Graced or Disgraced?

"Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people." (Proverbs 14: 34 NIV)

What does it mean to be "disgraced"? Obviously it is the opposite of being "graced." "Grace" denotes "favor," particularly "unmerited" or "undeserved" favor. To be "graced" is to be blessed and favored. To be "disgraced," conversely, is to be cursed and ill-favored.

Shame and humiliation are intimately connected with "disgrace." But, honor and glory are connected with "grace."

In the above oracle of God, the Psalmist describes "sin" as man's "disgrace," the cause of his being ill favored by God, and denied grace.

"Those who cling to worthless idols forfeit the grace that could be theirs." (Jonah 2: 8 NIV)

Sin is transgression, but it is also a word that denotes all that is contrary to the good nature and holy law of God. "Sin" is not only outward act, but inner character and disposition, or that which "dwells in" every sinner, in what the New Testament calls the "flesh" or "sinful nature." Because of sin man "forfeits grace," grace of all kinds.

"Grace" is "manifold" (I Peter 4: 10 KJV), meaning there are varied graces. There are "common graces," such as Lord God "graces" all men with. Then, there are more special graces that are given only to certain people only.

"When wickedness comes, so does contempt, and with shame comes disgrace." (Proverbs 18: 3 NIV)

This is true as it respects being "disgraced" by men, or society, or by Lord God. Men, however, often "disgrace" those who deserve no "disgracing" or "shaming," but Lord God only shames those who are guilty, rebel, sinners. To these he will show eternal contempt and everlasting disgrace if they persist in sin, and fail to repent.

"Let us lie down in our shame, and let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers; from our youth till this day we have not obeyed the LORD our God." (Jeremiah 3: 25 NIV)

This is what all men would instantly confess if they were honest and if they had spiritual vision to see themselves correctly. Again, divine "disgrace" and "ill favor" is the result of man's unforgiven sin.

"When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom." (Proverbs 11: 2 NIV)

Men do not generally "favor" or show kindness to a "braggert" or "egotist." Certainly Lord God does not! Eternal "disgrace" is promised to those who reject God's offered mercies in Christ.

"Why do you boast of evil, you mighty man? Why do you boast all day long, you who are a disgrace in the eyes of God? Your tongue plots destruction; it is like a sharpened razor, you who practice deceit. You love evil rather than good, falsehood rather than speaking the truth. Selah" (Psalm 52: 1-3 NIV)

Again, the proud boaster is headed for "disgrace"! Shame and reproach will be his eternal destiny! Yet, God mercifully holds out to fallen and disgraced sinners the means of finding grace, or of being "graced" in Christ.

"I will bring upon you everlasting disgrace—everlasting shame that will not be forgotten." (Jeremiah 23: 40 NIV)

"All the makers of idols will be put to shame and disgraced; they will go off into disgrace together. But Israel will be saved by the LORD with an everlasting salvation; you will never be put to shame or disgraced, to ages everlasting." (Isaiah 45: 16 NIV)

Temporary moments of shame and disgrace are one thing, but eternal disgrace is quite another matter. To be shamed and disgraced by men is one thing, but to be eternally shamed and disgraced by Lord God is also quite another thing.

"He who robs his father and drives out his mother is a son who brings shame and disgrace." (Proverbs 19: 26 NIV)

"As a thief is disgraced when he is caught, so the house of Israel is disgraced..." (Jeremiah 2: 26 NIV)

These words may be applied not only to sons of men, as sons of men, but to sons of men who are by creation "sons of God" (Luke 3: 38), or his "offspring." (Acts 17: 29).

All men, though God's natural offspring, through Adam and Eve, are nevertheless "cursed children" (II Peter 2: 14 KJV) and "disgraceful sons" (Proverbs 10: 5; 17: 2; 19: 26 NIV) because of sin.

All men have "robbed God" (See Malachi 3: 8). In every sin there is a "robbing" God of the love, devotion, and obedience he deserves. Every sinner has "robbed" his heavenly Father, his Creator; And, he is a son that brings shame and disgrace.

The sinner also has been "caught" and cannot deny his crime against his Maker. In the Day of Judgment he will see that he was living in a delusion to have thought that he would some how "get out of it." In the Day of Judgment every sinner will be left "speechless" (Matthew 22: 12 KJV), just as the thief when he is nabbed.

