What Is Grace?

In simple terms, grace is undeserved favor—being given something good even though you didn’t earn it or deserve it. Biblically, grace is God’s kindness toward humanity, not based on our works or righteousness, but on His own love and mercy.

Ephesians 2:8-9 (NIV)
“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast.”

There are two kinds of favor: one with a reason and one without a reason.

As human beings, we usually show favor with a reason—we are kind to people we know, people who are good to us, or who offer us something in return, like our family or close friends. But it’s rare—almost impossible—for a human to show favor to someone who doesn’t deserve it, especially someone who offends or harms us.

Romans 5:7-8 (NIV)
“Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous person, though for a good person someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

That’s the difference between human favor and divine grace. God’s grace isn’t based on our goodness. It’s based on His character—He chooses to love us even when we don’t deserve it.

Understanding Grace Through a Parable

To understand grace more clearly, Jesus told a parable in Matthew 20:1–16. In it, a landowner hires workers at different times throughout the day—some in the morning, some at noon, and others just an hour before the day ends. Yet at the end of the day, he pays everyone the same wage.

Matthew 20:13–15 (NIV)
“But he answered one of them, ‘I am not being unfair to you, friend. Didn’t you agree to work for a denarius? Take your pay and go. I want to give the one who was hired last the same as I gave you. Don’t I have the right to do what I want with my own money? Or are you envious because I am generous?’”

The lesson? Grace isn’t about fairness—it’s about generosity. The latecomers didn’t earn equal pay—but they received it because of the landowner’s kindness. That’s how grace works: God gives us what we don’t deserve.

The Greatest Example of Grace: Eternal Life

The most powerful act of grace ever shown to humanity is this: God gave us eternal life through Jesus Christ. After the fall of man in the Garden of Eden, humanity became separated from God. We didn’t deserve another chance.

Romans 3:23-24 (NIV)
“For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.”

God could have left us in our sin and started over—but instead, He chose to save us. Not because we begged Him. Not because we impressed Him. But simply because He is gracious.

Titus 3:5-7 (NIV)
“He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit… so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.”

Responding to Grace: Don’t Take It Lightly

If we’ve been saved purely by God’s grace, then we should never take it for granted. Sadly, some people treat the grace of God lightly—as if it’s cheap or automatic.

Hebrews 2:3 (NIV)
“How shall we escape if we ignore so great a salvation?”

Hebrews 10:29 (NIV)
“How much more severely do you think someone deserves to be punished who has trampled the Son of God underfoot… and who has insulted the Spirit of grace?”

Grace is a gift, but it’s not something to be abused. There will come a time when this opportunity ends—when Christ returns and judgment begins. On that day, people will realize that grace was their only hope—and that rejecting it was their greatest mistake.

Today Is the Day of Grace

Friend, don’t waste the grace of God. If you haven’t yet received Jesus Christ, today is the day. He is at the door of your heart, ready to enter and give you eternal life.

Revelation 3:20 (NIV)
“Here I am! I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”

If you’re ready, pray and repent of your sins. Turn away from them completely and trust in Jesus for your salvation.

John 1:14 (NIV)
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”