Probably one of the most common prayers I hear and have prayed myself is "Lord give my grace" , in different situations and trials. Maybe this sounds "stupid"? but what is grace? according to scripture...
These verses stood out to me wile doing a search on e-sword
Gen 6:8 But Noah [b]found[/b] grace in the eyes of the LORD.
and this is coming back again and again,in so many verses this frase comes back again someone [b]found[/b] grace
Psa 84:11 For the LORD God is a sun and shield: the LORD will [b]give[/b] grace and glory: no good thing will he withhold from them that walk uprightly.
here God gives it
Zec 12:10 And I will pour upon the house of David, and upon the inhabitants of Jerusalem, the spirit of grace and of supplications: and they shall look upon me whom they have pierced, and they shall mourn for him, as one mourneth for his only son, and shall be in bitterness for him, as one that is in bitterness for his firstborn.
here it is poured out as a spirit
Luk 2:40 And the child grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom: and the grace of God was upon him.
upon the Lord
Joh 1:14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.
Full of grace
Act 4:33 And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
and again it seems to me we can be full of it, and have great grace, and by that i think we can have little of it
Act 11:23 Who, when he came, and had seen the grace of God, was glad, and exhorted them all, that with purpose of heart they would cleave unto the Lord.
we can see it manifested
Act 13:43 Now when the congregation was broken up, many of the Jews and religious proselytes followed Paul and Barnabas: who, speaking to them, persuaded them to continue in the grace of God.
we can continue in it, seeming to me we can not continue in it also
Act 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.
we are saved through his grace
Rom 1:5 By whom we have received grace and apostleship, for obedience to the faith among all nations, for his name:
receive it...
Rom 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
if we are saved we stand in it
Rom 6:14 For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.
we should be under it
But this verse was what inspired me and made me ask this question-
2Co 6:1 We then, as workers together with him, beseech you also [b]that ye receive not the grace of God in vain[/b]
that was just when i read it....powerful.... Is it possible to recive it in vain?
what does that mean?
there are about 150 more verses...but my main thought was this, is it possible to receive Gods grace in vain?
here is what a Wordstudy says about grace
G5485
χάρις
cháris; gen. cháritos, fem. noun from chaírō (G5463), to rejoice. Grace, particularly that which causes joy, pleasure, gratification, favor, acceptance, for a kindness granted or desired, a benefit, thanks, gratitude. A favor done without expectation of return; the absolutely free expression of the loving kindness of God to men finding its only motive in the bounty and benevolence of the Giver; unearned and unmerited favor. Cháris stands in direct antithesis to érga (G2041), works, the two being mutually exclusive. God's grace affects man's sinfulness and not only forgives the repentant sinner, but brings joy and thankfulness to him. It changes the individual to a new creature without destroying his individuality (2Co_5:17; Eph_2:8-9).
(I) Cháris, when received by faith, transforms man and causes him to love and to seek after the righteousness of God. Cháris is initially regeneration, the work of the Holy Spirit in which spiritual life is given to man and by which his nature is brought under the dominion of righteousness. The maintenance of this condition requires an unbroken and immense supply of grace. Grace remains constant in, and basic to, a believer's fight without against the devil and his struggle within against sin. Renewal is stimulated and impelled by God's illuminating and strengthening of the soul, and will continue and increase so long as the soul perseveres. God's grace insures that those who have been truly regenerated will persevere until the end of life. This entire work is called sanctification, a work of God "whereby we are renewed in the whole man and are enabled more and more to die daily unto sin and to live unto righteousness" as is stated by the Westminster Shorter Catechism (Rom_12:2; 2Co_4:16; Eph_4:23; Col_3:10).
(II) Grace may also refer to the external form or manner, particularly of persons meaning gracefulness, elegance. In the NT only of words or discourses as gratefulness, agreeableness, acceptableness (Luk_4:22, "gracious words"; Eph_4:29, "that it may minister grace unto the hearers" meaning what is acceptable; Col_4:6; Sept.: Psa_45:2).
