Word Study
Grace
A word study of grace — the dictionary sense, the biblical definition, how Scripture uses the word, and passages to read.
Grace
χάρις
חֵן
God's free favor, given to the undeserving.
GRACE
1. Favor; good will; kindness; disposition to oblige another; as a grant made as an act of grace. 2. Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.
In Scripture, grace is God's favor freely given to those who have not earned it and cannot repay it. Sinners are "justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:24). Because it is free, grace and earning cannot be mixed: "if it is by grace, it is no more of works" (Romans 11:6).
Grace is also God's strength given for the life that follows. "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness" (2 Corinthians 12:9). It "hath appeared, bringing salvation" and then goes on teaching those it saves how to live (Titus 2:11-12).
Grace begins with who God is. When he proclaimed his name to Moses he called himself "a God merciful and gracious" (Exodus 34:6), and the priestly blessing asks that Jehovah "be gracious unto thee" (Numbers 6:25). Grace is not a reluctant exception to God's character but an expression of it.
In Christ that grace is seen in person: the Word became flesh, "full of grace and truth" (John 1:14). Grace does not ignore sin — it answers it. "Where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly" (Romans 5:20). The fitting response is gratitude, humility, and a life that shows the same undeserved kindness to others.
Grace fills Paul's letters: nearly every one opens with "grace to you" and closes with a blessing of grace. In the Greek, charis means favor, kindness freely shown, and also the thanks that answers it, so giving and gratitude share the same word.
In the Old Testament the idea is usually carried by chen, favor, often in the phrase "found favor in the sight of" (or "in the eyes of") — as Noah "found favor in the eyes of Jehovah" (Genesis 6:8). The related word gracious describes God himself, again and again, alongside "merciful" and "slow to anger."
Terms
- grace
- gracious
Jehovah make his face to shine upon thee, and be gracious unto thee:
The priestly blessing asks that God turn his face toward his people in grace.
And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us (and we beheld his glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father), full of grace and truth.
In Jesus, God's grace takes on flesh and is seen and known.
being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
Justification is a free gift of grace, paid for by Christ's redemption.
And the law came in besides, that the trespass might abound; but where sin abounded, grace did abound more exceedingly:
However great sin is, God's grace is greater still.
And he hath said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my power is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my weaknesses, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
Grace is not only pardon but strength, made perfect in weakness.
For the grace of God hath appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
God's grace has appeared in Christ, bringing salvation to all men.