses of (charis), in Ephesians, that the word is not just some vague reference to God being favorable towards us, but rather, it is 'a strength; ability; even a force, of the power of God', "in us", to accomplish the specific calling and task before us. It is the bold assurance that we are equipped, by the Father, by His (charis), "in us", for whatever we face, in accomplishing His will, His way, in our lives.

You are God's Best and God's Best is Yours