FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
| click on your selection: Question #1 > God saves by His grace and I know that that is wonderful. But how can I know if I have God's grace? ? |
"AMAZING CHARIS" originally a class handout
In English, Am. Heritage Dict.: “grace (gr³s) n. 4.a. A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill. b. Mercy; clemency. 5. A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence. 6. A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
8. Theology. a. Divine love and protection bestowed freely on people. b. The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God. c. An excellence or a power granted by God.”
In the language of KOINE GREEK (N.T. “grace”): Strong’s definition # G5485
charis - From chairo [“cheerful”]; graciousness (as gratifying), of manner or act (abstract or concrete; literal, figurative or spiritual; especially the divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life; including gratitude): -
[gw-list of words it can or has been translated:] acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace (-ious), joy liberality, pleasure, thank (-s, -worthy).
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Excerpts from ISBE on “grace” (Greek “Cháris”) [Please note that the segments quoted are from the sections dealing with the meaning of the word in the first century and does not intend to be the “theology” of the writer]:
The Word Cháris
In the English New Testament the word “grace” is always a translation of (v cháris), a word that occurs in the Greek text something over 170 times. In secular Greek of all periods it is also a very common word and in both Biblical and secular Greek it is used with far more meanings than can be represented by any one term in English [note: the various English words that can translate the word BUT none include “unmerited favor” in the Strong’s list above-gw].
Primarily
(a) The word seems to denote pleasant external appearance, “gracefulness” “loveliness”; compare the personificaion in the Graces.” Such a use is found in Luke_4:22, where 'wondered at the charm of his words' is a good translation; and similarly in Colossians_4:6.
(b) Objectively, charis may denote the impression produced by “gracefulness,” as in 3 John_1:4 'greater gratification have I none than this' (but many manuscripts read chará, “joy,” here [the root word of “grace”, see above-gw] ).
(c) As a mental attribute charis may be translated by “graciousness,” or, when directed toward a particular person or persons, by “favor.” So in Luke 2:52, “Jesus advanced ... in favor with God and men.”
(d) As the complement to this, charis denotes the emotion awakened in the recipient of such favor, i.e. “gratitude.” So Luke 17:9 reads literally, 'Has he gratitude to that servant?' In a slightly transferred sense charis designates the words or emotion in which gratitude is expressed, and so becomes “thanks” (some 10 times, Romans 6:17, etc.)'.
(e) Concretely, charis may mean the act by which graciousness is expressed, as in 1 Corinthians 16:3, where the King James Version translates by “liberality,” and the Revised Version (British and American) by “bounty.” …
ISBE continues in its next section:
Naturally, the various meanings of the word were simply taken over from ordinary language by the New Testament writers
[note: this word “grace” is not a heavenly coined word for the New Testament- gw].
In (e) above, charis charischaris charis may mean “a gift.” In 1Corinthians_16:3 and 2 Corinthians _8:19 it is the money given by the Corinthians to the Jerusalemites. In 2 Corinthians_9:8 it is the increase of worldly goods that God grants for charitable purposes. In 2 Corinthians_1:15 it is the benefit received by the Corinthians from a visit by Paul. In a more spiritual sense charis is [or refers to- gw] the endowment for an office in the church (Ephesians_4:7), more particularly for the apostles (Romans_1:5; Romans_12:3; Romans_15:15; 1 Corinthians_3:10; Ephesians_3:2, Ephesians_3:7). So in 1Corinthians_1:4-7 margin charis is expanded into “word and all knowledge,” endowments with which the Corinthians were especially favored. In 1Peter_1:13 charis is the future heavenly blessedness that Christians are to receive; in 1Peter_3:7 it is the present gift of “life.”
When “charis is the word for God's favor”…
When charis is used with the meaning “favor,” nothing at all is implied as to whether or not the favor is deserved. So, for instance, in the New Testament, when in Luke_2:52 it is said that “Jesus advanced ... in favor with God and men,” the last possible thought is that our Lord did not deserve this favor.
Compare also Luke_2:40 and Acts_2:47 and, as less clear cases, Luke_1:30; Acts_7:46; Hebrews_4:16; Hebrews_12:15, Hebrews_12:28.
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Does Jesus use the word “charis” in His teaching?-gw ISBE makes the point that in the Greek accounts of Jesus’ ministry, He never uses the word “charis” (grace) in His teaching.* However, I would point out that “God’s grace” is implied (in its true meaning) in Matthew 7:21- 22 [“he that does the will of the Father”] and in the “Great Commission”; i.e., “Believing the gospel and obeying it (including baptism and all that He commanded) and you are in God’s favor”! *Note: This really is untrue. Whereas Jesus does use "charis", it is not translated as "favor." It is translated as "thanks."
What does it mean, “Shall we sin that grace might abound?” in Romans 6:1?
Robertsons Word Pictures (of the Greek in Romans 6)
Shall we continue in sin? (epimenomen.tei.hamartiai. ). Present active deliberative subjunctive of epimeno, old verb to tarry as in Ephesus (1Corinthians_16:8) with locative case. The practice of sin as a habit (present tense) is here raised. That grace may abound (hina.he.charis.pteonasei). Final clause with ingressive aorist subjunctive, to set free the superfluity of grace alluded to like putting money in circulation. Horrible thought (me.genoito) and yet Paul faced it. There are occasionally so-called pietists who actually think that God’s pardon gives them liberty to sin without penalty.
If we expect God’s grace or favor to cover us in habitually sinning, then we are making God’s favor to extend beyond its boundaries to include sinning lifestyles which of course He abhors (Isaiah 59:1). "God forbid" says the apostle.
