Grace is unmerited favor that God has made available for all who will accept it. It is an extension of the pure and perfect love He (God) has for us. It is kindness we don't deserve. There is nothing we have done, are doing, or will ever do to earn or return this favor. It is a gift from God. Grace is divine assistance given to us human beings for our regeneration (rebirth/becoming born-again) or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine favor.
Grace can be explained with this acronym:
God's
Riches
At
Christ's
Expense
Many of us still believe that it is by our works that we are to be saved. The Bible in the book of Ephesians 2:8 KJV says "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.". Here it is clear that our works can not and will never be able to save us, get us to God, or take us to heaven. The Bible also said in Isaiah 64 that man's righteousness is as filthy rags.
After man sinned in Genesis, God knew that He would have to reconcile man by the blood of another because without the shedding of blood there is no remission for sin (Hebrews 9:22 NIV). He was also aware that the blood offerings of the Israelites in the old testament would not be enough to completely erase man's iniquities which is why they had to do it periodically. This is why He sent Jesus (John 3:16) to die, He was the only one that could have passed through life for so long a time without sin because even though He was born a man, He was in full God, and also Man (John 1:1,14; Col 2:9; Heb. 1:3; John 8:58, Hebrews 7 and many other verses)
The following chart accompanied with Bible scriptures should further explain the two natures of Jesus:
| GOD | MAN |
| He is worshiped (Matt. 2:2,11; 14:33). | He worshiped the Father (John 17). |
| He was called God (John 20:28; Heb. 1:8) | He was called man (Mark 15:39; John 19:5). |
| He was called Son of God (Mark 1:1) | He was called Son of Man (John 9:35-37) |
| He is prayed to (Acts 7:59). | He prayed to the Father (John 17). |
| He is sinless (1 Pet. 2:22; Heb. 4:15). | He was tempted (Matt. 4:1). |
| He knows all things (John 21:17). | He grew in wisdom (Luke 2:52). |
| He gives eternal life (John 10:28). | He died (Rom. 5:8). |
| All the fullness of God dwells in Him (Col. 2:9). |
He has a body of flesh and bones (Luke 24:39).
|
Now back to Grace.
>Grace is what makes us who we are in Christ
1 Corinthians 15:10 "But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me".
>Grace, through faith helps us to be complete, to be perfect in Christ Jesus, it removes our shortcomings, takes us where we can't get to on our own in our righteousness.
2 Corinthians 12:9 And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
2 Corinthians 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
>It is by Grace that faith is made possible
Eph 2:8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith--and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God
>Grace is what takes us to God's throne becoming heirs unto God with Christ Jesus
Romans 8:17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Ephesians 3:6 This mystery is that through the gospel the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and sharers together in the promise in Christ Jesus.
Hebrews 6:17 Because God wanted to make the unchanging nature of his purpose very clear to the heirs of what was promised, he confirmed it with an oath.
>It is through grace that we gain justification
Romans 3:24 and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.
Titus 3:7 so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
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