Luke 7:36-50, The Act of Grace Giving

Earlier we studied “charisma” and related terms having to do with a gift graciously given.  It would have been good to have included “charizomai,” the verb “to give freely,” but we didn’t.  Here it is for your meditation.

charizomai: to give freely, graciously; remit, forgive

·       Lk 7:21: Jesus grants sight to many blind.  (This gives us a good illustration of this word.  Jesus healed many blind, not asking for money or even taking an offering for “free-will” gifts.  That is the essence of this word.)

·       Lk 7:42f: man forgives 2 debtors. Who loves him most?  He who was forgiven the most. (Another important idea: nothing is required for a charizomai, but when the gift is given it will create in the recipient the desire to give in return.  Yet, he will not be able to give commensurate to the gift other than to love.)

·       Ac 3:14: they desired a murderer to be granted to them rather than Jesus.

·       Ac 25:11: no one can deliver Paul to death if he has done nothing wrong.

·       Ac 25:16: Romans don't deliver any to die w/o chance to face accusers.

·       Ac 27:24: God gave Paul all those on the ship.

·       Rom 8:32: God will freely give us all things if he gave Christ.

·       1 Cor 2:12: We received the Holy Spirit from God so we could know what he has freely given us (in addition to the Holy Spirit!)

·       2 Cor 2:7: you should forgive the excommunicated man.  (Think about this.  “Forgiveness” is a gift freely given.  The sin or trespass cannot be taken back and it cannot be atoned for because that would require we give our lives.  So forgiveness is perhaps the most “gracious” gift possible.  All the cost is paid by the one/One who forgives.)

·       2 Cor 7:10abc: to whom you forgive, I also do; if I forgive anything, if I forgive anything I do it for yo in presence of Christ.

·       2 Cor 12:13: forgive me for not being more burdensome.

·       Gal 3:18: God gave an inheritance to Abraham by promise, not law.  (If it is required by law, then it is not freely given.)

·       Eph 4:32ab: forgive one another as God has forgiven you. (Col 3:13ab)

·       Phil 1:29: it has been given us to believe & suffer for Christ.  (Think about this: suffering for Christ, like believing, is a blessing from God.)

·       Phil 2:9: God gave Christ name above all names.  (Freely given.  Remember: He bore our sins on the tree.  The Father forsook the Son.  For all of that, the Father freely exalted the Son to the highest!)

·       Col 2:13: we've been forgiven our trespasses.

·       Philemon 22: Paul hopes to be given to Philemon.  (He cherished the opportunity to be with Philemon.)