In the Bible, grace refers God’s free and unmerited favor towards humanity. It’s how God shows favor to His people despite their flaws and shortcomings. That’s what the Hebrew word of the Old Testament chen conveys. But the Greek word of the New Testament charis conveys something beyond mere favor. It refers to measures of empowerment, even gifts of the Holy Spirit. So, beyond favor, it also refers to the divine influence and power of the Holy Spirit upon the human heart to increase our inner capacities. God’s grace will also reveal His truth. His grace, therefore, combined with His truth is what enables us to see or behold God’s greater purposes and solutions to be applied in a variety of situations of life.
So, the New Testament concept of grace speaks of God’s undeserved gifts that give us inner strength and stretch our capacities. It’s because they come from God’s capacities within us through the indwelling presence of the Holy Spirit. And as Jesus calls the Holy Spirit the Spirit of truth three times, He points to powerful spiritual realities that can lead us to solutions that enable us to achieve God’s greater purposes, which in turn work for our good and God’s glory. As we yield to God’s grace and truth, we experience more dimensions of His favor and power.
RELEVANCE
Consider the story about Paul in Acts 16. The Bible says he was “forbidden by the Holy Spirit to preach the word in Asia.” He tried to go into Bithynia, “but the Spirit did not permit them” (Acts 16:6-7). The story continues; “a vision appeared to Paul in the night. A man of Macedonia stood and pleaded with him, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”
He was so convinced by the presence of the Holy Spirit in the vision he saw and words he heard by the Spirit that he concluded, “the Lord had called us to preach the gospel to them.” Paul, therefore, joyfully yielded to the assignment of the Holy Spirit. He received God’s grace and truth, and with it, the empowerment of the Holy Spirit to accomplish God’s greater purposes. So, his agreement with and obedience to the Holy Spirit brought tremendous blessings.
We often think, however, that we are unworthy of God’s grace and mercy, that our sins and shortcomings keep us from God’s blessings. In doing so, though, we limit God. True, none of us deserve God’s favor, mercy or grace. That’s why Jesus paid the price for our salvation and redemption with His blood sacrifice and life!
Consider some of the great examples the Bible illustrates of God’s amazing grace and redemption. King David was an adulterer and murderer, yet his heart and worship towards God brought God to call him a man after His own heart. God allowed him to be a most successful and noteworthy king. For this reason, Jesus was also referred to as Son of David.
Another man God honored despite his shortcomings was the great prophet, Elijah. God brought fire down from heaven upon Elijah’s word, yet he ran for his life in fear of Jezebel. Moses was a doubter, yet God raised him up to humble the most powerful nation in the world at the time, Egypt, and lead the Hebrew people out from slavery and cruel bondage. Jacob was a deceiver and runner from his problems, yet God brought him to a place to change his name to Israel and be the father of a nation that would have a great impact on the world.
Like these Bible characters, we are all recipients of God’s mercy and grace. Despite our shortcomings and having sinned repeatedly, He shows us kindness and compassion. He sets us on a path to realize great blessings He has in store for us.
This is what God does. He brings us to places to show us how much He loves us despite our shortcomings. He pours out grace, reveals truth and empowers us to accomplish His greater purposes. We then can experience His redemption. This is how He connects grace and truth.
REFLECT, RELATE AND RESPOND
What issues do you need to settle with God? Let the Holy Spirit refresh you. Receive His grace and truth. Receive His forgiveness. Receive His strength to go forward and press towards His higher purposes and calling upon your life.