Grace

But the Lord said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." 2 Corinthians 12:9

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Synopsis

Grace is God's love poured out on undeserving humanity. All people have fallen short of the glory of God and have sinned. Yet God loves us still. Nothing we do can restore us to a right relationship with God. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, in his death and resurrection that we can return to God.

Contents

See also Easton's Bible Dictionary entry on Grace

Related topics

• Sin | Repentance | Mercy | Forgiveness | Justification | Salvation | Atonement
• Irresistible grace | Common grace | Universal prevenient grace | Prevenient grace

Comments, Personal Articles, Studies and Sermons

Grace (discussion) (For short comments and opinions)

• Justification by faith alone (G.G.)

Bible studies

• An introduction to grace (Bible study) (G.G.)

Songs

• Amazing Grace
• When I Survey the Wonderous Cross

For related quotations see Grace (quotes)

Main article

Grace is God's love poured out on undeserving humanity. All people have fallen short of the glory of God and have sinned. Yet God loves us still. Nothing we do can restore us to a right relationship with God. It is only through faith in Jesus Christ, in his death and resurrection that we can return to God.

Biblical passages and concepts about grace

The word grace is never defined in the Bible. The word appears in the English Old Testament a dozen or so times, most commonly translated from the Hebrew, "chesed". This has also been translated as "loving-kindness".

In contrast, the word grace is found hundreds of times in the New Testament, translated from the Koine Greek word, "charis", which also means gift. John 1:17 states that "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Although the word is not used into the gospels many times, the concept of grace is seen in Jesus' teaching, parables, miracles and death and resurrection. The parable of the Prodigal Son is a wonderful example of grace.

The apostle Paul explains in Romans 4:23-24 that "For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus."

Peter tells us to "set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed" (1 Peter 1:13) and that we worship the "God of all grace" (1 Peter 5:10). In Hebrews we are told that we may approach "the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Hebrews 4:16).

Links

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