Is Grace undeserved favor?

Introduction

We have been examining our own doctrinal understandings (doctrine rethink) for some time now. We have discovered that what some of what has been preached from our pulpits is not necessarily the truth. We would deem these "Christian myths," that is, things that are common knowledge accepted by Christians, but are ultimately unbiblical.

Our process of doctrine rethink has brought us to an examination of grace.

Grace Mis-Defined

The common way grace is defined is this:

The word "grace" has a variety of meanings. Its primary sense is that of unmerited favor. "Grace is God's undeserved favor, his unmerited love" (Packer, p. 96). It is something that God gives us or does for us or enables us to do that we did not in any way earn, or deserve, or merit.

We would contest the idea that grace is undeserved. Why?

First, because "unmerited" is mis-defined. "Unmerited" does not mean we didn't deserve it. It means "without regard to merit." That is, the blessings of grace are not apportioned according to merit:

Ep. 4:7 But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.  

Merit isn't regarded at all:

Mt. 5:45 He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.

Jn. 1:16: From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.

God's desire is to bless, and it seems He does so without regard to merit, whether for the unrighteous or the righteous.

Second, we would contest the idea that grace is undeserved because of our inheritance as children of God, and the apportionment of grace we have because of that. We will discuss this later.

Grace Defined

"Grace" is charis, which means grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, (b) favor, (c) gratitude, thanks, (d) a favor, kindness...  preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them").

xáris answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term 2580 /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.

Grace then is His favor, coming from His desire to be close to us. He extends Himself out. It is the gift of Himself, present and moving in the believer.

Inheritance

There is an added dimension of grace for the children of God, which is even greater, because He has elevated us into heirs. Therefore, we are blessed by right:

Jn. 1:12-13 Yet to all who received him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God — 13 children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God.

Ro. 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs — heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.

Ga. 4:4-5 But when the time had fully come, God sent his Son, born of a woman, born under law, 5 to redeem those under law, that we might receive the full rights of sons.

This is why our inheritance is sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee:

Ep. 1:13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit 14 who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God’s possession — to the praise of his glory.

"Inheritance" is kléronomia, which is the Greek word similar to the Hebrew word equated with the inheritance of the portions of land for the various tribes of Israel. The guarantee of an inheritance creates a certainty, regardless of merit, of which we are beneficiaries.

On this basis we would say that deservedness is simply not involved. One does not have a conditional inheritance based on doing the correct things. It is not merit, good behavior, or a list of qualifications. Inheritance is a status, the status we have been granted via our salvation:

Tit. 3:5 he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

So the grace we possess is by being part of the family, in line for an inheritance. In this sense we might even say that this grace is deserved.

The Empowering Presence

There is something different about grace, something we have not apprehended. If we think it means "undeserved favor," we are lacking understanding. Consider these verses, and try to insert "undeserved favor" in place of the word "grace," and see how it doesn't even make sense:

Ro. 12:6 We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith.

2Co. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

1Ti. 1:14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.

Ja. 4:6 But he gives us more grace.

1Pe. 4:10 Each one should use whatever gift he has received to serve others, faithfully administering God’s grace in its various forms.

2Pe. 3:18 But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

The amount of grace can vary in us. The amount of grace can vary from person to person. We can modify our lives so as to have grace increase. None of these things makes sense if grace is "undeserved favor."

And we would ask, was the undeserved favor of God upon Jesus?

Lk. 2:40 And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him.

We would like to offer a different definition: Grace is the empowering presence of God via the Holy Spirit:

Ep. 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being... 

2Co. 12:9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

Strong's says this about the word grace in this verse: ...the favor of Christ, assisting and strengthening his followers and ministers to bear their troubles... 

We conclude that grace is an attribute of God's Holy Spirit moving in us to empower us as we walk out our daily lives. He does not regard merit or un-merit when apportioning grace.