(III) Grace also means disposition, attitude toward another, favor, goodwill, benevolence.
(A) Generally (Luk_2:40, Luk_2:52; Sept.: Exo_33:12; Act_2:47, "having favor with all the people"; Act_4:33; Act_7:10; Sept.: Gen_39:21). With heurískō (G2147), to find grace or favor, pará Theṓ (pará [G3844], before; Theṓ [G2316], God), before God (Luk_1:30); enṓpion toú Theoú (enṓpion [G1799], before, in the presence of; toú Theoú, the God), "before God" Act_7:46; Heb_4:16; followed by pará (G3844), with, Sept.: Gen_6:9; Gen_18:3; Est_2:15). With katatíthēmi ([G2698] followed by the dat.), to place down, deposit or grace with someone, meaning to lay down, or lay up favor with someone, gain favor (Act_25:9). With the acc. pl. cháritas, to be in the good graces of the Jews (Act_24:27). Metonymically as the object of favor, something acceptable (1Pe_2:19-20, "this is well- pleasing to God" [a.t. {cf. Col_3:20; 1Ti_2:3; 1Ti_4:5}]).
(B) Of the grace, favor and goodwill of God and Christ as exercised toward men: where cháris is joined with eirḗnē (G1515), peace, éleos (G1656), mercy, and the like in salutations, including the idea of every kind of favor, blessing, good, as proceeding from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ (Rom_1:7; 1Co_1:3; 2Co_1:2; Gal_1:3). Also in the introduction to most of the epistles (Eph_1:2; Phi_1:2; Col_1:2; 1Th_1:1; 2Th_1:2; 1Ti_1:2; 2Ti_1:2; Tit_1:4; Phm_1:3; 1Pe_1:2; 2Pe_1:2; 2Jo_1:3; Rev_1:4). Also the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ in the benedictions at the close of most of the epistles (Rom_16:20, Rom_16:24; 1Co_16:23; 2Co_13:14; Gal_6:18). Simply with the def. art. hē cháris with equal meaning (Eph_6:24; Col_4:18; 1Ti_6:21; 2Ti_4:22; Tit_3:15; Heb_13:25). Used by Christ in Luk_6:32-34, although the KJV translates cháris "thank" (the NASB, NKJV, NIV have "credit"); this word marks the difference between unbelievers and believers. Of Christ, generally (Act_15:11 "through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ" which indicates effective faith unto salvation (2Co_8:9; 1Ti_1:14). Of God, generally, meaning the gracious feeling of approbation, benignity and love, which God exercises toward any of the human race [cf. II]. Of God's unmerited favor, in the exercise of which He sovereignly and efficaciously confers upon sinful men the blessings of salvation. This is to be distinguished from His general goodness (chrēstós [G5543], gentle, gracious), by which He shows favor even to the unthankful and wicked (Luk_6:35) in conferring on them common blessings such as the sun (Mat_5:45). "The word of his grace" means the gospel of the grace of God, the good news of God's effective favor (Act_14:3, Act_14:26; Act_20:24 [cf. Act_15:40]). "Justified freely by His grace" refers to the forgiveness of sin and reconciliation to a holy God (Rom_3:24; Rom_5:2; 1Co_15:10; 2Co_1:12; 2Co_9:14; 2Co_12:9; Gal_1:15; Eph_1:6; Heb_2:9; 1Pe_4:10). With toú Theoú, of God, or with the like implied (Act_18:27; Rom_4:16; Rom_11:5-6; Rom_12:6; 2Th_2:16; Heb_2:9, "through the gracious counsel of God" [a.t.]; Heb_4:16). With en (G1722), in, followed by the dat. en cháriti, referring to the gift of Jesus Christ (Rom_5:15; Gal_1:6, the grace of God through Christ).
