The Grace of God

God is “the God of all grace” (1 Peter 5:10).

As “the God of all grace,” and because grace is a part of His eternal nature, God is gracious in His dealings with people.

In grace, God deals favorably with people in a way they do not deserve.

Grace often involves God giving to us the exact opposite of what we deserve.

The Greek term translated “grace” is charis, which signifies a favor freely done, without being deserved or expecting anything in return.

From the first mention of grace (Genesis 6:8) until the last (Revelation 22:21), the glorious theme of grace is echoed throughout the Word of God.

God is described as abounding in grace.

“Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Romans 5:20).

Grace is God’s characteristic of love combined with His energetic action.

Every person is the recipient of God’s grace to an certain degree.

“The LORD is gracious, and full of compassion; slow to anger, and of great mercy. The LORD is good to all; and His tender mercies are over all His works” (Psalm 145:8-9).

God sends certain blessings to all mankind.

Jesus commanded His followers to love others -- even their enemies (Matthew 5:43-44)
-- because God exhibits His grace toward all people:

“He [God] maketh His sun to rise on the evil [people] and on the good [people], and sendeth rain on the just [people] and on the unjust [people]” (Matthew 5:45).


God demonstrates grace toward His enemies.

“When we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. For scarcely [rarely] for a righteous man will one die; yet peradventure [possibly] for a good man some would even dare to die. But God commendeth [demonstrated] His love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:6-8).

God has provided spiritual blessings for all mankind.

God’s grace is evident in restraining sin in the world.

God’s grace is evident in convicting people of their sin.

God’s grace is supremely evident in His sending the Lord Jesus Christ to die for sin.

“The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men” (Titus 2:11).

“We trust in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, specially of those that believe” (1 Timothy 4:10).

This does not teach universalism -- that everyone will be saved.

It simply indicates that spiritual provision has been made for everyone. Since Jesus is God, His death had infinite value.

God saves people by His grace.

“He [Abram] believed in the LORD; and He [God] counted it to him for righteousness” (Genesis 15:5-6).

“Blessed is he whose transgression is forgiven, whose sin is covered. Blessed is the man unto whom the LORD imputeth not iniquity” (Psalm 32:1).

“To him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on Him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness . . . Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace” (Romans 4:5-6, 16).

“If [salvation is] by grace, then is it no more of works; otherwise grace is no more grace.
But if it be of works, then is it no more grace; otherwise work is no more work” (Romans 11:5-6).

“In whom [Jesus] we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace” (Ephesians 1:7).

“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).

God “hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Timothy 1:9).

The grace of God is the other side of the coin, so to speak, as compared to His mercy.

Mercy and grace function harmoniously and are expressions of God’s love.

1. In mercy, God withholds deserved punishment.

In grace, God freely bestows undeserved favor.

2. Mercy pardons; grace justifies.

“Who [Paul] was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious; but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Timothy 1:13).

“Being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).

3. Mercy removes the guilt and penalty of sin; grace imputes righteousness.

“He that covereth his sins shall not prosper; but whoso confesseth and forsaketh them shall have mercy” (Proverbs 28:13).

“To him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness” (Romans 4:5).



Salvation from start to finish is associated with the grace of God and not mankind’s works.

Grace Works

God deals favorably with people God deals with people in a
in a way they do not deserve. way they deserve.

Grace is the only way sinners Salvation by works bars sinners
can be saved from sin. from salvation, for no one can be good enough.

Grace does not involve human merit, Human merit, worth, or works
worth, or works as causing, earning, in some way cause, earn,
or contributing to salvation or contribute to salvation.

The human response of faith allows The human response of works
God to work graciously, as He has makes a claim on God and compels
promised to do. God to fulfill His obligation.

Salvation is entirely God’s work; Salvation would be a cooperative
He receives all the credit and praise. endeavor of God and man, and thus both receive praise.

Being solely God’s work, Relying on man’s doing his part,
salvation by grace cannot fail. salvation by works would never be absolutely certain.


The term “grace” is used to characterize the present age, just as the term “law” is used to characterize the age from Mt. Sinai to Calvary.

“The law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).

Law Grace

God prohibiting and requiring God pleading and giving
(Exodus 20:1-17) (2 Corinthians 5:18, 21)

A ministry of condemnation A ministry of forgiveness
(Romans 3:19) (Ephesians 1:7)

Curses Redeems from the curse
(Galatians 3:10) (Galatians 3:13)

Kills Makes alive
(Romans 7:9, 11) (John 10:10)

Shuts every mouth before God Opens every mouth to praise God
(Romans 3:19) (Romans 10:9-10; Psalm 107:2)

Puts great distance between God and man Brings guilty people near to God
(Exodus 20:18-19) (Ephesians 2:13)

Says, “An eye for an eye . . .” Says, “Turn the other cheek”
(Exodus 21:24) (Matthew 5:39)

Says, “Do and live” Says, “Believe and live”
(Luke 10:28) (John 5:24)

Utterly condemns the best person Freely justifies the worst person who
(Philippians 3:4, 9) believes (Luke 23:24; Romans
5:6; 1 Timothy 1:15)

Is a system of probation Is a system of favor
(Galatians 3:23-25) (Ephesians 2:4-5)

Stones an adulteress Says, “Neither do I condemn thee”
(Deuteronomy 22:21) (John 8:10-11)

Sheep are sacrificed for the shepherd The Shepherd is sacrificed for the
(Leviticus 7:9; 1 Samuel 7:9) sheep (John 10:11)


Jesus’ death brought the end of the Mosaic law.

“Sin shall not have dominion over you; for ye are not under the law, but under grace” (Romans 6:14).

“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness to every one that believeth” (Romans 10:4).

“The law having a shadow of good things to come, and not the very image [reality] of the things, can never with those sacrifices which they offered year by year continually make the comers thereunto perfect. . . . Then said He [Jesus], Lo, I come to do Thy will, O God. He taketh away the first [the Old Testament sacrifices], that He may establish the second [the New Covenant]” (Hebrews 10:1, 9).

By itself, the law could not justify a sinner; therefore if people are to be justified, another way must be provided.

“By Him [Jesus] all that believe are justified from all things, from which ye could not be justified by the law of Moses” (Acts 3:39).

“By the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in His [God’s] sight” (Romans 3:20).

“Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of [in] Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of [in] Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified” (Galatians 2:16).

The law could show people their need for salvation, but it could not provide the answer to that need.

“Before faith came, we were kept under the law, shut [locked] up unto the faith which should afterwards be revealed. Wherefore the law was our schoolmaster to bring us unto Christ, that we might be justified by faith. But after that faith is come, we are no longer under a schoolmaster” (Galatians 3:23-25).

The death of Jesus was God’s provision to meet mankind’s need.

The Old Testament law reveals a sinful condition and condemns sinners as deserving death.

Grace provides a righteousness that sinners could never attain by themselves.