I never really understood "grace" until I started this book. Merriam-Webster defines grace as "unmerited divine assistance given humans for their regeneration or sanctification ." I guess.
"Unmerited," certainly. Often, the word "unmerited" is reserved for my day to day debacles, as I vehemently complain when someone has eaten the last slice of bread, or used the last square of Charmin. The "I don't deserve this" outcry rarely emerges when blessings appear in my life, though.
"Divine," again, definitely. Who else but God to give such a reckless, unabashed gift of love?
"Assistance." Mmmm...assistance? If my tire blows out on the freeway, I call roadside "assistance." When I'm waiting on hold for what seems like the best years of my life, I'm told that an operator will be picking up soon, happy to "assist" me. When my child's school is putting on a magic show, there is always a lovely "assistant" playing second fiddle to Marco the Magnificent. Assistance might be an understatement, depending on the need of the individual. In *my* case, assistance is a gross misrepresentation of what has been granted me. Maybe aid, benevolence, or charity might be more fitting, but there are truly no words for the magnitude of the concept.
"Given humans." Given, meaning, it's free folks! Note to self: definition did not say, "given humans in exchange for participation in and dependent upon attendance at Sunday Mass, a 10% tithing, volunteering to assist in the CCD program and any and all potluck suppers, and any other fair exchange of services, as determined by the gift giver. D-...remember...free! God's gift to you!
"For their regeneration." Okay, if I am interpreting this correctly, "for" is not meant to mean "in exchange for." Rather, I believe "for" to mean "to be used for." So, to be used for the process of regeneration, or becoming of a new creation in Christ. Maybe it means grace is given to help us become someone new in Christ. Anyone?
"And sanctification." Easton's 1897 Bible Dictionary says sanctification is "the work of the Holy Spirit bringing the whole nature more and more under the influences of the new gracious principles implanted in the soul in regeneration. In other words, sanctification is the carrying on to perfection the work begun in regeneration, and it extends to the whole man." So it seems that grace is also given that we feel encouraged and moved to avoid sin? Yes?
The problem I see with understanding grace, is that I believe one must experience it in order to "know" it. The definition in and of itself is not "wrong." In my opinion, it seems just a little sterile when trying to explain this level of intimacy.
I think "grace" is one of those words, like love. It is difficult to put onto paper all of the feelings associated with the enormity of such a concept.
Relying on Merriam-Webster again, love is defined as "strong affection for another arising out of kinship or personal ties." Although true, it feels incomplete. It's incomprehensible to me that what my family and I have been feeling for the past twenty years is reduced to "strong affection." If that were the case, I could have settled on adopting a cat, nevermind choosing to remain in an addictive relationship despite odds that were stacked against recovery. And even at that, I, dare I say, love my cat! Would I die for my cat? No (sorry Boots!). Would I take the hit for any one of my family members? Without even thinking about it! Strong affection? That feels a little watered down.
Back to grace. I think the process of grace begins when we abandon our self righteousness and work through His love, not for it. If we reverse the process and try to earn it, then it is no longer grace. It becomes about who we are, and not about who God is.
Truly, grace is amazing...
Eph.2:8-10: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith; and this not from yourselves - it is the gift of God - Not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do."
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