For now we are looking in a mirror that gives only a dim (blurred) reflection [of reality as in a riddle or enigma], but then [when perfection comes] we shall see in reality and face to face! Now I know in part (imperfectly), but then I shall know and understand fully and clearly, even in the same manner as I have been fully and clearly known and understood [by God]. — 1 Cor. 13:12

I think most people have the same problem I do when it comes to understanding grace.  We don’t get it. It’s an enigma, a riddle. We just can’t seem to wrap our minds around it. We just know it is.

I’ve been thinking a lot about this lately, and realizing more and more just how lavishly God drenches me with His grace. And just how unworthy of it I am. I realized grace is so much more than the definition of "unmerited favor" I grew up hearing. That description was inadequate for me as a child, and it didn’t get any better as I grew up.  I’m such a visual person. I needed a picture — or at least a word picture — to help me understand.

So I asked God for help. What I got, originally, was experience. God lavishing me with it, and then telling me, "that’s My Grace."  Uh, okay. How do I put that into words??

Thank God He puts people wiser and more knowledgeable than me in my life! My counselor has a word picture that helped me finally understand what grace is.  And then I stumbled across this web page that had the following definition, which puts that word picture into narrative form:

Protestants usually define grace as "God’s unmerited favor towards us in Christ". Though not incorrect, this definition is incomplete, for grace also includes the divine gifts which flow from this favor, such as our new life in Christ, God’s indwelling Presence and the ability to bear spiritual fruit.

Sacred Scripture says that grace is Jesus’ Incarnation (2 Corinthians 8:9), by which He took on our poor human nature in order to fill us with the "riches" of grace (Ephesians 1:6). Grace is more than mere divine favor, it is sufficient power in our weakness (2 Co 12:8), it strengthens us (Hebrews 13:9; 2 Timothy 2:1), enables us to stand firm (Romans 5:2; 1 Peter 5:12), and helps us in time of need (He 4:16).

The Bible also states that grace is manifold (1 Pt 4:10), that God lavishes "grace upon grace" on us in Jesus Christ (Jn 1:16; Eph 1:7), and that we can "grow in grace" (2 Pt 3:18). It even says that our words can give grace to those who hear them (Eph 4:29), for our edifying words can draw others to God.

Finally, grace is the Beatific Vision of the Trinity which we will enjoy for eternity when Our Lord returns (I Pt 1:13; Eph 2:7).

Barney’s word picture is essentially the same. He just takes less time to say it, and usually draws on the dry erase board as he talks. I guess he’s rubbed off on me, ’cause now I’m re-creating his drawings (or drawrings, if you’re British) in Illustrator.   Perhaps we’ve taken this re-parenting thing too far….  Okay, back to the discussion. What I learned from Barney goes basically like this:

In Scripture we learn that God is Love. We can’t think of that description without thinking of Jesus. And we can’t think of Jesus without remembering the Cross, the ultimate demonstration of love. The Cross brings, or rather bought, our redemption from sin and death. Our redemption leads us into Abundant Life. All of that is Grace.

As grace begins to work in our lives we begin to grasp all we’ve been given, it brings us to our knees in humility and repentance.  We realize we aren’t worthy of any of it. That brings us back to God. But it not only reconciles us to God, but gives us compassion and understanding for others, as grace opens our eyes to their brokenness, and to their beauty as God’s dearly loved children, Jesus’ beloved bride.

As with Hope, I think the modern Church, and especially our 20th century cultural Christianity, stripped grace of its complexity and grittiness. Not out of malice or deliberate deception, but rather out of ignorance.  Grace isn’t soft and cuddly, or ethereal and fragile. It’s the robust, earthy, dynamic, powerful, tenacious, never-ending stuff of God. It can take on my ego, and take me down to my knees, then immediately oh-so-gently pick me up and lay me in the Father’s lap. It can tear apart my stubborn legalistic tendencies, then envelope and permeate my whole being.  It’s where my capacity to forgive, to love, to have compassion comes from. Its what gives me the ability to weep and ache to the depths of my soul over the pain others experience. It opens my eyes to the humanity of the people around me, so that I no longer see a mean "monster" when I’m betrayed or hurt. Rather, I see a broken, hurting soul just as much in need of God’s forgiveness  and redemption as me. Grace gives me God’s eyes to see the beauty and image of God in even the most irascible, unlovely person. I can’t do those things on my own. I have to have God’s grace to do it. And the more I embrace and own the grace God lavishes on me, the more grace I have to give to others.  –Perhaps that’s what the Bible refers to as "growing in grace".

Me, I just call it being drenched.

Does that make sense?