Definition:
Favor or kindness shown without regard to the worth or merit of the one who receives it and in spite of what that same person deserves. Grace is one of the key attributes of God. The Lord God is “merciful and gracious, long suffering, and abounding in goodness and truth” (Ex 34:6). Therefore, grace is almost always associated with mercy, love, compassion, and patience as the source of help and with deliverance from distress.
OT application of grace:
In the Old Testament, the supreme example of grace was the redemption of the Hebrew people from Egypt and their establishment in the Promised Land. This did not happen because of any merit on Israel’s part, but in spite of their unrighteousness . Although the grace of God is always free and undeserved, it must not be taken for granted.
Deut 9:5 It is not because of your righteousness or the uprightness of your heart that you go in to possess their land, but because of the wickedness of these nations that the Lord your God drives them out from before you, and that He may fulfill the word which the Lord swore to your fathers, to Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. 6 Therefore understand that the Lord your God is not giving you this good land to possess because of your righteousness, for you are a stiff necked people. NKJV
Grace is only enjoyed within the COVENANT the gift is given by God, and the gift is received by man through repentance and faith.
Amos 5:15 Hate evil, love good; Establish justice in the gate. It may be that the Lord God of hosts
will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph. NKJV
Grace is to be humbly sought through the prayer of faith
James 5:14 Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord. 15 And the prayer of faith will save the sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven. 16 Confess your trespasses to one another, and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The effective, fervent prayer of a righteous man avails much. NKJV
The grace of God was supremely revealed and given in the person and work of Jesus Christ.
Luke 2:40 And the Child grew and became strong in spirit, filled with wisdom; and the grace of God was upon Him. NKJV
Jesus was not only the beneficiary of God’s grace , but He was also its very embodiment.
John 1:14 And the Word became 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. NKJV
Jesus has brought grace to mankind for salvation .
Titus 2: 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, NKJV
By His death and resurrection, Jesus restored the broken fellowship between God and His people, both Jew and Gentile. The only way of salvation for any person is “through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ”
Acts 15:11 But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved in the same manner as they.” NKJV
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. NKJV
The grace of God revealed in Jesus Christ is applied to human beings for their salvation by the Holy Spirit who is called “the Spirit of grace”
Heb 10:29 the Spirit of grace? NKJV
Zech 12:10 “And I will pour on the Spirit of grace and supplication; NKJV
The Spirit of Grace is the One who connects Christ to His people so that they receive forgiveness, adoption to sonship, and newness of life, as well as every spiritual gift or grace.
Eph 4:7 However, he has given each one of us a special gift through the generosity of Christ. 8 That is why the Scriptures say,
“When he ascended to the heights,
he led a crowd of captives
and gave gifts to his people.” NLT
The theme of grace is especially prominent in the letters of the apostle Paul. He sets grace radically over against the law and the works of the law.
Rom 3:24 being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, NKJV
Rom 3:28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith apart from the deeds of the law. NKJV
Paul makes it abundantly clear that salvation is not something that can be earned or merited; it can be received only as a gift of grace.
Titus 3: 5 not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, NKJV
Titus 3:5 he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. NLT
Examples of the grace of God in operation.
Luke 23:39 Then one of the criminals who were hanged blasphemed Him, saying, “If You are the Christ, save Yourself and us.”
40 But the other, answering, rebuked him, saying, “Do you not even fear God, seeing you are under the same condemnation? 41 And we indeed justly, for we receive the due reward of our deeds; but this Man has done nothing wrong.” 42 Then he said to Jesus, “Lord, remember me when You come into Your kingdom.”
43 And Jesus said to him, “Assuredly, I say to you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.” NKJV
Luke 7:37 And behold, a woman in the city who was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at the table in the Pharisee’s house, brought an alabaster flask of fragrant oil, 38 and stood at His feet behind Him weeping; and she began to wash His feet with her tears, and wiped them with the hair of her head; and she kissed His feet and anointed them with the fragrant oil. 39 Now when the Pharisee who had invited Him saw this, he spoke to himself, saying,”This Man, if He were a prophet, would know who and what manner of woman this is who is touching Him, for she is a sinner.” NKJV