What is grace?
Quick Answer
Grace is God's unmerited favor and lovingkindness toward humanity - the free gift of salvation and blessing that we could never earn or deserve.
Understanding Grace
Grace is one of the most profound concepts in Scripture, representing God's disposition to freely give what we could never earn. The Greek word 'charis' conveys the ideas of favor, kindness, and gift. Unlike human transactions that operate on merit or exchange, grace operates on the principle of undeserved blessing. God extends grace not because of anything good in us, but because of His own character of love and mercy. Grace is not merely God overlooking sin; rather, it is His active intervention to save sinners at great cost - the death of His Son. Through grace, God provides what justice demands while simultaneously demonstrating His love. This grace empowers believers not only for salvation but for daily Christian living, spiritual growth, and service to others.
In the Old Testament
While the word 'grace' appears less frequently in the Old Testament, the concept permeates its pages. The Hebrew word 'chen' (favor) and 'chesed' (lovingkindness, steadfast love) express grace's essence. God showed grace to Noah, finding him righteous in a corrupt generation. He extended grace to Abraham, choosing him apart from any merit. The covenant relationship itself was an act of grace - God choosing Israel not because of their greatness, but because of His love. Even after repeated failures, God graciously restored His people, demonstrating that His love is not contingent on human performance.
In the New Testament
The New Testament reveals grace in its fullness through Jesus Christ. John declares that 'grace and truth came by Jesus Christ' (John 1:17). Paul's epistles develop the theology of grace extensively, contrasting it with works of the law. Grace is the foundation of salvation (Ephesians 2:8-9), the basis of justification (Romans 3:24), and the power for Christian living (2 Corinthians 12:9). The early church greeting 'grace and peace' reflects how central this concept was to Christian identity. Grace is not license to sin but the power to live righteously.
Key Scripture References
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
Read full commentary →Romans 5:8“But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.”
Read full commentary →2 Corinthians 12:9“And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
Read full commentary →John 1:14“And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth.”
Read full commentary →Titus 2:11“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.”
Read full commentary →Romans 3:24“Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.”
Read full commentary →Related Concepts
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