Facts About Grace

  

1. The country with the highest concentrated internet searches for “grace” in Google Trends is Jamaica. This might be because Grace Jones the singer and the popular Grace Foods company (offering “Grace Mackerel”) are from Jamaica.[1]
2. The Webster's Dictionary definition of “grace” has 8 categories with additional sub-categories.[2]
3. The Canadian band Three Days Grace coined a name that, “...refers to a sense of urgency; with the question being whether someone could change something in one's life if one had only three days to make a change.”[3]
4. The word “grace” in the Old Testament is translated from the Hebrew word, “chen” and in the New Testament as the Greek, “charis”, which Strong's Concordance defines as, “...a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ.”[4]
5. Grace is described in scripture as a central aspect of existence and purpose, as ordained before the beginning of time.[5]
6. Testimonies of God's grace underscore the ability of God's grace to inspire, challenge and transform us to the very core.[6]
7. A panel of religious experts could not decide Christianity's unique contribution. C.S. Lewis replied, “Oh, that's easy. It's grace."[7]
8. The secular atheist philosophy “Objectivism” repudiates grace, kindness, charity, generosity, forgiveness, and basically altruism in general, according to the Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy.[8]
9. Plato coined at least five quotes on grace, including: “Beauty of style and harmony and grace and good rhythm depend on simplicity - I mean the true simplicity of a rightly and nobly ordered mind and character, not that other simplicity which is only a euphemism for folly.”[9]
10. The fragrance “Amazing grace” is described as, “Philosophy's bestselling fragrance. Amazing grace is always appropriate...”.- although this perfume has been labeled as, “old person smell” by some.
11. Elvis Presley did not name Graceland based on his religious roots. The owner of the property named it after his daughter, Grace Toof.
    
12. An abstract New Age “force” theoretically cannot bestow grace because this requires conscious volition, an act of the will.
13. Living by grace entails a positive and pro-active outlook, not a pessimistic and passive one.
14. In his Sermon on the Mount, Jesus called his followers to demonstrate radical grace by loving enemies and turning the other cheek.[10]
15. Scripture emphasizes God's grace and mercy when describing God's nature and character.[11]
16. Gossip and grace are incompatible, and that is probably why the early church leaders forbade gossip and required face-to-face encounters for any discrepancies or quarrels.[12]
17. People receive the gift of eternal salvation by grace and faith in God.[13]
18. The New Testament underscores that Moses is identified with the law and Jesus Christ is outlined as one bringing grace and truth together.[14]
19. Scriptures identify Jesus as one that was full of grace and truth – unlike any other person in history. And this implies that grace and truth are complementary, not exclusive.[15]
20. We are justified by faith and grace through Christ alone, and made righteous by grace and not by legalistic works.[16]
21. Grace works in us and we are sanctified as believers through the power of God's grace.[17]
22. God's grace is sufficient for all. And our sufferings can be endured and bring glory to God.[18]
23. Sufficiency and power for good works and service are provided through God's grace.[19]
24. It is God's grace that ultimately ordains and empowers true ministers of the gospel.[20]
25. Christians grow in grace as believers while growing in the knowledge of God.[21]
26. It's possible in a sense to fall from grace if anyone attempts to be justified by obeying the law.[22]
27. God's lavish grace towards us is not a license for us to wallow in sin against the will of God.[23]
28. For the Apostle Paul, God's grace and love were the main motivating factors of his life.
29. Early U.S. presidents publicly attributed the formation and success of the U.S. mainly to the grace of God.[24]
30. The Apostle Paul stood for grace and also stood for civil rights, implying that these are compatible.[25]
