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Grace
THE exact and discriminate meaning of the word grace should be crystal clear to every child of God. With such insight only can he feed his own soul on the inexhaustible riches which it unfolds, and with such understanding only can he be enabled clearly to pass on to others its marvelous, transforming theme. Here is a striking illustration of the fact that very much may be represented by one word. When used in the Bible to set forth the grace of God in the salvation of sinners, the word grace discloses not only the boundless goodness and kindness of God toward man, but reaches far beyond and indicates the supreme motive which actuated God in the creation, preservation and consummation of the universe. What greater fact could be expressed by one word?
The meaning of the word grace, as used in the New Testament, is not unlike its meaning as employed in common speech, -- but for one important exception, namely, in the Bible the word often represents that which is limitless, since it represents realities which are infinite and eternal. It is nothing less than the unlimited love of God expressing itself in measureless grace.
The word favor is the nearest Biblical synonym for the word grace. In this connection it may be observed that the one thought which is almost exclusively expressed in the New Testament by the word grace, is, in the Old Testament, almost exclusively expressed by the word favor. Grace is favor, and favor is grace. Thus, in considering the Bible teaching on this great theme, equal attention should be given to all passages wherein either the word grace is used or favor is found. Grace means pure unrecompensed kindness and favor. What is done in grace is done graciously. From this exact meaning there can be no departure; otherwise grace ceases to be grace. To arrive at the scope and force of the Bible doctrine of salvation by grace alone we need to follow consistently the path indicated by the exact meaning of the word.
SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL FACTS ABOUT GRACE
First. Grace is not Withheld Because of Demerit.
This fact about grace is more evident, perhaps, than any other. It is the sense of demerit more than anything else which impels a soul to cry out for the kindness and benefits of grace. So, also, grace finds its greatest triumph and glory in the sphere of human helplessness. Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to withdraw it in the presence of human failure and sin. In fact, grace cannot be exercised where there is the slightest degree of human merit to be recognized. On the other hand the issue of human sin must be disposed of forever. Christ the Lamb of God, having taken away the sin of the world, has by His cross forever disposed of the condemnation of sin. He has by the cross created an entirely new relation between God and man. Consequently, men are now either accepting or rejecting Christ who has borne their sins. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18). There is no middle ground. All questions of demerit have been banished. Thus God is righteously free to exercise grace in every case. Salvation is by grace alone.
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The meaning of the word grace, as used in the New Testament, is not unlike its meaning as employed in common speech, -- but for one important exception, namely, in the Bible the word often represents that which is limitless, since it represents realities which are infinite and eternal. It is nothing less than the unlimited love of God expressing itself in measureless grace.
The word favor is the nearest Biblical synonym for the word grace. In this connection it may be observed that the one thought which is almost exclusively expressed in the New Testament by the word grace, is, in the Old Testament, almost exclusively expressed by the word favor. Grace is favor, and favor is grace. Thus, in considering the Bible teaching on this great theme, equal attention should be given to all passages wherein either the word grace is used or favor is found. Grace means pure unrecompensed kindness and favor. What is done in grace is done graciously. From this exact meaning there can be no departure; otherwise grace ceases to be grace. To arrive at the scope and force of the Bible doctrine of salvation by grace alone we need to follow consistently the path indicated by the exact meaning of the word.
SEVEN FUNDAMENTAL FACTS ABOUT GRACE
First. Grace is not Withheld Because of Demerit.
This fact about grace is more evident, perhaps, than any other. It is the sense of demerit more than anything else which impels a soul to cry out for the kindness and benefits of grace. So, also, grace finds its greatest triumph and glory in the sphere of human helplessness. Grace ceases to be grace if God is compelled to withdraw it in the presence of human failure and sin. In fact, grace cannot be exercised where there is the slightest degree of human merit to be recognized. On the other hand the issue of human sin must be disposed of forever. Christ the Lamb of God, having taken away the sin of the world, has by His cross forever disposed of the condemnation of sin. He has by the cross created an entirely new relation between God and man. Consequently, men are now either accepting or rejecting Christ who has borne their sins. "He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God" (John 3:18). There is no middle ground. All questions of demerit have been banished. Thus God is righteously free to exercise grace in every case. Salvation is by grace alone.
