He offered his salvation to us simply as an act of his grace. Our salvation is not because of anything we have done, or are even capable of doing. As Paul says in Ephesians 2:5 and 8, it is by grace that we are saved. While God's grace is about much more than our salvation, it is perhaps the most visible manifestation of his grace. They are separated from his presence eternally. And in his grace, he grants the desire of those who reject him. In his grace, he offers salvation to all. And in his grace he is patient toward us, not wanting any to perish ( 2 Peter 3:9).Īnd, ultimately, even his punishment is an act of grace. Even when his justice demands punishment, God desires to show mercy. In Ezekiel 18:23 God says that he takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, preferring they turn from their ways and live. He doesn’t love with one hand and punish with the other. But his punishment of the guilty is not distinct from his graciousness and love. The gracious God is also a God who will punish the guilty.
Yet he does not leave the guilty unpunished he punishes the children and their children for the sin of the parents to the third and fourth generation.” In Exodus 34:7, he continues with, “ maintaining love to thousands, and forgiving wickedness, rebellion and sin. But God’s description of himself does not end there. The other face is of a God who is a demanding perfectionist who will punish anyone who steps out of line.Įxodus 34:6, quoted above, describes God as gracious and loving. One is a merciful, loving, and gracious God who cares deeply for his creation. It almost seems like there are two faces of God. The “ wrath of God” is an expression commonly used in connection with these attributes. These reflect God as a judge who rewards good behavior and punishes bad. There is another set of attributes for God that might seem at odds with grace. And it is common to see them used together. These three attributes are closely related. It is impossible to discuss adequately God's grace without also mentioning love and mercy. His creation, his providence, his conviction of the sinner, his gift of salvation, his equipping of the saints, and the future he has prepared for us. Every action of God toward us involves his grace. Grace is what God does because he is gracious. Grace is the Hebrew word chanan or the Greek word charis, meaning “the state of kindness and favor toward someone, often with a focus on a benefit given to the object.” ( Strong’s Greek 5485). Because he is gracious he demonstrates grace in everything he does. Graciousness is not something that he puts on and takes off depending on the situation. That God is gracious would mean that he is favorably inclined toward us. Gracious, the Hebrew word channun, in its verb form, means to be considerate, to show favor. In Exodus 34:6, when God is showing himself to Moses, we read " The Lord, the Lord, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness." Gracious is used here as an adjective describing God. We experience God's grace because God is gracious.
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