What is grace? This is a question that has been asked for centuries, and the answer is not always clear. Grace is one of the most important concepts in Christianity, but it can be hard to define. In general, divine grace can be described as “God’s favor toward the unworthy.” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.” In grace, God forgives us and blesses us, even though we don’t deserve it. This is made clear in Scripture, where it says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“Grace” is one of Christianity’s most fundamental ideas. It is most explicitly stated in God’s promises outlined in the Bible and exemplified in Jesus Christ.
The peace of God brings rest to the restless; the unmerited favor of God shows His love to the unlovable.
Definition of Grace
The phrase “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” refers to God’s forgiveness, which is given in His grace. Despite our failures, God is ready to forgive us and bless us through His sanctifying grace.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, grace is a “superiority or excellence” that comes from God. For example, according to modern secular definitions of common grace, it’s someone’s “form, manner, motion, or action; or a desirable or attractive quality or endowment.”
Merriam-Webster’s list of definitions for grace include:
“Unmerited divine assistance granted to humans for their regeneration or sanctification”
“Approval, or Favor”
“A charming or attractive trait or characteristic”
“-used as a title of address or reference for a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop”
“A short prayer at a meal asking a blessing or giving thanks”
“A musical trill, turn, or appoggiatura”
Grace does not cease once we have been saved; God continues to be gracious to us for the rest of our lives, working within and upon us. The Bible provides us with a variety of additional advantages as a result of grace:
• We are justified before a holy God by grace. (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:6; Titus 3:7).
• God’s love and grace give us the power to interact with Him.(Ephesians 1:6; Hebrews 4:16).
• For us, Grace establishes a new level of intimacy with God. (Exodus 33:17).
• Grace teaches and guides us in living our lives in a way that glorifies God. (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Corinthians 8:7).
• With the grace of God, we may acquire incalculable spiritual riches. (Proverbs 10:22; Ephesians 2:7).
• Grace is there for us in all of our wants and needs. (Hebrews 4:16).
• Every deliverance is made possible by grace because it is the source of our every blessing. (Psalm 44:3-8; Hebrews 4:16).
• We are safe, supported, and encouraged when we pray with grace. (2 Corinthians 13:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:1).
Grace is operating in the lives of God’s people on a regular and continuous basis. Paul did not credit his success to his own hard work, but rather to “the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace is God’s continual, kind act of working in us without which we can accomplish nothing (John 15:5). It is greater than our sin (Romans 5:20), more plentiful than we imagine (1 Timothy 1:14), and beyond human comprehension (2 Corinthians 9:15).
What is Grace?
Grace is most profound and apparent during times of sin, suffering, and brokenness. In a world of earning, deserving, and merit, which lead to judgment, we dwell. That is why everyone requires and desires grace. Judgment kills us; only amazing grace gives us life.
Shorthand for grace, which is “mercy rather than merit.” Karma, on the other hand, is all about receiving what you deserve. It’s not getting what you deserve and not getting what you do deserve. Christianity maintains that we receive death with no promise of resurrection if we do not accept Jesus Christ as our savior.
Although it’s required, actual grace is not about us. Grace is all about God: his unforced initiative and repeated, lavish displays of care and favor. According to Michael Horton, “In grace, God offers nothing less than himself. As a result, the term grace does not designate a third entity or substance that mediates between God and sinners; rather, it represents Jesus Christ in His redemptive activity.”
Christians live each day by the grace of God. We receive forgiveness according to the riches of God’s grace, and grace drives our sanctification. Paul says, “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” (Titus 2:11). Spiritual growth does not happen overnight; we “grew in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 2:18). Our desires, motivations, and actions are all changed by grace.
God’s grace grounds and enfranchises everything in the Christian life.
We must consider who we were before Christ and what we become after him to understand grace correctly. We were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), having violated God’s holy laws (Romans 3:9-20, 23; 1 John 1:8-10). We were opposed to God (Romans 5:6, 10; 8:7; Colossians 1-21a), deserving of death (Romans 6:23a). We were unrighteous (Romans 3:10) and had no way to justify ourselves ( Romans 3:20 ). Spiritually, we were destitute, blind, unclean, and dead. Our souls were in danger of eternal punishment.
Then there was grace. God showed His favor to us. Grace is what saves us (Ephesians 2:8). The gospel is the essence of grace (Acts 20:24). Victory over sin is granted through grace (James 4:6). Grace gives us “eternal encouragement and good hope” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Paul referred to his calling as an apostle as being based on grace a number of times (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:2, 7)
God’s Grace in Summary
The gospel is all about God’s grace through Jesus Christ. That’s why Paul refers to it as “the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24) and “the word of his grace” (Acts 14:3).
The good news of God’s grace is for everyone. The gospel of grace is the message that everyone needs. From every page of the Bible, the word of grace is announced and ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:21 concludes the Bible’s message with a summary statement: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all” (Revelation 22:21). We have all been given grace upon grace through Jesus (John 1-16), which is to say, we possess an undomesticated and free gift from God.
Short Prayer for Grace
My dear Lord,
Thank you for your wonderful majesty! It is comprehensive in its coverage of my sins and shortcomings. Despite the fact that I fall short of living righteously, you are very kind to forgive me and bless me. Thank you for your amazing grace, which grounds and enfranchises everything in my Christian life. Help me grow in grace every day and learn more about you through prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
What is Grace?
