Does Grace Exclude Commitment

by Bob Wilkin

I was very surprised to see that you used the word "committed" in the chart on page three [of the GES News] in relation to giving [i.e., committed financial support]. Second Corinthians 8:6-7 refers to giving as a grace. And if I understand what I have been reading from you the past several months, then grace and commitment are mutually exclusive.

The word grace has a number of nuances of meaning in English. The Oxford American Dictionary lists seven meanings: 1. The quality of being attractive, especially in movement, manner, or design. 2. Elegance of manner. 3. Favor, goodwill. 4. A delay or postponement granted as a favor, not as a right (e.g., give him a week's grace). 5. God's loving mercy toward mankind. 6. A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal. 7. The title used in speaking of or to a duke, duchess, or archbishop (e.g., his Grace).

The Greek word charis which is often translated as grace lists five different meanings--some of which are the same as those given for the English word grace. The leading dictionary for NT Greek (Bauer, Gingrich, and Danker) lists the following meanings: 1. Graciousness, attractiveness. 2. Favor, gracious care, or goodwill... That which one grants to another, the action of one who volunteers to do something to which he is not bound. 3. A gracious deed or gift, benefaction. 4. [In] a number of passages charis is evidently understood in a very concrete sense.... It is hardly to be differentiated from dunamis (theou) [power of God], gnosis [knowledge], or doxa [glory, splendor]. 5. Thanks, gratitude.

When we say that we are saved by grace (e.g., Eph. 2:8), we mean that eternal life is received by means of God's unmerited favor. Eternal salvation is not earned. It is a gift which springs from God's decision to bestow unmerited favor upon mankind.

Commitment on the part of the recipient is, of course, excluded as a means of obtaining eternal life. However, God's grace, the unmerited favor He bestows upon all who believe in Christ, does not exclude commitment on our part. Rather, it fosters it.

I remember the feelings which came over me when I first understood God's unmerited favor which He bestows on all who trust in Christ alone. I was thrilled. I was so very grateful for what He had done. God's graciousness motivated me to commit my life to Him. I still have those feelings today. Commitment is the natural and expected result of being saved by grace (Eph 2:8-10; Rom. 6:1-23; 12:1-2).

For a believer to commit himself to give money for the Lord's work is not at all inconsistent with God's grace.

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