“I always thank my God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus.”
The word “grace” is used a whole lot in Christian circles, but I wonder if we fully grasp the depths of its meaning? Philip Yancey calls “grace” the “last best word” in our Christian vocabulary because it still conveys some significance to our secular culture. All people have experienced the delight of being invited to the home of a gracious host. Yet, has “grace” devolved to this – a kind act that makes us feel warm inside?
If I quizzed you on the definition of grace, you would probably describe it as a “free gift” from God. That’s a really good place to start. All of the good things we experience in our life come from our Heavenly Father who loves to bless His children. A better definition might be the acronym, God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. This emphasizes the fact that God’s gift of grace is free to us, but it isn’t free. Christ paid for the grace that our Heavenly Father so freely bestows on us.
Grace isn’t just a nebulous feeling. It isn’t just a sense of being blessed. Grace has a face! Jesus Christ “became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (John 1:14) If you want to see what grace looks like, look to Jesus! He loves the unlovable, heals the sick, encourages the downtrodden, and rescues sinners from sin and judgment.
The cost for such grace was enormous! He stepped out of His glory in heaven to take on our flesh and serve us. That service took him to the cross, where He bore the judgment of our sins. Christ took upon Himself our transgressions, and by faith, we take upon ourselves Christ’s righteousness. This is unspeakable, indescribable, and pure unadulterated grace!
The Greek word for grace is “charis,” and this word is used as the root for other words that help us to better understand what grace looks like. The Greek verbs “to rejoice,” “bless,” and “give thanks” all come from the word “charis.” When we describe someone as a “charismatic leader,” we mean that she is someone who is gifted with God-given talents.
This reminds us that the grace of God has a transformative effect on us! His love and goodness causes our hearts to rejoice. Because we have been blessed, we are quick to bless others. And in every circumstance, we are thankful because we have inherited the riches of Christ. This means that we too are the face of grace; or stated more accurately, our faces reflect the grace of God to others in our lives.
Perhaps my opening example of a “gracious” meal at a neighbor’s home isn’t a bad one after all. When we come to the Lord’s altar to receive the Eucharist, we come into the presence of a gracious Host. Here Jesus offers us Himself, His very body and blood, for the forgiveness of our sins. This is a gift so precious that nothing in the world compares to it. Receiving such grace causes our hearts to rejoice, to bless the Lord, and to be deeply thankful for His unmerited love toward us.
Grace has a face. It comes from our Heavenly Father who makes His face to shine upon us, to be gracious to us, to look upon us with His favor, and to give us His peace.