What Does the Bible Say About Grace?

Many people wonder what the Bible has to say about grace. Grace is the fulfillment of the law, which Jesus did for people to reconcile humanity with God. Without grace, nobody would ever be able to live eternally with God. In appreciation for God's grace, the Bible says that God wants humanity to live a life that is pleasing to God rather than continuing to live however individuals see fit.

Identification

The best explanation of grace in the Bible is John 1, where the disciple John explains Jesus' role in coming to earth: "For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." (John 1:17) In Matthew 5:17, Jesus explained, "Do not think that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets; I have not come to abolish them but to fulfill them." Jesus came to fulfill the law, which mankind could not fulfill themselves. This fulfillment is called "grace."

Function

According to the Bible, grace is what enables mankind to reconcile fully with God. Human beings are unable to fulfill every single aspect of the law. So, Jesus fulfilled the law for humankind and, by his grace, reconciled us back to God. The Bible says in Acts 15:11, "We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved." People cannot earn their way to God: they reconcile with God through grace.

Considerations

Without grace, people would be unable to reconcile with God. As the Bible points out in Romans 3:23-24, "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." The Bible then goes on in Romans 3 to explain that justice required "sacrifice of atonement," which Jesus provided through grace.

Significance

Grace is what enables people to enter into God's presence. Nobody can sin so much that there is not enough grace to cover it. In fact, the Bible points out in Romans 5:20 that "where sin increased, grace increased all the more." The Bible goes on to say in Romans 5:21 that "just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." Grace is the key to eternal life with God.

Misconceptions

Some people mistakenly believe that grace means that you are no longer accountable for the choices that you make. That is not true. God wants you to use your grace to share God's compassion with the rest of the world. The Bible tells us in Romans 6:18 that you "have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness." Romans 6:1-2 asks, "Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means!" Instead, you should show your appreciation for God's grace by living your life in a way that is pleasing to God.

Resources

• John 1
• Function of grace