What is Grace?

“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.” — Ephesians 2:8-9

A biblically based definition of grace begins with this foundational truth. Scripturally, grace is not a reward for righteous behavior or something that can be earned through legalistic deeds. According to the Bible, grace is the unmerited, unearned, and undeserved favor of God poured out upon humanity. True biblical grace is the operational power of God’s love, providing both the free gift of eternal salvation and the daily empowerment required to walk out a life of true holiness.

 

“Grace is not merely God overlooking our faults; it is God actively providing the perfect sacrifice to cover them and the power to overcome them.”

The Biblical Foundation of Saving Grace

Salvation is Received by Grace Through Faith Alone

According to the S.T.E.P.S. framework of discipleship, salvation is the primary step in restoring the relationship between God and humanity that was broken by sin in the Garden of Eden. The Bible explicitly declares that this redemptive act cannot be achieved through human merit; it is extended strictly through God’s grace and received by faith.

When Adam and Eve disobeyed God, sin entered the world, severing the perfect relationship between humanity and God and resulting in physical and spiritual death. Because all humans inherit this fallen nature, we are entirely incapable of saving ourselves. As the Scriptures testify:

• Romans 3:10-12: “As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: there is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.”
• Romans 3:23: “For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;”
• Romans 3:24: “Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:”

Through grace, God, in His infinite love and mercy, chose to provide a way to restore this broken relationship. This was accomplished through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, who serves as the perfect, sinless sacrifice.

Theological Traits of Grace

To fully understand the depth of grace, a disciple must recognize its theological characteristics. Grace operates on multiple levels within the Christian life, reflecting God’s nature and His redemptive plan for humanity.

1. Grace is Unmerited Favor:
   Grace stands in direct opposition to the concept of earning salvation. The Apostle Paul makes it clear that if salvation were based on works, humanity would boast in its own achievements. Instead, grace is a free gift, excluding all boasting. “Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith” (Romans 3:27).

2. Grace is Costly but Free:
   While grace is completely free to the believer, it came at the ultimate cost to God. Christ died for us while we were yet sinners (Romans 5:8). The wages of our sin is death, but the free gift of God’s grace is eternal life through Jesus Christ (Romans 6:23).

3. Grace is Transformative:
   Grace does not leave a person in their fallen state. The indwelling of the Holy Spirit transforms the fallen individual, destined for eternal death, into a redeemed person with eternal life. Grace empowers believers to mortify the deeds of the flesh and live led by the Spirit, adopting them as children of God (Romans 8:13-15).

The Stages of Grace in a Believer’s Life

In Christian teaching, the grace of salvation is experienced in three distinct but unified stages, demonstrating how God’s unmerited favor covers the past, empowers the present, and secures the future.

1. Justification (A Past Event)

Justification is the one-time event where a believer is declared righteous before God through faith in Christ (Romans 3:24). Through grace, God sets forth Jesus as a propitiation through faith in His blood, remitting past sins and declaring the believer just . At this moment, the penalty of sin is completely removed.

2. Sanctification (A Present Reality)

Sanctification is the ongoing process by which the Holy Spirit works in the believer’s life to make them holy and more like Christ. Grace provides the daily power to overcome temptation, understand the Scriptures, and cultivate a restored relationship with God. Believers experience the transformative power of salvation in their daily lives as they are sanctified by the truth of God’s Word (John 17:17).

3. Glorification (A Future Hope)

Glorification is the final stage when believers are fully transformed into Christ’s likeness in eternity (1 John 3:2). Grace guarantees this future hope, promising a time when sin, sorrow, and death are completely eradicated, and believers are perfectly united with God in heaven.

God’s Purpose in Grace

Why did God extend such profound grace to humanity? The theological understanding of God’s relationship with us begins with His desire for a loving, meaningful relationship. God created humanity with free will because love, by definition, requires choice. When humanity failed the test of love and trust, opting for self-reliance and disobedience, God’s grace became the vehicle for redemption.

The ultimate purpose of grace is restoration. The Bible reveals that God’s plan is to restore creation and humanity into perfect fellowship with Him. As Revelation 21:3-4 declares, God will dwell with His people, wiping away all tears, which is the culmination of His gracious redemptive plan.

Next Steps: Engaging with God’s Grace

Understanding grace is foundational, but applying it transforms your life. To grow in your discipleship journey and fully embrace the grace of God, consider the following next steps:

1. Evaluate Your Spiritual Foundation: Have you fully accepted God’s free gift of grace? Review the “Steps in Salvation” to ensure you have confessed your fallen nature, demonstrated faith in Jesus’ sacrifice, and called upon Him for forgiveness.
2. Engage with S.T.E.P.S. Profile Inventories: Utilize the S.T.E.P.S. spiritual gift and discipleship inventories to discover how God’s grace has specifically equipped you for ministry and service. Understanding your unique spiritual wiring helps you steward His grace effectively.
3. Commit to Daily Scripture Study: Grace is magnified as you grow in the knowledge of God. Establish a routine of reading, studying, and meditating on the Bible. “This book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth; but thou shalt meditate therein day and night” (Joshua 1:8). Let the Word of God be a lamp unto your feet (Psalm 119:105) as you walk in His unmerited favor.
4. Cultivate the Relationship: Grace restores your relationship with God. Spend time in prayer daily, recognizing that you are no longer under the spirit of bondage to fear, but have received the Spirit of adoption, crying “Abba, Father” (Romans 8:15).

Grace is the bedrock of the Christian faith. It is the unmerited favor that saves us, the power that sustains us, and the promise that secures our eternal future.