The chief purpose of God in Christ was to display the glory of His grace. Without God's grace, man would be lost for all time with no hope of life.
Grace simply defined is the favor of God bestowed upon people who only deserve death and hell.
God, out of His great love, intervened in the midst of our hellbound journey. He introduced His love into the hearts of man by sending His Son to endure severe abuse and punishment—even death—at the hands of wicked, evil men.
Eph 2:7, in order that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Because of His Kindness, God intervened with His Goodness. And because this act is so utterly and completely undeserved, it qualifies as Grace.
The great manifestation of Grace is God's Kindness and Goodness shown to us in Christ.
Kindness and Goodness should always be considered together. They are used interchangeably in Scripture. Though they are not totally synonymous.
1) Kindness is primarily a disposition of the heart of benevolence toward others. It is a prompting of the Holy Spirit who makes us sensitive and aware of the needs of others.
Kindness is an attitude of the heart: Its source is love.
It includes qualities like sympathy, compassion, empathy, sensitivity, understanding, and a desire for the happiness and well-being of others.
2) Goodness is kindness and moral character in action.
An act of the hands.
Defined by: Noble acts, being helpful, meeting a need, servant effort, labor, visiting, and sacrifice.
It is also defined by: Listening, offering words of encouragement, words of truth, words of hope, words of comfort. |
