The Harmony of Grace with Passover
and Feast of Unleavened Bread

The word "grace" in the King James and New King James Version Bibles has become a vague, meaningless translation of the Greek word charis (Greek: χάρις, Strong's Concordance #G5485). Attempts to make it plain have erroneously said that grace was unmerited pardon. Unmerited pardon is "justification," which is not grace, but BY grace (or favor) (Romans 3:24, Titus 3:7). Charis is translated "favor" many times in the Bible. The book of Luke says of Jesus:

"And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and men." (Luke 2:52, NKJV throughout)

Jesus increased in favor, charis, with God and man. Jesus did not increase in unmerited pardon with man! Favor is the best translation of the Greek word charis and retains the essential meaning of the word grace. Notice what Luke also wrote of Jesus:

"And the Child (Jesus) grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace (favor, charis) of God was upon Him." (Luke 2:40)

We are favored by God with Jesus as our Passover because we are made in His image. We did nothing for this favor, even as our children did nothing to have our favor when they were born. However, what our children do as they grow can cause them to grow in favor with us. One can also fall out of favor with God or even a boss if not obeyed (see Galatians 5:4).

God wants us to keep his commandments because keeping them in their spirit and intent helps us to grow in favor (grace) with God.

How does the Passover picture God's UNEARNED Favor?

The whole day of Passover pictures our sin being laid on Jesus. It pictures the suffering, blood-letting, death and burial of Jesus. We did nothing to merit or earn this favor.

The lamb's blood over their doorposts kept the firstborn of Israel from dying by the death angel. A short time after the first Passover was observed the firstborn of the Egyptians died (they were killed after midnight). The Egyptian dead were buried at the end of day (sunset). Likewise Jesus began suffering after midnight and, like the Egyptian firstborn, was buried at the end of the day.

The ransom to get Israel out of Egypt (Isaiah 43:3-4) was NOT the blood of the lamb, but the firstborn of the Egyptians!

How does the Passover picture God's EARNED Favor?

This brings us to one of God's Feast Day periods, which follows immediately after the Passover, known as the Days of Unleavened Bread. These and the rest of God's Holy Days symbolize many things in God's great plan for man. On the first Day of Unleavened Bread more than a million Israelites, by God's command, went out of Egypt and were freed of Egyptian slavery. If they did not listen and obey God they would have been left in Egypt! So we too must get moving and do our part to "leave Egypt" or get sin out of our lives. These Holy Days also symbolize feeding on the true "Bread of Life" which is Jesus (John 6:33, 35, 48, 51) and the word of God. God commands us, through the apostle Peter, that we should

" . . . GROW in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ." (2Peter 3:18)

Favor can be unearned (a gift) or earned (based on what we do such as obey God).

God gives his Holy Spirit to those that obey him (Acts 5:32; 10:2, 34-35, 44-48). Keeping the Passover is a reminder of the unearned favor we receive daily from God. The Days of Unleavened Bread are a reminder that we must do our part to GROW in favor with God.