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Not only is grace placed over against `works' and `merit' or `debt', but it is in
juxtaposition with the law:
"Ye are not under law, but under grace" (Rom. 6: 14).
"Whosoever of you are justified by law; ye are fallen from grace" (Gal. 5: 4).
Grace characterizes the gospel which Paul preached (Acts 20: 24); it reigns,
through righteousness, unto eternal life (Rom. 5: 21); by grace we are justified freely
(Rom. 3: 24), and are saved (Eph. 2: 5). The relation of grace to faith is indicated in
such a passage as:
"Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be
sure to all the seed" (Rom. 4: 16).
Charizomai, which, outside the Scriptures means to do a favour, becomes, when
sanctified by association with the Offering of Christ, the blessed word `forgiveness'
(Luke 7: 42; Eph. 4: 32; Col. 2: 13).
Charisma is translated `gift', whether
supernatural gifts as in I Cor. 2: 9, or the `free gift' of Rom. 5: 15.
Charitoo is translated in Eph. 1: 6 `made accepted', which in the A.V. margin, reads
`graced us'.
Faith pistis. Faith means credit given to a report or testimony.
"If we receive the witness of men, the witness of God is greater" (I John 5: 9).
"Faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the Word of God" (Rom. 10: 17).
The Apostle says in the same chapter, "How shall they believe in Him of Whom they
have not heard? and how shall they hear without a preacher?" (Rom. 10: 14). We must be
careful to distinguish between faith, the medium, and the Object of faith, the Lord Jesus,
the only ground of salvation.