Unmerited Favor?

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by votivesoul

Out of the four types of life created by God, humans are the only group, if you will, given any sort of grace. Angels, animals, and plants are not given grace. Of course, the last two categories don't need grace, since they do not sin.

But why is it that angels are not given grace for their sins? Why are humans given MUCH grace for our sins?

It is true that grace is not earned. It is freely given by a faithful, loving Creator.

But consider this idea:

Jesus, the sinless Son of God, has purchased us with His blood, redeeming us back to God the Father. We are now heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ. We've been adopted by the One Spirit into the family of the Lord.

I submit therefore that for all born again saints, grace, while not merited through personal actions to earn it, is nonetheless ours by right! Jesus Christ was and is full of grace and truth. By being filled with the same Spirit, we too can and ought to be filled with grace and truth, as well. Indeed, John wrote that we have received the fullness of God in Christ, even of grace for grace (John 1:16).

That grace is upon us, and in us. It is impossible to have received the power of God to become His sons through Christ, and have NOT received such grace.

Zechariah foretold of a time when the "spirit of grace and supplication" would be poured out on the house of David and Jersualem adjacent to the time of the crucifixion (See Zechariah 12:10 and John 19:37). That grace has been poured out in the atonement, received in the baptism of the Holy Spirit.

This saving grace is part of the earnest of our inheritance. Jesus tasted death for every one by the "grace of God" (Hebrews 2:9). We receive such a grace because of our obedience to the faith of the Son of God by the Holy Spirit (Romans 1:5, Galatians 3:2 & 14).

So, it's not earned, but it is gratuitously given to all who are the children of God. None are refused. And in fact, it was the grace of God that drew us to the Lord in the first place, and as a teacher, shows us how to live (Titus 2:11).

Now, some might say that we'd get a big head and take grace for granted. Well, only idiots would do such a thing. Rather, the grace of God, poured out freely upon all who believe and obey, ours by right, ought to make us humble and thankful, filling our hearts with gratitude, as the recipients of such an awesome grace (i.e. the very meaning of charis).

Good post! Agreed, it is ours by "right"!

Consider that divine grace was already operative in the Garden of Eden when God responded to the complete failure of the fall with the promise of redemption and especially God's solicitous watching over Adam and Eve, rather than with abandonment or retributive annihilation.

The call to Abraham was an extension of grace, which was not afforded to Abraham as an individual only, but through him as a means of universal outreach.

I especially liked your earlier post where it is really saying that if "grace" is viewed or defined as "unmerited/undeserved favor", then where did Noah find himself as unmerited being a "preacher of righteousness?

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?

And what was Abraham's fault performed that he would also be counted as "unmerited/undeserving?"

God simply set out a plan - "For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people." Titus 2:11