Unmerited Favor?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Praxeas

The Greek word is translated many ways (as my quote shows) and then in context is explained as referring to the favor without works we receive from God (as my quote shows)

Strongs does not show you were it's translated. It just shows HOW it was translated in the KJV.. That does not define the word. It shows how it was translated in the KJV

Grace means favor
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/grace

And that favor we received without works

Right, and Favour means Graciouseness in both the Hebrew and the Greek. I NEVER use an English Dictionary to look up Bible word definitions. So grace and favour mean the same thing - graciousness.

And why is works being viewed as "undeserving" or "unmerited"? Isn't is simply saying it is nothing we can do for ourselves? Isn't it as simple as that?

Titus 3:5 says that it is not by our works of righteousness, but by His mercy, i.e., His compassion.

I am all for remaining humble, but not to the point of having a negative view of God toward me and my standing in His eyes. I don't see Him viewing us, that are in obedience to Him, as an undeserving lot of people. And I don't think he reached out to save my life with that view either. And really, as He remembers that we are dust, I don't think He views those who are out of the way as undeserving either. It's just too negative of a thought for a God that puts our sins as far as the east is from the west.

Originally Posted by votivesoul

You know, Noah found favor with God. We are not told it was unmerited favor, just that he found favor.

The only clue as to a possible reason why is because Noah was a preacher of righteousness.

Had Noah been a maurading lunatic like the rest of the world at the time, would he have found any favor with God?

Good post. You get what I am asking!

I agree. Have we stretched this thought, "unmerited favour", too far?

I am still studying on the subject. This is one example of, IMO, a skewed view of grace. I read part of an article stating that a good example of "grace" as "unmerited favour" was the prodigal son and that even though he humbled himself and repented, there was no basis for grace to be shown to him.

What? He humbled himself and repented, but was still undeserving of Grace? That makes no sense.

All I read is that kindness, mercy and graciousness were given to him because he changed his mind and wanted to change his life. Forgiveness is ultimate compassion, not looking past that to interject a thought so offensive as "undeserving". How can you be compassionate with that thought in the back of your mind?