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Power of God's Grace charis, Margaret Mowczko

“Grace” and “mercy” are wonderful themes of Christianity. The two words occasionally appear together in verses of the New Testament (especially in greetings),[1] and the concept of grace has sometimes become confused and conflated with the concept of mercy, but the two are not the same. “Grace” has been described as getting what we don’t deserve (e.g. favour and pardon), and “mercy” has been described as not getting what we do deserve (e.g. punishment and death). Yet grace is more than passively receiving divine favour and pardon.

The Greek word for grace (charis) is used 150+ times in the New Testament. Sometimes its meaning is of “favour” or of “a pleasing, attractive disposition” either of people or of Jesus and God. However, grace is frequently used in the context of power, strength, and ability.[2] For example, it is God’s grace alone that has the power to save (Eph. 2:5ff; Rom. 11:6; Tit. 2:11; 3:5-7).

God’s grace working within us also empowers and enables us to be effective agents of Jesus Christ (cf. Acts 4:33; 6:8; Eph. 3:7-8, Heb 4:16; etc), even when we ourselves are weak (cf. 2 Cor. 12:9-10). Paul knew firsthand that followers of Jesus need grace (i.e. divine power) in order to be effective ministers (Rom. 1:5; 1 Cor. 3:10; 15:10; 2 Cor. 1:12; Gal 2:9; Eph. 3:7-8; Col. 4:6; 2 Tim. 2:1). Thankfully, grace has been made abundantly available to us through Jesus (John 1:16; Rom. 5.15; Eph. 1:6; 4:7; 1 Tim. 1:14).

The Holy Spirit is the one who helps us to carry on the ministry of Jesus in the present church age and is associated with grace, especially the “grace gifts” or charismata. The Holy Spirit gives divine gifts, abilities, and manifestations to each of us to use while ministering and serving others (Rom. 12:6ff; 1 Cor 12:1ff; 1 Pet. 4:10).

An incomplete or faulty understanding of grace can lead to complacency and passivity. God’s grace, however, should motivate, energise, and empower us. It is active and dynamic.

With all this in mind, whenever you come across the word “grace” while reading from the New Testament, try replacing it with “divine power.”[3] It may make better sense.

“The grace—the divine power—of our Lord Jesus be with you!”
(Rom. 16:20; 1 Cor. 16:23 cf. 2 Cor. 13:14)

Footnotes

[1] “Grace” in Greetings in NT Letters Grace (charis) was used in the context of divine favour in the Greek world, and the usual greeting of the Greeks was charein: “to be blessed with divine favour and power.” The New Testament letter writers adapted this convention and typically used charis in their opening greetings. “Grace and peace” (“peace” being the equivalent of the Hebrew shalom) is found in numerous greetings (e.g., Rom. 1:7; 1 Cor. 1:3; 2 Cor. 1:2; Eph. 1:2 1 Pet. 1:2; Rev. 1:4; more here). Grace, peace, as well as mercy, appear together in greetings in 1 Tim. 1:2, 2 Tim. 1:2 and 2 John 1:3. Paul closes his letters to the Galatians, Philippians, and Philemon with the benediction, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” (Gal. 6:18; Phil. 4:23; Phm. 1:25; cf. Rom. 16:20; 1 Cor. 16:23; 2 Cor 13:14; 2 Tim. 4:22).

[2] “Power from the world above” Charis has a variety of meanings. Hans Conzelmann (TDNT Vol IX, pp. 359-76) writes that charis basically means something that delights. However, he notes, “In Hellenism charis becomes a fixed term for the ‘favor’ shown by rulers.” He also notes that “Philosophy discusses the grace and the wrath of the gods”. Conzelmann goes on to say, “In a second development, Hellenism stresses the power in charis. This power, which comes from the world above, appears in the divine man and expresses itself in magic.” It seems that Paul, Luke, and other New Testament writers may have borrowed this last usage of charis (i.e. grace is power from above) and adapted it for their own use.

[3] God’s Uncreated Energies The Orthodox Church’s “understanding of the nature of Grace is that it is the very energies of God Himself.” (Source) According to Orthodox theology,

Grace is the uncreated energy of God Himself, which at the time of man’s [i.e. humanity’s] creation was intimately connected with his soul. Man [humanity] participated in the Divine life through the Divine Energy, and this participation was proper to the original nature of man [i.e. humanity]. (Source)

However, “Between the time of man’s [humanity’s] fall and his redemption by Christ, Grace could act on man temporarily from the outside, but could not dwell within him, united with his soul, as it was before the fall.” (Source) This changed with Pentecost.

Saint Maximus the Confessor (d. 662) has made this beautiful statement about the “deifying” work of God’s grace (cf. 2 Pet. 1:3-11; Phil. 3:21-22; 1 John 3:2; 2 Cor. 3:18; Rom. 8:29-30; Eph 1:22-23; 1 Cor. 15:28; Col 1:28-29).

God has created us in order that we may become partakers of the Divine Nature, that we may enter into eternity, that we may resemble Him, that is, being deified by His grace through which all things were made. The Divine uncreated light has the purpose of uniting the creation with God. It is a visitation from the future age to come and is often called by the Fathers the “light of the eighth Day.” (Source)

Somewhat related, I love this idea of Maximus: “Everything has come to be from (εκ) God, is held together in (εν) Him, and everything will convert to Him (εις αυτον τα παντα επιστρεφεσθαι).” (Source)
More about the “deifying” work of grace, Theosis, here.

© Margaret Mowczko 2014
All Rights Reserved
Last edited February 24, 2024

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Further Reading

An excellent article about grace with the meaning of “divine favour,” and how the first Christians would have understood this, is here.

Explore more

Following Jesus, Led by the Holy Spirit
Unity and Equality in Ministry: 1 Corinthians 12
Partnering with Jesus in His Plans and Purposes
The Holy Spirit and Equality in the Book of Acts

3 thoughts on “The Power of God’s Grace

  1. GODS GRACE IS SUFFICIENT

    1. And powerful!

  2. […] The word “grace” (charis) is frequently used in the New Testament in the context of divine power, strength, and ability. It is God’s grace working within us, through the Holy Spirit, that equips us to be effective ministers in the church and effective agents of Jesus Christ in the wider world. […]

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