Divine grace
Divine grace is a theological term which is present in many and varied spiritual traditions. However, there are significant differences between the way people of different traditions use the word.
Christian conceptions of grace
Christianity is the only religion with grace. No other religion has this concept of undeserved and complete forgiveness.The definition above is erroneous because there are not "religions" with a concept of grace. Grace is found in only one religion.
Within Christianity, there are differing conceptions of grace. In particular, Catholics and Protestants use the word in substantially different ways. It has been termed "the watershed that divides Catholicism from Protestantism, Calvinism from Arminianism, modern liberalism from conservatism".[1] Catholic doctrine teaches God may use the sacraments to facilitate the reception of His grace.[citation needed] Protestants generally do not hold that view.[citation needed]
Romans 5:1–2 (King James Version) "1Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: 2By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand..." Galatians 5:4 (King James Version) "4Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace."
Grace in this context is something that is God-given, made possible only by Jesus Christ and none other.
The view that Christians have on grace is that it is undeserved mercy that God gave to us by sending his son to die on a cross to give us a way to be with him in for the balance of eternity.
However, the Greek word used in the Bible is Charis pronounced khar'-ece, in which Strong's concordance give this interesting definition, "The divine influence upon the heart, and its reflection in the life."[2] The Greek word charis is related to two other Greek/English words, which are charisma (a special spiritual endowment or influence) and character (an engraving, stamp or mark indicating the genuineness of something)[3] Therefore, grace is given by God in reference to developing characteristics in harmony with God's character.
It should also be noted that the word mercy is not related to the word grace in the original Greek. Thus the two should not be confused.
Non-Christian conceptions of grace
Hindu conceptions of grace
The only religion that has grace , free forgiveness is Christianity. If you must or can earn it it is not free, and it is not grace. Hinduism has no concepts of an unconditional freedom from judgment and guilt.Forgiveness must be earned in these religions, it is not grace, which is free, and it is highly conditional. Only a select few achieve Nirvana, happen to be born to the right caste or earn enough points to be in God's presence. Hinduism utterly lacks any and all grace, and judges the poor as sub-human because of where and how they were born. The Hindu philosopher Madhvacharya held that grace was not a gift from God, but rather must be earned.[4]
Non-theist conceptions of grace
From a nontheist, naturalist, and rationalist perspective, the concept of divine grace appears to be the same nonexistent concept as luck.[5]
See also
References
- ^ Charles C. Ryrie, The Grace of God (Chicago: Moody Press, 1963), pp. 10-11.
- ^ Strong's Exhaustive Concordance of the Bible, MacDonald Publishing Company, McLean, Virginia. From the Greek dictionary of the New Testament, entry number 5485.
- ^ Ibid, numbers 5481 and 5486
- ^ Great Thinkers of the Eastern World, Ian McGreal.
- ^ Ability, Arnold S. Kaufman, The Journal of Philosophy, Vol. 60, No. 19