The scriptures speak of those who "retreat in disgrace" (Psalm 74: 21 NIV) and of those who ultimately "perish in disgrace" (Psalm 83: 17 NIV). This too not only describes moments of disgrace in life, but also the eternal disgrace some will experience when they are assembled before the multitudes at the great Day of Judgment. The soldiers of Christ and the armies of heaven will never "retreat in disgrace."

"The rod of correction imparts wisdom, but a child left to himself disgraces his mother." (Proverbs 29: 15 NIV)

The unruly child without correction! Thankfully it is still mostly viewed as a shame and disgrace among men. But, is not every sinner such before the eyes of God? Has every sinner not disgraced his Heavenly Father and his family?

"May those who hope in you not be disgraced because of me, O Lord, the LORD Almighty; may those who seek you not be put to shame because of me, O God of Israel." (Psalm 69: 6 NIV)

This is the heart of of the lover of God. He does not want to do anything that will bring reproach upon the religion of God. He does not mind suffering disgrace for the sake of the truth, for this he cannot help, but he does not want to do so by any other act.

"Take away the disgrace I dread, for your laws are good." (Psalm 119: 39 NIV)

This is the prayer of salvation, if prayed in faith and with a humble and contrite heart. Every Christian has prayed this prayer, although not in these exact words. He has prayed for pardon and justification from guilt through the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ. And, in so doing, Christ has removed his sin, the cause of his shame and disgrace, and then "graces" him with the gifts of the Spirit.

"He will swallow up death forever. The Sovereign LORD will wipe away the tears from all faces; he will remove the disgrace of his people from all the earth. The LORD has spoken." (Isaiah 25: 8 NIV)

"Because the Sovereign LORD helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame." (Isaiah 50: 7 NIV)

"Do not be afraid; you will not suffer shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated." (Isaiah 54: 4 NIV)

"Instead of their shame my people will receive a double portion, and instead of disgrace they will rejoice in their inheritance; and so they will inherit a double portion in their land, and everlasting joy will be theirs." (Isaiah 61: 7 NIV)

These are gracious promises! Those who have confessed their sins, and turned from them, and found forgiveness in Christ, are promised to be "graced" forever rather than "disgraced." Wonderful news!

"For surely, O LORD, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield." (Psalm 5: 12 NIV)

"For the LORD God is a sun and shield; the LORD bestows favor and honor; no good thing does he withhold from those whose walk is blameless." (Psalm 84: 11 NIV)

"May the favor of the Lord our God rest upon us; establish the work of our hands for us— yes, establish the work of our hands." (Psalm 90: 17 NIV)

"Grace" is "favor," and here God "graces" his people, the righteous, abundantly, overwhelming them with grace. When one is graced and favored, he is blessed and prospered, and is freed of the burden of sin, of guilt and shame.

"The Lord has done this for me," she said. "In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people...The angel went to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you...But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?" (Luke 1: 25, 28, 43 NIV)

Mary was "highly graced" (or 'favored'). She had much more than ordinary common grace. Certainly she knew saving grace and many of the other graces of the Holy Spirit.

"For he says, "In the time of my favor I heard you, and in the day of salvation I helped you." I tell you, now is the time of God's favor, now is the day of salvation." (II Corinthians 6: 2 NIV)

All men, besides daily common grace and mercy, are also now under a greater umbrella of grace, wherein God is now extending his gracious and merciful invitation to men to come and accept pardon through his Son, the Lord Jesus Christ. We are truly in a "day of grace." Who knows when it will end and no more pardons will be granted?

"The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth...From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1: 14, 16, 17 NIV)

The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and son of man, the eternal "Word" (or "logos"), is the source of all grace, common or special.

"Though grace is shown to the wicked, they do not learn righteousness; even in a land of uprightness they go on doing evil and regard not the majesty of the LORD." (Isaiah 26: 10 NIV)

Yes, so many sinners "forfeit grace that could have been theirs," and they will rue this fact throughout eternity, saying to themselves "why, why did I despise his grace?"

Friend, will you be "graced" by God or "disgraced" by him?