God “is” “Grace”. “Is” meaning ; “existing in this moment of time“, and “the substance, characteristics, and/or character of a thing”. God “is” a “right now”, “in this moment” God; alive, active and available to us. His “substance”, “characteristics”, and “character” is “Grace”.But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is,…..” Hebrews 11:6
Nehemiah 9:31 (NASB)
“Nevertheless, in Your great compassion You did not make an end of them or forsake them, For You are a gracious and compassionate God.
In the Old Testament, the word “grace” is not used as it is in the New Testament. The word translated “gracious” in Nehemiah 9:31 is “hannûn” (khan-noon’) from the root word “ḥānan” (khaw-nan’), both are translated as “gracious” or “to show favor”.
“The verb ḥānan depicts a heartfelt response by someone who has something to give to one who has a need…. the verb describes ‘an action from a superior to an inferior who has no real claim for gracious treatment.’” Theological Wordbook of the Old Testament.
The verb “ḥānan” describes the “action” of being “gracious”, while the adjective “hannûn” modifies the noun “God” by adding the concept of being “gracious” to the definition of His being.
1 Peter 5:10 calls God the “God of all grace”, and Ephesians 2:8 says; “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,” which really parallels the action described for the Old Testament word “ḥānan”; “a heartfelt response by someone who has something to give to one who has a need…. ‘an action from a superior to an inferior who has no real claim for gracious treatment.’”
The New Testament word translated “grace” is “charis” (khar’-ece) which mirrors the Old Testament concept of “undeserved favor”; a free gift that cannot be earned. Yet, in the New Testament, God’s grace goes far beyond being a simple “free gift”. A “free gift” of salvation is the starting point, but once we step into God’s Grace, it will also become an “enabling force” that abides in us through His Spirit, His Word, and the power and authority of the name of Jesus Christ, that will “enable”, “equip”, and “empower” us to walk out His plan and fulfill His purpose for us in our Christian walk. That is why, when Paul questioned the existence of the difficulties that were coming against him and wanted God to make them stop, God’s response was; “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.”… (2 Corinthians 12:9 NKJV).
God is love, and because of His love, Jesus Christ became a manifestation of His Grace, “a heartfelt response by someone who has something to give to one who has a need”; “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.” (John 3:16 NKJV) Through Christ, God extended the opportunity for all mankind to enter into His Grace (His unmerited, undeserved favor). Once we have “entered in” to His Grace, it will become an abiding reality and the “enabling force” within us, that, once we comprehend it, will lead us to say with Paul: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Our concept of His “isness”; the manner in which we define His nature, substance, characteristics, and character, and the way we “receive” His “isness” into our life and depend on (have faith in) it, will be the role that we “anticipate/expect” or “will allow” God to play in our lives.
“But without faith it is impossible to please Him, for he who comes to God must believe that He is,…..” God “is” “Grace”.
*** Fred Wilson *** is an author, former coach, teacher and Life and Liberty News Contributor.
