The dictionary defines grace as the unmerited favor of God toward men. This does not do justice to the richness of the biblical use of the term, which appears scores of times. Grace is the favor God is able to show to men because Christ died for them; “by grace are ye saved,” Eph. 2:8. Because of His holy character, God could not save men simply because of His mercy and love. The claims of divine righteousness had to be satisfied before He could save sinful men, therefore Christ died in the place of the ungodly, Rom. 5:6.
Grace is distinguished from the law, John 1:17; from works, Rom. 11:6; and from debt, Rom. 4:4. Salvation cannot be earned by law keeping or by good deeds of any kind. Men are chosen by grace, Rom. 11:5; justified by grace, Rom. 3:24; continue in grace, Acts 13:43; approach God in prayer at the throne of grace, Heb. 4:16. They grow in grace as they grow in the knowledge of Christ, 1 Pet. 2:2; 2 Pet. 3:18.
Men do not fall from grace by sinning, but by putting the law in the place of grace, Gal. 5:4.
A remarkable summary of the teaching of grace is found in Tit. 2:11-14. It includes the denial of wrong things, and the positive instruction that we must live soberly, righteously, and godly as we look for the blessed hope of the Lord’s return.
William Evans, The Great Doctrines of the Bible, (Chicago: Bible Institute Colportage Assoc., 1912), WORDsearch CROSS e-book, Under: “Grace”.
AMEN.