English
Português
Español
Français
Answer
The Greek term charis holds significant meaning in the Bible. Charis can be simply defined as “grace,” meaning “the unearned favor of God.” The concept of charis and the theme of grace are prevalent throughout the New Testament in various contexts. Out of around 150 instances of charis, most are found in the epistles of the apostle Paul.
Charis is at times used to describe the quality and practical demonstration of a positive attitude towards someone. It represents acts of love and compassion that are not deserved, originating from the heart and will of the giver. For example, in Luke 1:30, Mary received favor (charis) from God. In Acts 7:46, David is mentioned to have “found favor [charis] in God’s sight.”
In certain cases, charis signifies divine grace from God or the Lord Jesus Christ that incorporates believers into the community of faith and empowers them. Charis enabled the apostles to succeed in their mission: “With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all” (Acts 4:33;cf: 14:26). In Acts 6:8, charis is the grace and power that emanates from God, empowering Stephen to perform “great wonders and signs among the people.”
Arguably the most crucial usage of charis in the New Testament, often expressed as the grace of God, refers to God’s merciful act in Jesus Christ through which humans are saved. Wuest’s Word Studies from the Greek New Testament specifically defines this New Testament use of grace (charis) as the “spontaneous act of God that originated from His infinite love, wherein He descended from His judgment seat to bear the guilt and penalty of human sin, thereby satisfying His justice, upholding His rule, and enabling the bestowal of salvation upon the believer who accepts it through faith.”In the Lord Jesus Christ who became a Sin-offering for him on the Cross” [Vol. 21, Eerdmans, 1997, pp. 138–139).
Charis identifies the means of salvation that only God provides: “For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people” «For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, », (Titus 2:11). God’s saving grace includes justification, sanctification, and glorification (Romans 3:24;2 Corinthians 8:6-7;Hebrews 2:9;Hebrews 4:16). Barnabas observed that the Gentiles in Syrian Antioch had received God’s saving grace «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. », (Acts 11:23). Later, Paul and Barnabas encouraged the Christians in Pisidian Antioch to continue in God’s saving grace «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. », (Acts 13:43). Paul used the term charis when he declared that his mission in life was to testify to “the good news of God’s grace” «But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. », (Acts 20:24). Charis also carries the idea of strengthening believers: “Look after each other so that none of you fails to receive the grace of God. Watch out that no poisonous ro”A root of bitterness grows up to trouble you, corrupting many” (Hebrews 12:15; NLT; see also James 4:6 and 1 Peter 5:5, 10, 12).
The New Testament also uses these related Greek words: charizomai, “to give graciously”; and charisma, “a gift that is graciously given.” For instance, in 1 Corinthians 12:4, 9, 28, 30, and 31, the term charisma is prominently featured in Paul’s teachings about spiritual gifts. Paul emphasizes that the gifts of the Spirit are God’s grace gifts. These spiritual “grace gifts” are not developed through natural talent but are instead bestowed upon believers by God. In The Dynamics of Spiritual Gifts, William McRae defines a spiritual gift as “a divine endowment of a special ability for service upon a member of the body of Christ” (Zondervan, 1976, p. 18).
Grace (charis) is the kind and generous gift of God to those who believe in Him. It is demonstrated through His acts of love, mercy, compassion, sacrifice, and salvation. Charis is embodied in the person of Jesus Christ “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.”, (John 1:14, 17) “For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”, (John 1:14, 17). God’s grace manifested in Christ makes it possible for us to receive the Father’s unmerited benefits. These benefits enrich our lives and unite us in the body of Christ. Charis—God’s blessing on the undeserving—gives us a new standing as the children of God, members of His eternal family (Galatians 4:4-6).