31. The Apostle Paul stood for grace and yet also questioned unjust actions by his government, implying that these positions are completely compatible.
32. Jesus, our example of grace and truth, personally extended grace to the outcasts of society.
33. Christians are admonished in scripture to sing with grace in our hearts to the Lord.[26]
34. Our speech as Christians is to reflect God's grace.[27]
35. Throughout all eternity, believers will be awed by fresh new revelations from God's limitless fountainhead of grace.[28]
36. The hymn Amazing Grace is featured as a top hymn on most Christian charts.[29]
37. U.S. President Abraham Lincoln warned of forgetting God's grace as a country in a public speech on March 30, 1863[30]
38. The movie “Grace” (2009) – addresses the subject of demonic possession and has a positive review at Rotten Tomatoes of 4.5 stars.[31]
39. The country with the most concentrated searches for “Grace in Christianity” presently is Nigeria.[32]
40. The Apostle Paul warned of the abuse of grace in 1 Corinthians 10.1-3.
41. Rob Bell describes grace as follows: “Grace is when you aren’t striving or controlling or trying to change or manipulate or make something happen. Grace is when you find yourself carried along, when all that’s left to do is receive. Grace is when you know you’re loved, exactly as you are. Grace is an entirely different way of experiencing life. Another word for grace is gift.”[33]
42. Rob Bell describes the biblical description of hell in the preface of Love Wins as, “misguided and toxic.”[34] In contrast to the heretical position of Bell, Jesus and Paul promoted a doctrine of salvation by grace in combination with an outline of eternal judgment for those that reject God's scriptural description of redemption and salvation.
43. In Christian theology, the main explanations of Christian salvation by grace relate to concepts of Calvinism, Arminianism, Molinism, Prevenient Grace and Pelagianism.[35]
44. To Martin Luther, the most important point of his 99 Theses, and of Christianity in general, was the idea of justification through faith by grace alone (as outside the control and authority of the Catholic Church and organized religion in general).[36]
45. A 1998 Gallup Poll showed that 64 % of U.S. residents pray and “say grace” before eating a meal.
46. Different countries and denominations have different prayers for saying grace before a meal. A typical Australian prayer is, “Come Lord Jesus, be our Guest, let this food of ours be blessed. Amen.”[37].
47. God gives more grace to the humble.[38].
48. A prophecy outlines how Jews will receive a spirit of grace and then have a widespread revelation that Jesus Christ is the true Messiah.[39]
49. A Bible verse implies a connection between the grace and truth of God and the glory of God. Grace and truth together display God's glory.[40].
50. Irish immigrant W.R. Grace Founded the highly successful W.R. Grace and Company in 1854 in Peru, mainly for shipping sugar and guano. More recently, W.R. Grace and Co. has been in court on a number of charges for environmental crimes, as exemplified in 1998 movie, A Civil Action[41]
51. The Grace Institute was founded by W.R. Grace in 1897 N.Y.C. as a tuition free training school for immigrants.[42]
52. Actress Grace Gealey is outspoken and unashamed of her Christian beliefs.[43]
53. Actress Grace Kelly, who frequently wore sophisticated Christian Dior fashion, was a Catholic. After her death, her husband formed the Princess Grace Foundation to help up and coming performers.[44]
54. Actress Chloe Grace Moretz explained in an interview with Direct Conversations that she is a Christian.[45]
55. NASA's GRACE project Gravity Recovery And Climate Experiment, also known as GRACE Mission, has indicated water flow changes and possible global aquifer groundwater depletion[46].
56. Christians are saved by grace to walk in good works (Eph. 2.10) and to live by grace rather than the law, so as to bear spiritual fruit unto God (Rom. 7.4).[47]
57. At age 82, author of Amazing Grace, John Newton offered a famous quote on grace: “Although my memory's fading, I remember two things very clearly: I am a great sinner and Christ is a great Savior.'[48]
                 

