Full of Grace

Summer Word Refresh WEEK 3: Grace

I was stunned. I sat in my metal chair surrounded by classmates in the leadership program I attended after high school, a little overwhelmed at what just happened. Looking back, it doesn’t seem like it was a big deal, but to a 19-year-old, it was.

We were gathered in a circle, listening to one of our pastors speak during our devotional time. Out of nowhere, he handed me a $100 bill and said “Bloom where you’re planted.” In my head, I knew this was just a part of his sermon illustration, that I likely wasn’t picked for any reason, but when I considered all my journaled prayers in the weeks leading up to this moment, it was as if he knew.

“But…” I stammered in shock. “I… why me? No, no. I don’t need this. I didn’t do anything for this.” I shook my head and tried to do what I had subconsciously been taught was the right thing to do in situations like this, to not accept the gift that I didn’t deserve or even thought I needed. He refused to take it back and continued speaking to the group about how important it is to trust where God has you in this season and to not try to skip ahead, to take what God gifts you, and soak up each moment of growth and beauty.

I did nothing. I hadn’t worked for that money. I didn’t earn it rightfully. I couldn’t have even explained why I needed it (aside from being a starving college student surviving on iced coffee and Cheez-Its). But it was a gift, freely given, to help me flourish. That’s grace.

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us; and we saw His glory,
glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

John 1:14 (NASB)

In many ways, we could discuss grace as a way to apply it to our lives. How do we have grace for others? How do we live graciously with ourselves? But that’s not what John is referencing here, so we’re going to focus on the divine grace of God that has been imparted to us.

Grace | charis
Strong’s G5485

This word is translated over 150 times in the KJV to the English words grace, favor, thanks, and pleasure.

The most well-rounded definition I found was from the Outline of Biblical Usage¹:

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

Specifically, in John 1:14 among a few other verses, it describes a “kindness bestowed upon one who doesn’t deserve it.”

• divine influence upon the heart

• that which causes joy

• as a noun: favor, goodwill

• to be gracious: to make acceptable, worthy

As in all biblical studies, it’s important to consider all that is being communicated in a passage from Scripture. John discusses this idea of glory as paired with grace and truth. This word, doxa (Strong’s G1391), is defined as honor, glory, dignity, something, or someone that excites admiration.²

Jesus is full of grace and truth. His very honor or glory—the reason we worship Jesus as Lord and Savior—is contingent on these distinct characteristics: truthful and gracious. Without understanding the grace and truth of Jesus, we miss out on understanding who God is entirely.

This word implies that sinners are favored even if ill-deserving and granted pardons for their offenses.³ Romans 11:6 helps us understand this concept of undeserved kindness, too.

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace. (Romans 11:6 NIV)

While the other gospels tend to focus on the stories of Jesus’ interactions in our world to show who He is, I love that John begins with this poetic language that illuminates the awe and wonder of Jesus before diving into the stories. John’s descriptions tell a story of their own, and after introducing Jesus as light, one of the next descriptors is “full of grace and truth.”

So, what is grace? Is it the same as forgiveness of sins? Is it the very thing that marks a believer as a “Christian”? Is it something we can see in action?

Grace is the outpouring of our Father’s love that is undeserved because of our state of sin but freely given because of God’s great desire to be united with His children once again in perfect harmony.

Grace is the path to God that we couldn’t have found or created on our own (we’ve tried, haven’t we?). Grace is a gift of salvation that all one needs to do to walk in the freedom of God’s Kingdom is receive the gift and believe.⁴

Grace is the way we are made worthy, whole, and acceptable to the Almighty God, in spite of our failures and resistance. We were created originally worthy, whole, and acceptable, but with sin in our world and hearts, God had to make a new way—that’s where grace and truth come into play.

One might argue you can’t receive the fullness of grace without truth, though. We’ll get to that next week.

One final question to address—how do you receive grace? If you aren’t aware of your shortcomings or darkness, does that cheapen grace? Is it truly the full grace of God you’re accepting if you aren’t willing to repent of your sin?

Tune into this week’s podcast!

This week’s episode includes expanded thoughts and theologies on this question of grace and how we receive and walk in God’s grace as Christians.

1. Blue Letter Bible: Outline of Biblical Usage, Vine’s Entry, Strong’s

2. My word study on glory/doxa is available here.

3. Thayer’s Greek Lexicon

4. The concept of belief is a little more complex than we often treat it. Check out my word study on believe here!