Word Study: Grace
Word family: Grace, gracious, gratitude
Synonyms: kindness
Related ideas: Love, mercy, forgiveness, unworthiness, salvation, faith and obedience, law, joy, thanksgiving, gifts.
Definitions: Grace is kindness, merciful favour. It characterises God’s attitude toward us, and generates our gratitude toward him.
Greek References: χαρις (karis, charis) 5485 (Strong) cf 5463, 5483-5487, 2168-2170
Scripture:
We are saved by grace
- Romans 3:24 "...justified freely by his grace..."
- Ephesians 2:8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, but this is not of yourselves; it is the gift of God."
- Titus 2:11 "For the grace of God has appeared, bring salvation to all men..."
- Hebrews 2:9 "...Jesus... by the grace of God [tasted] death for every man..."
We continue in God’s grace
- Acts 13:43 "...urging them to continue in the grace of God."
- Romans 5:2 "...in this grace we stand, and we exult in hope..."
- 2Corinthians 12:9 "...My grace is sufficient for you..."
- 2Thessalonians 2:16-17 "[God] loved us and has given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace..."
- 1Peter 5:12 "...this is the true grace of God. Stand firm in it!"
- 2Peter 3:18 "But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Saviour..."
We show gratitude [good grace] to God
- Romans 6:17 "But thanks be to God that... you obeyed from the heart..."
- Colossians 3:15 "...and be thankful"
- 1Corinthians 15:57, 2Corinthians 2:14 "But thanks be to God who gives us the victory..."
- 2Corinthians 9:15 "Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!"
- 1Thessalonians 5:18 "In everything give thanks."
Comment: Grace is said to be free, in the sense that we do not have to have the wherewithal to pay for it. It is a gift of God. However grace is not unconditional. It requires belief in God’s promises and obedience to his commandments. Whilst neither faith nor obedience merit salvation, they are necessary in order to receive salvation by grace. (cf Romans 1:5)