Wow. Truly amazing. Let's properly define "grace." The Greek word translated "grace" has a fairly wide semantic range, but the definition in question here is # 2 & 2a. Notice that "grace" is basically God's favor or kindness toward individuals, which he demonstrates by exerting his influence in their lives. "Grace" is not that influence itself. It is God's disposition toward the one who receives that influence.
χάρις
charis
1) grace
1a) that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm, loveliness: grace of speech
2) good will, loving-kindness, favour
2a) of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues
3) what is due to grace
3a) the spiritual condition of one governed by the power of divine grace
3b) the token or proof of grace, benefit
3b1) a gift of grace
3b2) benefit, bounty
4) thanks, (for benefits, services, favours), recompense, reward
Part of Speech: noun feminine
Mercy & Grace
What a difference two words can make! In the below verse you will find that “mercy” is something received, while grace is something found. It is very worth while meditating on this verse, read it slowly. Allow your mind to consider the depth of such words and the feelings they instil in you.
You might like to ask yourself the question:
When praying to the Father do I conceal my sins before Him? Do I come to Him openly, like that of a sacrifice which has been splayed open for inspection? It is on this basis that we can obtain or lay hold of His mercies, and in time, find grace in His sight. Many Churches today teach instantaneous grace which is contrary to Bible teaching. A quick study of the scriptures proves that grace is something which is found "in" God…and not in us, and often over a long period of time i.e. Noah found grace in the eyes of the Lord. This was the result of many acts of obedience throughout his life.
Hebrews 4:16
"Let us (saints) therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need".
Boldly - freedom in speaking, unreservedness in speech openly, frankly, i.e without concealment without ambiguity, fearless confidence, cheerful courage, boldness,
Obtain - to take with the hand, lay hold of, any person or thing in order to use it. (to take upon one's self)
Find - to come upon, hit upon, to meet with (after searching, to find a thing sought)
Mercy & Grace vary greatly in their application and often can be misrepresented as being the same.
Grace by definition means good will, loving-kindness &
favour (of God towards us…His children)
Mercy: by definition means to show (act) kindness or good will towards the miserable and the afflicted, joined with a desire to help them (an act of kindness)
Before we receive the Fathers mercies and find grace in His sight we need to ask the question: How do we come
boldly to His throne of grace? The below verse explains how.
Hebrews 10:22
Let us (saints) draw near (to God) with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our hearts (minds) sprinkled (cleansed) from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure water (living word).
Near – means
approach
True – means
sincere
Heart – means
mind - the seat of interlect and emotion
The above verse conveys a need to have the word of God living in us, in our minds. This of course means reading our Bibles daily, studying passages and confirming, with confidence, the
one true faith. This mind when making prayerful requests, will receive mercies in abundance, as they have endeavoured to cleanse the mind through daily washing. Then and only then will we find Grace with God our Father and receive His abundant mercy.
Now unto him (God) that is able to keep (protect) you from falling, and to present you faultless (like that of a sacrifice without blemish) before the presence of his glory (judgement) with exceeding joy,
Never forget our Father is
able to present us without blemish “if” we allow Him.
Insight