References

1. See Google Trends for word “grace” - https://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=grace
2. Webster's Dictionary definition of grace: http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/grace
3. See Three Days Grace “Ear;y Years as Three Days Grace” at Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_Days_Grace 
4. Strong's Concordance of “grace” in Hebrew is Chen - #H2580. And in Greek, “charis” #5485   http://biblehub.com/greek/5485.htm
5. 2 Timothy 1:9 - “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,” - (KJV) https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=2+Timothy+1%3A9 
6. Testimonies of God's grace - http://www.washedred.com/changed_lives/
7. Scott Hoezee, The Riddle of Grace. GrandRapids: Eerdmans, 1996, pg 42 - “During a British conference on comparative religions, experts from around the world debated what, if any, belief was unique to the Christian faith. They began eliminating possibilities. Incarnation? Other religions had different versions of gods appearing in human form. Resurrection? Again, other religions had accounts of returns from death. The debate went on for some time until C.S. Lewis wandered into the room. "what's the rumpus about?" he asked, and heard in reply that his colleagues were discussing Christianity's unique contribution among world religions. Lewis responded," Oh, that's easy. It's grace."
8. Ayn Rand “Objectivist Ethics” and, “the virtue of selfishness,” as exemplified: “I am not primarily an advocate of capitalism, but of egoism; and I am not primarily an advocate of egoism, but of reason. If one recognizes the supremacy of reason and applies it consistently, all the rest follows.” - http://templestream.blogspot.com/2014/01/three-refutations-of-objectivism.html
9. Azquotes.com – Plato Quotes About Grace - http://www.azquotes.com/author/37843-Plato/tag/grace
10. Matthew 5.39-44 - “But I tell you, do not resist an evil person. If anyone slaps you on the right cheek, turn to them the other cheek also....But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,” (NIV)
11. Exodus 34.6-7 - “And he passed in front of Moses, proclaiming, "The LORD, the LORD, the compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger, abounding in love and faithfulness,
    I lavish unfailing love to a thousand generations. I forgive iniquity, rebellion, and sin...” (NLT)
12. Matthew 18.15 - "If your brother or sister sins, go and point out their fault, just between the two of you. If they listen to you, you have won them over.” (NIV)
13. Ephesians 2.9 - “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.” - New International Version.
14. John 1:17 - “For the law was given by Moses, [but] grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” - King James Version. Grace is complimentary to truth.
15. John 1.14 - “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (NIV)
16. Romans 3:24 - “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” - King James Version
17. I Corinthians 15.10 - “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them--yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.” - New International Version.
18. 2 Corinthians 12:9 - “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.” - King James Version.
19. 2 Corinthians 9:8 - “And God [is] able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all [things], may abound to every good work.”
20. 2 Peter 3:18 - “But grow in grace, and [in] the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. To him [be] glory both now and for ever. Amen.” - King James Version
21. Ephesians 3.7-8 - “Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;” - King James Version
22. Galatians 5.4 - “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace.” - New International Version.
23. Romans 6.1 - “What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound?” - King James Version
24. www.wallbuilders,com - See quote below References and 12 References of grace by U.S. Founding Fathers - http://www.wallbuilders.com/libissuesarticles.asp?id=8755
25. See Acts 16.37 – When unjustly imprisoned, Paul said, “let them come themselves and fetch us out.”
26. Colossians 3.6 - “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.” - King James Version
27. Colossians 4.6 - “Let your speech be alway with grace, seasoned with salt, that ye may know how ye ought to answer every man. - (KJV)
28. Ephesians 2.7 - “In order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus.” (NIV)
29. Charts: Top Ten Most Popular Hymns in History http://www.sharefaith.com/blog/2013/08/top-10-popular-hymns-time-history/
30. Abraham Lincoln, “A National Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer.” Proclamation March 30, 1863
31. Google Trends Grace in Christianity: https://www.google.com/trends/explore#q=%2Fm%2F0bh7h21&cmpt=q&tz=Etc%2FGMT%2B5
32. Movie Review of movie Grace at Rotten Tomatoes - http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/10010785-grace/
33. Rob Bell quote on grace from, The Zimzum of Love: A New Way of Understanding Marriage - https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/26470515-the-zimzum-of-love-a-new-way-of-understanding-marriage
34. CARM – Book review of Love Wins – Quote from preface - https://carm.org/love-wins
35. Wikipedia: Grace in Christianity - In Christian theology, the main explanations of Christian salvation by grace relate to concepts of Calvinism, Arminianism, Molinism, Prevenient Grace and Pelagianism. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_in_Christianity
36. Wriedt, Markus. "Luther's Theology," in The Cambridge Companion to Luther. New York: Cambridge University Press, 2003, 88–94.
37. Wikipedia Grace (prayer) - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_%28prayer%29
38. James 4.6: “But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says:“God opposes the prou but shows favor to the humble.”” (NIV).
39. Zechariah 12.10: “And I will pour out on the house of David and the inhabitants of Jerusalem a spirit[a] of grace and supplication. They will look on[b] me, the one they have pierced, and they will mourn for him as one mourns for an only child...” (NIV).
40. John 1.14b states: “We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” (NIV)
41. Wikipedia W.R. Grace and Company https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/W._R._Grace_and_Company
42. Wikipedia – About Grace Institute - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grace_Institute
43. Blackchristian.com - http://blackchristiannews.com/2015/02/empire-star-grace-gealey-encourages-accept-just-way-god-made/
44. www.pgfusa – About Princess Grace Foundation - http://www.pgfusa.org/about/history
45. Guardianlv.com - Chloe Grace Moretz Finds Faith – Interview with Direct Conversations - Chloe Grace Moretz quote: “I come from a Christian household and I consider myself to be a girl guided by those same values, it is definitely a part of who I am.” - http://guardianlv.com/2014/08/chloe-grace-moretz-finds-faith/
46. Aquadoc.typepad.com - Water Wired - http://aquadoc.typepad.com/waterwired/2014/08/god-bless-grace.html
47. Ephesians 2.10: For we are God's handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. (NIV) – Romans 7.4: So, my brothers and sisters, you also died to the law through the body of Christ, that you might belong to another, to him who was raised from the dead, in order that we might bear fruit for God. (NIV)
48. Truthendures.com - http://www.truthendures.com/john-newtons-tombstone/
    
    

Abraham Lincoln's “Forgotten Grace” speech quote about the U.S. condition:

“We have been the recipients of the choicest bounties of heaven. We have been preserved, these many years, in peace and prosperity. We have grown in numbers, wealth and power, as no other nation has ever grown.

“But we have forgotten God. We have forgotten the gracious hand which preserved us in peace, and multiplied and enriched and strengthened us; and we have vainly imagined, in the deceitfulness of our hearts, that all these blessings were produced by some superior wisdom and virtue of our own.

“Intoxicated with unbroken success, we have become too self-sufficient to feel the necessity of redeeming and preserving grace, too proud to pray to the God that made us! It behooves us, then to humble ourselves before the offended Power, to confess our national sins, and to pray for clemency and forgiveness.”

( Abraham Lincoln, “A National Day of Fasting, Humiliation, and Prayer.” Proclamation March 30, 1863” )

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