Grace is one of the most popular themes in the Bible and a word frequently used, yet we struggle to define it in its proper context. Grace permeates the entire scripture and has both an invisible and visible presence in the lives of individuals, groups, and a nation.
Grace is not something you earn through your merits, nor does it wait until you measure up — rather, grace finds you. It appears where we least expect it. It enters the hearts of those who are rebellious and do not fear God. You don’t climb up to attain grace; instead, grace comes to you through receiving Christ.
A simple truth about grace is that where there is sin, grace appears. The grace of God seeks out sinners, as we are all in need of God’s grace. As believers, we are saved by grace, and we have all received grace in the sight of the Lord; we live under His grace.
Grace has existed throughout history. It appears wherever there is sin. Grace is meant for sinners. Grace was demonstrated in the Old Testament. The word ‘grace’ is translated approximately 38 times in the Old Testament; sometimes, it is used interchangeably with ‘favour,’ and grace is not exclusive to the New Testament. Grace has been a constant presence throughout history, even with the first human, Adam. Grace didn’t just originate in the New Testament; it is also evident in the Old Testament, from Adam, Abraham, Lot, and Noah, to Moses, and ultimately in Jesus, who embodies grace. Adam, Noah, Abraham and Lot encountered grace and were under grace before the law was given. Long before the law, grace was present in people’s lives. Even Moses, to whom the law was given, experienced grace, and grace accompanied the children of Israel as the Angel of the Lord. In the new covenant of grace, Jesus fulfilled the law of Moses. Jesus, the fullness of grace, ushered in the new covenant.
What does grace mean in a biblical context?
The Old Testament term, commonly translated as “grace,” carries ideas of favour, acceptance, and pleasant regard. Grace is God’s unmerited favour bestowed on us freely. The free and unmerited favour of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings. Grace is the primary way God establishes and engages in a relationship with us, serving as the foundation. It’s a divine gift that we cannot earn or work for, and it is this very nature of grace that is freely given and unmerited which makes it so powerful. As Christians, we have already found Grace in the sight of God through the saving work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
What is the difference between grace and favour?
Grace and favour are sometimes used interchangeably. We tend to confuse grace with favour, but there is a distinction. The difference between grace and favour is that grace, in the fullest sense, flows from God alone and reaches us undeservedly, whereas favour can come from both God and man (see Luke 2:52; 1 Samuel 2:26; Proverbs 3:4).
Two components of Grace
We can divide grace into two aspects: provision and personification. First, there is the provision of grace, which means that God freely gives grace (see Psalms 84:11). Since we all need grace, God is willing and freely provides it. Second, there is the personification of grace, which means that grace is embodied in Jesus as the fullness of God (see John 1:16–17). Grace is not just a concept but a person — Jesus Himself, full of grace and truth.
What is the meaning of the phrase ‘found grace’?
What, then, does it mean to have found grace? It means grace found you, not the other way around. We don’t discover grace — it’s better to say that grace discovers us. To have found grace is to be sought by God. Experiencing grace shows that God has found you, not due to your own merit.
The four I’s of God’s grace expressed
- Grace is God’s intention in His will and plan to seek us, not our own desires or schemes.
- Grace is God’s initiative in reaching out to us without any input or worthiness on our part.
- Grace is God’s invitation for us to be welcomed into His presence.
- Grace is God’s interaction that allows us to confidently approach His presence, communicate with Him, relate to Him, reason with Him, and enjoy fellowship with Him.
God’s plan is to extend grace to sinners by calling and inviting them to believe in His Son for salvation and to personally reconcile with Him. His will, plan, and actions begin by convicting us of sin and guiding us toward Christ, the Saviour of our souls.
Contributor: Brahim Kallon (Wisdom Grace)
