This week we discuss the problems with how the word Grace is used in the world and how it hides from us the true meaning of Grace. We begin our review of Grace.

Introduction

You are listening to Grace and Mercy Podcast. This podcast is for young people who want to know the Grace of God and how it changes the way we interact with the world. I’m your host, author Darlene Bocek. And in this episode, you are going to hear: What the problem is with Grace.

Who is Darlene?

Now I will tell you a little bit about myself. I’m a former public school teacher and a newly graduated home school mom. My youngest son is finishing high school in Alabama. I live in Turkey, and my husband and I have been here for more than 20 years, Church planting here and pastoring. My husband is a pastor and I’m the pastor’s wife and all that that entails. I’m the author of Trunk of Scrolls, a young adult historical fiction that takes place here in Turkey.

And I’ve also got some other books you can find at my website and that’s at DarleneNBocek.com. I’ll put the link in the show notes. Mostly, I’m a Covenant child. That’s what I like to see myself as. I was born on a Sunday.

In fact, I made my mom leave church in order to be born. God saved me from many things by giving me a Christian heritage, Christian parents, Christian grandparents on both sides. And I have a great testimony of God’s being the God of generations. There’s literally never been a single day of my life that I didn’t know about and love Jesus. And though, yes, I’ve had experiences of mountains and valleys in my walk with God, I’ve always stayed with him.

My Problem with Grace

But in spite of this, or maybe because of this, I think that Grace is a blind spot for me. Like they say, you can’t see the forest for the trees. So this podcast is a documented journey of me trying to find Grace and know that Grace. Or maybe this is more like my public prayer and I’m asking God to show me what is Grace. And you and I will be on this journey together.

The Original Language for Grace

So a little bit about Grace. Well, first of all, did you know that the word for Grace in the New Testament is charis like the girl’s name Carissa comes from that.

Charis: the definition in Strong’s Concordance is “Grace as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ or favor or gratitude, thanks or a favor kindness.” And in Hebrew, the word for Grace is “hanan,” which is to show favor or be gracious. And in the Bible, the word Grace itself is in the Old Testament. It depends on how they translate it because of those three different four different meanings. But in the Old Testament it’s 39 times.

The word Grace is 39 times. There’s not very many. And in the New Testament believe it or not only 131 times. I mean, that is a lot. But considering the word God is 1354 times, 131 times mentioning Grace still seems like a little.

Our Goal Here

So on our journey here in Grace and Mercy Podcast, we’re going to look at these times that Grace has mentioned, and I’m expecting it’s going to be a time of spiritual growth because, like I said, Grace is everywhere. And because it’s everywhere, maybe I don’t really understand it.

English Definitions Muddy the Water

So here’s a complication: English definition of Grace in the dictionary. It’s a noun. First definition, “simple elegance or refinement of movement.” So like a dancer or something. She walks so gracefully. Right. Well, what does that have to do with the Grace of God? The irresistible Grace of God?

Second definition “courteous goodwill” like he has the Grace to admit his debt to her. So something about how you interact with people.

Third definition, it says “in Christian belief, the free and unmerited favor of God as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings.” So God’s unmerited favor seen or manifested in our salvation and in the bestowal of blessings. So somehow Grace is related to both salvation and blessings.

Fourth definition, like a grace period, “a period officially allowed for payment of a sum due for compliance with a law or condition, especially an extended period granted as a special favor,” like three days grace.

Number five, “a short prayer of thanks said before or after a meal.” Would you say Grace? Well, why would we use it there?

And then the 6th definition, like as in his her or your Grace “used as forms of description or address for a Duke, Duchess or Archbishop.” His Grace, the Duke.

As a verb “to do honor or credit to something by one’s presence.” She graced us with her presence. Right? Or the verb “to grace: is to be attractive presence in or on,” like, the Princess graced the front pages of the newspaper.

Conclusion

So maybe the reason I don’t understand Grace like — I want to understand it — is because it’s so many issues in so many ways. That’s not exactly the Grace that we see in the Bible. So that is what we will be doing here on this podcast.

Okay, question of the Week: what do you think Grace is and where do you think you are blind about Grace? Please share your answers on our Show Notes page.

Thank you for listening to Grace and Mercy podcast with author Darlene Bocek. This has been episode one of season one Finding Grace. You can find show notes for this episode, including links to everything we talked about at christianuniverse.org.

Do you know someone who would enjoy studying Grace with us? If you would please share the love and send them a link to this episode? Okay. See you next time.