Scripture Reference: 2 Corinthians 8:9
In his second letter to the church at Corinth, the apostle Paul put heavy emphasis on the word grace. This word is seldom used today. In fact, the only time we hear the word is in the church, or when we meet someone by the name of Grace. What does this mean? How would you explain it to a non-Christian?
John H. Jowett gave an excellent definition of grace:
Grace is divine energy. Grace is divine energy of holiness. Grace is divine energy of holiness issuing in the ministry of love. Grace is divine energy issuing in the ministry of love in quest of the unlovely. Grace is divine energy of love issuing in the ministry of love in quest of the unlovely, and by communication of itself, converting the unlovely into loveliness. Grace is the holy love of God in quest of unlovely man, seeking to woo and win, and transfigure him into the loveliness of the Lord Jesus Christ.
I added to Dr. Jowett’s definition the fact that grace is not duty. Duty brings Christians to church because Christians ought to attend. Love brings you to church because you enjoy coming, but grace is love plus the divine pull of Jesus Christ. Grace is love outdoing itself.
What is grace, you ask? I answer, grace is love beyond the bounds of love, love out-loving love, love loving where there is no ground to justify the loving, the infinite coming in touch with the finite; majesty with meekness; and stainless purity coming into contact with the sins of mankind, like the snow of heaven with the mire and slush of the street. This is what Paul meant when he wrote:
“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
Well, Paul, you might ask, what about “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ?” This is what Paul would be answering:
“That though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor.”
Look at Jesus full of grace and truth. All the way from heaven to earth He stoops, from glory to gloom He leaps, from paradise to persecution, and from life to death He springs. He descends from the highest throne to the crudest cross. He gives up heaven’s riches for earth’s poverty.
“Though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor.” Let us for a moment open the curtains of eternity, and gaze on the stupendous wealth of the Christ. The Bible tells us that Jesus Christ, the Eternal Word, is the Maker of the universe. Listen to God’s written Word:
“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things were made through him, and without him was not any thing made that was made” (John 1:1-3).
All the precious gems and rich metals that ever sparkled are His. He made them. This world, with all its majestic, sun-kissed mountains, broad oceans, winding rivers, babbling brooks, laughing valleys, and sparkling fountains are His.
The cattle on ten thousand hills were created by Jesus Christ, who confuses our intellect and destroys our human logic, causing us to accept Him through faith, since in His eternal nature, He invaded time, as a baby older than His mother. This mysteriously powerful God said in the first chapter of the Book of Genesis, “Let there be,” and creation trickled from His fingers like pearly dewdrops from the rosy fingers of the morning.
In the richness of eternity, the Bible states in Hebrews that:
“He [Jesus Christ] is the radiance of the glory of God and the exact imprint of his nature” (Hebrews 1:3).
The Book of Revelation says of Jesus:
“The hairs of his head were white, like white wool, like snow. His eyes were like a flame of fire, his feet were like burnished bronze, refined in a furnace, and his voice was like the roar of many waters” (Revelation 1:14-15).
No wonder the human Christ, before going to die on the cross, prayed in John’s Gospel:
“And now, Father, glorify me in your own presence with the glory that I had with you before the world existed” (John 17:5).
To Be Continued
FOR THE LOVE OF GOD 
You must be logged in to post a comment.