A Snapshot of God’s Grace
“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God.” — Ephesians 2:8 (NKJV)
Explaining God’s grace is no small feat—after all, it’s a divine mystery that can leave even the deepest thinkers speechless. Grace isn’t just something God offers; it’s woven into His very being. In this post, I’ll do my best to take you on a journey through the meaning of grace, explore how it’s revealed in the Bible, highlight its embodiment in Jesus Christ, discuss how and why it matters for us today, and how we can practice grace in our daily lives.
What Does “Grace” Mean?
When Christians talk about grace, they’re referencing a profound concept. Merriam-Webster describes grace as God-given help or kindness, a state of acceptance by God, and a God-given virtue. The Oxford English Dictionary goes further, saying it’s a quality of God—benevolence given freely, regardless of merit, resulting in blessings and salvation. According to the Cambridge Dictionary, grace is approval or kindness, especially as freely given by God to humanity. From an anthropological perspective, grace is always something special—it goes beyond what’s required or expected. It’s not about rules or obligations, but about doing more than what’s needed, which is why it feels extraordinary and is often connected to the sacred.[1]
The early church fathers had differing opinions about grace. Augustine saw grace as God’s healing power, linked with forgiveness and mercy—a gift bringing new salvation. For Calvin (and Luther before him), grace was God’s compassion, not a force inside us, but His kindness revealed through Christ’s work. Calvin made a clear distinction between God’s grace and the Holy Spirit’s role in believers’ lives.[2]
Christians often use the acronym GRACE to sum it up: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Dr. Charles Stanley put it beautifully: grace is “God’s kindness toward humanity without worth or merit of those who receive it and in spite of the fact that they do not deserve it.”
God’s Grace in Action: A Biblical Journey
From Genesis to Revelation, the Bible paints a vivid picture of grace at work. Right after Adam and Eve sinned, God clothed them—covering their shame at the cost of innocent animals, hinting at the ultimate sacrifice to come. Even as their sin distanced humanity from God, He promised a Savior who would crush evil and restore the relationship (Genesis 3).
God’s grace kept showing up: when Cain murdered his brother Abel, God protected him instead of destroying him (Genesis 4:1-15). During the global flood, God’s kindness saved Noah’s family, gave humanity time to repent, and offered a covenant never to destroy the earth like that again (Genesis 6–9).
Abraham’s story is a showcase of grace. Living in a culture of idol worship, he was chosen by God for a new destiny—not for anything he’d done, but because of God’s sovereign grace. When God called Abram—later called Abraham, God made some incredible promises to him. Specifically, God said to Abram, “Go from your country, your people and your father’s household to the land I will show you. I will make you into a great nation, and I will bless you; I will make your name great, and you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and whoever curses you I will curse; and all peoples on earth will be blessed through you” (Genesis 12:1-3). We see God’s amazing grace in that these promises were about way more than just Abraham and his family. God was unfolding His plan to bring salvation to everyone—through Jesus Christ. That last line, “all peoples on earth will be blessed through you,” points directly to Jesus, who came from Abraham’s family line. The New Testament confirms this. In Galatians 3:8, Paul writes that “Scripture announced the gospel in advance to Abraham: ‘All nations will be blessed through you.’” That’s a direct link between God’s promise to Abraham and the good news of Jesus.
Jacob and Joseph’s lives also magnify grace. Jacob, the schemer, received God’s blessing and a new name (Israel) despite his failures. Joseph, sold into slavery, thrived, survived false accusations, and rose to lead Egypt—all by God’s unearned favor.
The nation of Israel repeatedly rebelled, yet God’s grace kept flowing—He rescued, provided, patiently pleaded, and disciplined them not out of wrath, but with the aim to restore them.
Mary, the mother of Jesus, was chosen by God’s grace alone, not by her own merit. Romans 3:23 reminds us that “all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God,” yet God’s favor rested on Mary, and she recognized it as a gift (Luke 1:28, 46–56). The pinnacle of grace is the cross—where Jesus’ sacrifice made reconciliation with God possible for everyone.