What is grace? This is a question that has been asked for centuries, and the answer is not always clear. Grace is one of the most important concepts in Christianity, but it can be hard to define. In general, divine grace can be described as “God’s favor toward the unworthy.” or “God’s benevolence on the undeserving.” In grace, God forgives us and blesses us, even though we don’t deserve it. This is made clear in Scripture, where it says “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“Grace” is one of Christianity’s most fundamental ideas. It is most explicitly stated in God’s promises outlined in the Bible and exemplified in Jesus Christ.
The peace of God brings rest to the restless; the unmerited favor of God shows His love to the unlovable.
Definition of Grace
The phrase “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” refers to God’s forgiveness, which is given in His grace. Despite our failures, God is ready to forgive us and bless us through His sanctifying grace.
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God” (Romans 3:23).
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” (Romans 5:1-2)
According to the Online Etymology Dictionary, grace is a “superiority or excellence” that comes from God. For example, according to modern secular definitions of common grace, it’s someone’s “form, manner, motion, or action; or a desirable or attractive quality or endowment.”
Merriam-Webster’s list of definitions for grace include:
Grace does not cease once we have been saved; God continues to be gracious to us for the rest of our lives, working within and upon us. The Bible provides us with a variety of additional advantages as a result of grace:
• We are justified before a holy God by grace. (Romans 3:24; Ephesians 1:6; Titus 3:7).
• God’s love and grace give us the power to interact with Him.(Ephesians 1:6; Hebrews 4:16).
• For us, Grace establishes a new level of intimacy with God. (Exodus 33:17).
• Grace teaches and guides us in living our lives in a way that glorifies God. (Titus 2:11-14; 2 Corinthians 8:7).
• With the grace of God, we may acquire incalculable spiritual riches. (Proverbs 10:22; Ephesians 2:7).
• Grace is there for us in all of our wants and needs. (Hebrews 4:16).
• Every deliverance is made possible by grace because it is the source of our every blessing. (Psalm 44:3-8; Hebrews 4:16).
• We are safe, supported, and encouraged when we pray with grace. (2 Corinthians 13:14; 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17; 2 Timothy 2:1).
Grace is operating in the lives of God’s people on a regular and continuous basis. Paul did not credit his success to his own hard work, but rather to “the grace of God that was with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace is God’s continual, kind act of working in us without which we can accomplish nothing (John 15:5). It is greater than our sin (Romans 5:20), more plentiful than we imagine (1 Timothy 1:14), and beyond human comprehension (2 Corinthians 9:15).
What is Grace?
Grace is most profound and apparent during times of sin, suffering, and brokenness. In a world of earning, deserving, and merit, which lead to judgment, we dwell. That is why everyone requires and desires grace. Judgment kills us; only amazing grace gives us life.
Shorthand for grace, which is “mercy rather than merit.” Karma, on the other hand, is all about receiving what you deserve. It’s not getting what you deserve and not getting what you do deserve. Christianity maintains that we receive death with no promise of resurrection if we do not accept Jesus Christ as our savior.
Although it’s required, actual grace is not about us. Grace is all about God: his unforced initiative and repeated, lavish displays of care and favor. According to Michael Horton, “In grace, God offers nothing less than himself. As a result, the term grace does not designate a third entity or substance that mediates between God and sinners; rather, it represents Jesus Christ in His redemptive activity.”
Christians live each day by the grace of God. We receive forgiveness according to the riches of God’s grace, and grace drives our sanctification. Paul says, “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” (Titus 2:11). Spiritual growth does not happen overnight; we “grew in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 2:18). Our desires, motivations, and actions are all changed by grace.
God’s grace grounds and enfranchises everything in the Christian life.
We must consider who we were before Christ and what we become after him to understand grace correctly. We were born in sin (Psalm 51:5), having violated God’s holy laws (Romans 3:9-20, 23; 1 John 1:8-10). We were opposed to God (Romans 5:6, 10; 8:7; Colossians 1-21a), deserving of death (Romans 6:23a). We were unrighteous (Romans 3:10) and had no way to justify ourselves ( Romans 3:20 ). Spiritually, we were destitute, blind, unclean, and dead. Our souls were in danger of eternal punishment.
Then there was grace. God showed His favor to us. Grace is what saves us (Ephesians 2:8). The gospel is the essence of grace (Acts 20:24). Victory over sin is granted through grace (James 4:6). Grace gives us “eternal encouragement and good hope” (2 Thessalonians 2:16). Paul referred to his calling as an apostle as being based on grace a number of times (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 3:10; Ephesians 3:2, 7)
God’s Grace in Summary
The gospel is all about God’s grace through Jesus Christ. That’s why Paul refers to it as “the gospel of God’s grace” (Acts 20:24) and “the word of his grace” (Acts 14:3).
The good news of God’s grace is for everyone. The gospel of grace is the message that everyone needs. From every page of the Bible, the word of grace is announced and ultimately revealed in Jesus Christ. Revelation 22:21 concludes the Bible’s message with a summary statement: “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all” (Revelation 22:21). We have all been given grace upon grace through Jesus (John 1-16), which is to say, we possess an undomesticated and free gift from God.
Short Prayer for Grace
My dear Lord,
Thank you for your wonderful majesty! It is comprehensive in its coverage of my sins and shortcomings. Despite the fact that I fall short of living righteously, you are very kind to forgive me and bless me. Thank you for your amazing grace, which grounds and enfranchises everything in my Christian life. Help me grow in grace every day and learn more about you through prayer. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.
Additional GospelChops Articles