RR Father’s Saving-favor (2) By David Harwood

Shabbat Shalom,

Let us continue to consider Ephesians 2:5b-9 and look into Father’s indispensable saving-favor.

(By grace/charis you have been saved!) And He raised us up with Him and seated us with Him in the heavenly places in Messiah Yeshua— to show in the olam ha-ba the measureless richness of His grace/charis in kindness toward us in Messiah Yeshua.

For by grace/charis you have been saved through faith. And this is not from yourselves—it is the gift of God. It is not based on deeds, so that no one may boast. (Ephesians 2:5b–9)

If you’ve been following along in these meditations, I expect that you understand the background of the word “grace.” In the Apostolic Writings, the Greek word, generally translated into English as grace, is charis. Every once in a while, in our English Bibles, charis is translated, favor, and favor is the foundational meaning of charis. Why would I say that?

In the Septuagint, the Greek translation of the Hebrew Scriptures, charis translates chen.

It doesn’t hurt to repeat these things, so here goes: Chen means favor. Charis means chen. Therefore, charis means favor.

Chen = Favor
Charis = Chen
Chen = Charis
Charis = Favor (usually translated in the Apostolic Writings as grace)

Favor/charis is a word that conveys affection. One favors, and gives favor to, people one likes, or loves.

In Ephesians 2, Paul reiterates that favor/grace is the channel through which salvation flows. To further emphasize the emotional nature of grace, allow me to use its synonym, favor.

By favor (charis/grace) you have been saved! (Ephesians 2:5b)

For by favor (charis/grace) you have been saved through faith (Ephesians 2:8a)

Father has shown us saving-favor. This charis is based upon the love God has for humanity.

The giving of God’s unique Son is the only act of love that sufficiently demonstrates the depth of Father’s desire for a relationship with us. Saving-favor both motivates this gift, and is the result of this demonstration. And what a gift this is!

Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift! (2 Corinthians 9:15)

You and I were created to draw God’s love. God succeeded in creating that which He would find worthy of His love. He could do this, and He did. He is that wise, love-filled, skilled and powerful.

Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image, after Our likeness! (Genesis 1:26a)

What about fallen humanity? Do they still qualify for God’s love? Yes, they do, for they are still the beloved image of God.

The one who sheds human blood, by a human will his blood be shed, for in God’s image He made humanity. (Genesis 9:6)

With it we bless our Adonai and Father, and with it we curse people, who are made in the image of God. (James 3:9)

No human ever merited saving-favor (charis/grace) because of good deeds. The worth of each person, stirring favor in God’s heart towards each one, is deeper than what they do, or don’t do. We do not merit saving-favor, or transformative-favor, because of what we have done. Nor are we disqualified from this charis because of what we have done. Rather, it is  because of who and what we have been created to be that qualifies us for His favor/grace/charis.

It's important to reiterate basic truth, so, once again: The foundation of favor (charis/grace) is found in the glory of what God created. Father fashioned humanity as His image. He created us to be loved by Him.

That is the stimulus of the grace we receive. Through holy favor we have been saved as we put our trust in the Lord Yeshua. Our salvation is solely dependent upon the saving-favor that is ours in Yeshua.  

I always thank my God for you because of God’s favor (charis/grace) that was given to you in Messiah Yeshua. (1 Corinthians 1:4)

And Yeshua has been given for us, and to us.

Please remember, Yeshua favors you.

Daily Bread, reading plan by Lars Enarson (https://www.thewatchman.org/)
Sat18 Oct 202526th of Tishrei, 5786 Parashat Bereshit
Ge 3:22-6:8Isa 42:5-43:10Jn 1:1-17