Jesus Christ: The Embodiment of God’s Grace
The apostle John begins his Gospel by introducing Jesus as the living embodiment of grace: “The Word became flesh… full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Jesus is indeed full of grace because although He is God, He emptied Himself of everything except His love for us and came down to earth beginning His life as a helpless baby in a dirty stable full of animals. It is truly mind-blowing that as a newborn human baby, the bed of Jesus Christ, the Son of God was a feeding trough for animals! The grace of Jesus is captured beautifully by the words of the apostle Paul in Philippians 2:5-8: “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God, but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men. And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross” (NKJV).
Jesus didn’t seek the elite to be His disciples; He called ordinary people—fishermen, a tax collector, a political zealot, even a future betrayer. He taught, protected, forgave, healed, and fed crowds, always responding with compassion and kindness. His words brought hope to the weary, as seen when the people of Nazareth marveled at His gracious teaching (Luke 4:22). Isaiah foretold Jesus’ gentle, gracious spirit centuries before His birth (Isaiah 42:2–3).
Grace in the Lives of Christians
Sometimes people misunderstand grace, thinking it gives them permission to do as they please. The apostle Paul tackled this in Romans 6, explaining that believers are called to leave sin behind and live transformed lives. Grace isn’t a license; it’s the foundation for a new identity—freed from sin and invited to pursue righteousness and holiness.
Those who follow Christ have symbolically died to sin and should live a new, transformed life. Through baptism, Christians are united with Jesus in His death and resurrection, freeing them from the power of sin. As Christians, we are encouraged not to let sin control our actions but to offer ourselves to God and live righteously. Paul went on to explain that people become servants to whatever they obey—either sin, which leads to death, or obedience to God, which leads to righteousness and holiness. Though sin brings death, God’s gift is eternal life through Jesus Christ.
When we consider the magnitude of God’s grace, it should stimulate love and gratitude, which motivate us to live in a way that honors and glorifies God. When we truly understand the riches of God’s grace toward us, and grasp the fact that our life is Christ, we will live lives that are yielded to the Holy Spirit and our conduct will reflect His work in our lives. Peter encouraged early Christians to anchor their hope in the grace revealed through Jesus. He reminded them that the mystery of Jesus Christ who brought us salvation by God’s grace had been foretold by prophets and eagerly anticipated for generations and is so wonderful that even angels long to understand it (1 Peter 1:1-12). Paul, overwhelmed by God’s grace, broke into spontaneous worship (Ephesians 3).
Practical Applications: Living Out Grace Every Day
Understanding grace is just the beginning—living it out is where transformation happens. Here are some practical ways to apply grace in daily life:
- Forgive Freely—Just as God forgives us, we are called to forgive others—even when they don’t deserve it. Letting go of grudges and choosing forgiveness is a powerful act of grace.
- Show Kindness Without Expectation—Grace means extending kindness, help, or encouragement to others without expecting anything in return. This could be as simple as offering a listening ear, helping a neighbor, or supporting a colleague.
- Give People the Benefit of the Doubt—Instead of jumping to conclusions or judging harshly, choose to believe the best about others. Grace looks for understanding, not fault.
- Be Patient With Others’ Shortcomings—Everyone is a work in progress. Practicing patience and gentleness, especially when others fall short, reflects the grace God shows us.
- Extend Grace to Yourself—Remember, grace isn’t just for others. When you make mistakes, accept God’s forgiveness and be kind to yourself. Growth often comes through failure and learning.
- Serve Sacrificially—Grace is about going beyond what’s required. Look for opportunities to serve others, even when it’s inconvenient or unnoticed.
- Speak Words That Build Up—Let your words be gracious—encouraging, uplifting, and healing. Avoid gossip, criticism, or harshness.
- Practice Generosity—Grace is generous. Share your time, resources, and talents with those in need, reflecting God’s abundant giving.
Grace is more than a theological concept—it’s the heartbeat of God’s relationship with humanity and a call to action for us. As we receive grace, may we become people who freely give it away, transforming our relationships, communities, and the world.
As Christmas approaches, let’s celebrate not just the birth of Jesus, but the grace-filled story behind it—the assurance that God’s unearned favor reaches us, transforms us, and brings us home to Him.
[1] Pitt-Rivers, Julian. “The place of grace in anthropology.” HAU: Journal of Ethnographic Theory 1.1 (2011): 423-450.
[2] Sharp, Larry D. “The doctrines of grace in Calvin and Augustine.” Evangelical Quarterly 52.2 (1980): 84-96.
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