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Before I can show you my paraphrase of Romans 6-7 as I promised in my last post, I need to lay the foundation for my use of the idea of "God's favor" for Paul's word, "grace."

"But for the grace of God, there go I." I've heard and quoted that maxim many times. I've heard the word "grace" explained as "unmerited favor." That works. I might want to say "unearned favor," or "undeserved favor."

The Bible uses this word "grace" to describe favor from persons as well as from God. (For instance, Joseph from Potiphar, Genesis 39:4; and Esther from the king, Esther 2:17.)

In the New Testament, it was said of Jesus that He had the grace of God and the favor of both God and humans (Luke 2:40, 52). Also, the early church had great favor and great grace for the spreading of their witness (Acts 2:46-47; 4:33).

Paul, in the Epistle to the Romans, wrote of the "free gift by grace" (see Romans 5:15-17). This terminology occurs immediately prior to the passage I want to paraphrase for illumination on Paul's idea of guilt. It lets me see grace as an attitude from God that wants to give freely, an attitude of favor.

So as I share my paraphrase of Romans 6-7 in an upcoming post, you will see the opposing lifestyles: living under God's favor, or living under the dominion of guilt.