(C) Specifically of the divine grace and favor as exercised in conferring gifts, graces and benefits on man (2Co_4:15; 2Co_8:1; Jam_4:6; 1Pe_5:5). Particularly as manifested in the benefits bestowed in and through Christ and His gospel (Act_13:43; 2Co_6:1; Eph_4:7; Phi_1:7; 1Pe_1:10, 1Pe_1:13, "ye all are partakers of my grace" meaning "fellow partakers with me in the grace of the gospel" [a.t.]; Heb_12:15; Heb_13:9, "it is good that the heart be made steadfast in grace, not in meats" [a.t.] meaning in the grace of the gospel, the gospel doctrines [cf. Rom_14:15, Rom_14:17]). Specifically of the grace or gift of the apostleship, the apostolic office (Rom_12:3; Rom_15:15; 1Co_3:10; Gal_2:9; Eph_3:2, Eph_3:8; 2Ti_2:1); as exhibited in the pardon of sins and admission to the divine kingdom, saving grace; with toú Theoú, of God (Rom_5:15; Gal_2:21; Tit_2:11; 37 implied; 1Pe_3:7 "the grace of life"; 1Pe_5:12; simply in Rom_1:5; Rom_5:2, Rom_5:17, Rom_5:20-21; Rom_6:1, Rom_6:14-15, we are not under law but under grace; Gal_5:4; Eph_2:5, Eph_2:8, "by grace are you saved"; 1Pe_1:13); Heb_10:29, "the Spirit of grace," which is the gift and earnest of divine favor.
(IV) Grace, in act and deed, favor conferred, a kindness, benefit, benefaction.
(A) Generally (Act_25:3 in asking a favor against Paul, to be prejudiced against him, that he might be sent forth to Jerusalem; Rom_4:4). Of a gift, alms (1Co_16:3; 2Co_8:4, 2Co_8:6-7, 2Co_8:19).
(B) Of the various divine favors, benefits, blessings, gifts conferred on man through Christ and His gospel; generally (Joh_1:14, Joh_1:16-17; Act_11:23; 1Co_1:4; 2Co_9:8; Col_1:6; 1Pe_4:10; Jud_1:4).
(C) Metonymically for gratification or joy arising from a favor or benefit received (2Co_1:15; Phm_1:7).
(V) Gratitude, thanks. In the acc. with échō (G2192), to have. In Luk_17:9, it means that the employer does not owe thanks for an act not outside the realm of the farm worker's job description. In 1Ti_1:12; 2Ti_1:3; Heb_12:28, it means to give thanks, which is an acceptable service to God. Followed by tṓ Theṓ ([G2316], God), unto God meaning thanks be unto God (Rom_6:17; 1Co_15:57; 2Co_2:14; 2Co_8:16; 2Co_9:15). In the dat. cháriti meaning with thanks, thankfully (1Co_10:30 eucharistía [G2169], thankfulness or gratitude). With en (G1722), in, followed by the dat. en cháriti (Col_3:16, singing with thanks, thankfully in worship to the Lord).
Deriv.: charízomai (G5483), to be kind to; charitóō (G5487), to grace, highly honor.
Syn.: euergesía (G2108), a benefit; apodochḗ (G594), acceptance; eulogía (G2129), a blessing; haplótēs (G572), liberality; eucharistía (G2169), thankfulness, gratitude; épainos (G1868), praise; dṓron (G1435), a gift; dōreá (G1431), a free gift; dṓrēma (G1434), a favor; dóma (G1390), a gift; dósis (G1394), a gift or the act of giving; chárisma (G5486), a gift, the result of grace, a gift; áphesis (G859), forgiveness.
Ant.: krísis (G2920) and kríma (G2917), judgment, condemnation; katákrisis (G2633), condemnation, sentencing adversely; katákrima (G2631), an adverse sentence, condemnation; timōría (G5097), punishment; kólasis (G2851), punishment, disciplinary in nature.
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CHRISTIAN
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