Download Grace Now!
367 pages, Kindle Edition
About the author
Lewis Sperry Chafer
163 books28 followersLewis Sperry Chafer was an evangelist and educator, founder and first president of Dallas Theological Seminary (originally Evangelical Theological College), and an influential proponent of Christian Dispensationalism and vehement opponent of covenant theology.
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
April 22, 2009
Easily the best and most thorough treatment of the subject I have ever read. This book may open your eyes for the first time to what the Lord has actually done for you! Many believers live their whole lives without understanding what the Lord has for them, and desires for them. Grace is what we in the Church are made, by God, to live under. Are you living under grace? Do you know what that means? This book could easily change your life.
May 16, 2018
I honestly don’t know what to make of this book.
In parts I loved it. There is so much of the truth of God’s grace in it. But in other parts I think the author too heavily relies on distinctions between dispensations. I think it certainly helps the argument he is making but I’m not sure if, for example, grace wasn’t operating in the lives of the people of Israel between Moses and Christ, as he seems to imply. Further I would say the same thing about the rule of the kingdom that he distinguishes in the early half of the Gospels and some prophetic texts in the Old Testament. Though we are not under law it seems to me the sort of character and conduct grace produces in our lives is that which is described by Christ when He came, and yes that it not a law, it’s by grace.
So I liked this book but it also left me scratching my head about how much of it you can take to heart and how much is dispensational theology that might be making too clean of a cut between the covenants.
In parts I loved it. There is so much of the truth of God’s grace in it. But in other parts I think the author too heavily relies on distinctions between dispensations. I think it certainly helps the argument he is making but I’m not sure if, for example, grace wasn’t operating in the lives of the people of Israel between Moses and Christ, as he seems to imply. Further I would say the same thing about the rule of the kingdom that he distinguishes in the early half of the Gospels and some prophetic texts in the Old Testament. Though we are not under law it seems to me the sort of character and conduct grace produces in our lives is that which is described by Christ when He came, and yes that it not a law, it’s by grace.
So I liked this book but it also left me scratching my head about how much of it you can take to heart and how much is dispensational theology that might be making too clean of a cut between the covenants.
September 13, 2013
Excellent book on God's grace. It was refreshing to have a review of how God has related to man at different times. Example: "In the teachings of the Kingdom, the characteristic phrase is 'hear and do' (Matt. 7:24), while the caracterizing phrase under grace is 'hear and believe' (John 5:24). Good explanation of our relationship with God under law, age of grace, kingdom age. Lots of error comes from taking a verse from context and applying it to the wrong time in history/future. Of course, the bottom line of Chafer is salvation by grace alone. Works can be so subtle to take from basic grace. A good example: "The believer's responsibility is thinly changed from being a struggle of the flesh to being a reliance on the Spirit." (Sermon on the Mount vs. indwelling of the Holy Spirit in the Church Age) One more: "The sabbath under the law was a DAY. The sabbath under grace is a LIFE.... The law did not pass at His birth. It passed at His death. During the days of His ministry, He recognized, kept, and enforced the Sabbath as an integral part of the whole Mosaic system."
October 28, 2019
A great book for those that believe the idea of grace started in the 1990s. This classic, written in 1922, presents the grace concept clearly and talks about many potential errors people can fall into if they miss this concept. A must read for anyone who takes the grace position.
November 14, 2019
When it comes to grace, no one explains it better.
August 21, 2013
So good
December 22, 2015
Great
Well written, and by a man who has obviously made an impact for eternity's sake. Grace, grace, grace. Oh beautiful, wonderful grace!
Well written, and by a man who has obviously made an impact for eternity's sake. Grace, grace, grace. Oh beautiful, wonderful grace!
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews