Bible Studies

Embellished GRACE

by Ramona Cook 
09/12/23
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Before we think on the word GRACE, let us think on the word “embellished.”

At some time, there was a theologian, preacher, or teacher who added the word “unmerited” to the word “grace” as it appears in both the Old and New Testament Hebrew and Greek definitions, according to Dr. James Strong. blueletterbible.com

To Embellish means:  To heighten the attractiveness of by adding decorative or fanciful details: ENHANCE (Merriam-Weather Dictionary)

To think of God’s Grace toward us as unmerited is not wrong; of course, we cannot ever be worthy on our own to access His Grace.  I do contend however, that the addition of “unmerited” gives the word a subliminal understanding that is not what God’s Grace covers.

It is THAT thought I wish to discuss in this article.

The word GRACE occurs 170 times in 159 verses in the Scriptures, according to blueletterbible.com

The first time the word GRACE appears is in Genesis 6:8. “Noah found GRACE in the eyes of the Lord.”

Dr. Strong assigned H2580 as the number for this Hebrew word.  Every time the word appears in the First Testament it has the exact meaning, H2580.  It means, favor, charm, elegance, GRACE.

The word GRACE appears first in the New Testament in Luke 2:40, “And the child grew and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom, and the GRACE of God was upon Him,”

Strong’s Concordance assigns G5485 to every word translated from Greek with the one exception of James 1:11, when the word is applied to the beauty (grace) of grass and flowers fading away due to the heat of the day.  The assigned number in that one instance is G2143.

Statistics are not exciting but they do provide a base for the point I wish to make and that is that our impression of GRACE is skewed by the addition of the word “unmerited.”

It is usually, if not always, associated with the mention of “salvation.”  The subliminal, if not intentional, communication is that you don’t need to do anything to receive salvation; but actually, accepting salvation and confessing it with your mouth is required; secondly, it implies that because we are under GRACE in this time on God’s calendar that we also don’t have any requirements to live by since we have received salvation. 

I hear it from people I care deeply for all the time, “That does NOT apply to me, we are under GRACE now, not under the Law!”

True.  But does that mean we have no Rules or Commands from Jesus Himself to live by, not to mention the Apostles that Jesus appointed with their instructions to us? 

My observation is that a smoothed salving of TRUTH by preachers and teachers has caused many new comers to the Faith to fail to mature because they interpret GRACE to mean a FREE RIDE into Heaven.  Any student or scholar of Scripture knows that is not true.  We have parameters within which we are to live called, The Path of Righteous Living. 

The misuse of the Word GRACE, embellished by unmerited, suggests that since one does nothing to receive it, one also does nothing to keep it, because, they say, “Our WORKS don’t save us, it is ALL by faith.” 

TRUE!  James, however make mention of the fact that IF FAITH is really in your heart, you WILL live it in the things you DO.  Otherwise, it is a head consent that Jesus is LORD, and not a heart commitment.

This is a really serious consideration since we have the Scripture from the mouth of Jesus: Matthew 7:22, 23, “Many will say to Me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name?  and in Your name cast out devils? And in Your name done many wonderful works?  Then I will profess unto them DEPART from Me, I never knew you, you that work iniquity.”

This text screams to us that WORKS do NOT save us, although these ARE works Jesus told us to perform. Then, why did Jesus reject them?

The problem was that these people had not formed a “relationship with Jesus” so that He never knew them.  They were thinking to be saved BY works.

The opposing problem is for those who come to Jesus to be saved and then do NOT follow through to obey the things Jesus told us to DO.  These people need not think they will be saved either.

In all the parables Jesus uses to describe those who are attentive to Him and His teachings He warns of dithering about with half-hearted application to Him.  Read Matthew 25: 1-13.  Note that they were all “pure” in the group of 10, but Jesus told the slothful 5, “I never knew you.”

James’ verdict is that FAITH is where salvation IS, but FAITH that is saving faith, WORKS.  James 2:18, “Some will say, “You have works and I have faith.”  “Well show me your faith WITHOUT your works, and I will show you my faith BY my works.”

Today’s Church, all of us included, have been a sloppy mess and we have permitted evil to get a stronghold because we have adopted such a relaxed attitude about obedience to God and to His RULES, yes RULES that we are to live by. 

We enjoy the favor, goodwill, loving kindnesses, GRACE, of God but it is for bringing us to God through Jesus Blood, and after that we have become God’s children, and we all know how a good Father expects His children to behave.

Do you think we would read our Bibles IF we really wanted to know what God expects of us?

Do you think we had each one better be find the, One on one relationship with Jesus and stop the idea of a Goody God Who will just take us any ole way because we are under unmerited GRACE? 

The mild description of GRACE in both the Hebrew and Greek do not imply that Grace alone provides us salvation.  We enter into a “working relationship” with the Lord, that is our salvation and promise of Heaven.

Ramona: 09/11/2023