In this post I am going to present the Biblical Doctrine of the Grace of God.  My goal is to do this in a way that makes sense out of all of the different uses of the word Grace.  Very quickly when I started studying this I was overwhelmed by the fact that it is not used the same in all instances.

Keeping it simple, most theologians define the Grace of God as unmerited favor.  I am not going to just assume that though, one should strive to define words with scripture itself as much as possible.

“Even so then at this present time also there is a remnant according to the election of grace.  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Romans 11:5-6 KJV

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” 2 Tim 1:9 KJV

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God” Eph 2:8 KJV

The above passages are very clear that Grace is an undeserved gift that is given to us by God.  This is not something that is earned, instead we deserve his wrath.

“10 As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one:; 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God.; 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one.; 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips:; 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness:; 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood:; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways:; 17 And the way of peace have they not known:; 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.; 19 Now we know that what things soever the law saith, it saith to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God.” Rom 3:10-19 KJV

“1 And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins;; 2 Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience:; 3 Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others.; 4 But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us,; 5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved)” Eph 2:1-5 KJV

Above we see the teaching that we deserve death and hell but instead receive a blessing we do not deserve because of the disposition of Love and Mercy that God has for us.  Instead of condemning us he “quickens” us alive in Christ.  This is defined in scripture as the Grace of God.  I would argue based on the above passages that it is the Bible which has defined the Grace of God as a disposition of unmerited favor that God has on our account.

This is a gift that we expect to receive from God in heaven as the scripture teaches that such things come from God.

“John answered and said, A man can receive nothing, except it be given him from heaven.” John 3:27 KJV

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and cometh down from the Father of lights, with whom is no variableness, neither shadow of turning.” James 1:17 KJV

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our sufficiency is of God” 2 Cor 3:5 KJV

“No man can come to me, except the Father which hath sent me draw him: and I will raise him up at the last day.” John 6:44 KJV

“For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?” 1 Cor 4:7 KJV

“Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light” Col 1:12 KJV

It is not so simple though to define Grace and move on.  This is because we see it employed differently in various passages throughout scripture.  I got some help understanding this from a real Theologian by the name of Francis Pieper.  I highly recommend his work, you can find his study on Grace in Vol II.  He maintains that though Grace is always unmerited favor, there are three categories of this Grace seen in scripture.

This is distinguished from the other uses of the word Grace in two distinct points:

1. It always speaks of God’s saving act
2. It excludes the works of the law

Ultimately this is a chief distinction between Christianity and other religions of the world.  All other faiths and cults lack the true Gospel and instead require the believer to perform certain acts to achieve an ultimate goal or plane.  In Christianity God has supplied the work that must be done and it is accounted to us by his Grace (Favor Dei).

“Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.; But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets; Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:  Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;  To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.” Romans 3:20-26 KJV

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:  By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.” Romans 5:1-2 KJV

“For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.  What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid” Romans 6:14-15 KJV

Notice above that the verse says we are not under the law at all but under Grace.  It also says that we shouldn’t sin.  I challenge the reader not to ignore either of these, both are true.  We are not saved by good works, but that doesn’t mean sinning should be aspired to.

“For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt. But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness.” Romans 4:3-5 KJV

Read the above passage one more time, notice that you do not want what is earned but rather what is given.  If you receive what you have earned then enjoy an eternity in hell, because that is all any of us have earned.  What is given is something we do not deserve.  This is greater even than mercy.  If God only showed mercy he would spare us from hell, but instead he has given Grace as well which not only withholds the punishment we deserve but gives us heaven instead.

“I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.” Gal 2:21 KJV

“And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.” Rom 11:6 KJV

“Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” 2 Tim 1:9 KJV

This Grace is a gift, Paul is making it very clear that it is not something that is coming from you but something that is coming from God.

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:; Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Eph 2:8-9 KJV

“But we believe that through the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ we shall be saved, even as they.” Act 15:11 KJV

“For if by one man’s offence death reigned by one; much more they which receive abundance of grace and of the gift of righteousness shall reign in life by one, Jesus Christ” Romans 5:17 KJV

This is God’s universal Grace on everyone.  The Bible is very clear that God want’s to save everybody.  All tribes, all nations, all tongues, all men and women of all ages in every generation.

“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.; For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved.” John 3:16-17 KJV

“Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost” Matt 28:19 KJV

“Who will have all men to be saved, and to come unto the knowledge of the truth.;  For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;  Who gave himself a ransom for all, to be testified in due time.” 1 Tim 2:4-6 KJV

“The Lord is not slack concerning his promise, as some men count slackness; but is longsuffering to us-ward, not willing that any should perish, but that all should come to repentance.” 2 Peter 3:9 KJV

Scripture is also very clear that not all are saved.  These are two things that we must accept is being true at the same time.  Some will choose to abrogate one of those teachings with the other.  I would argue that it is a good idea to accept a healthy amount of Biblical paradox, we can’t connect all of the pieces.  That said, though there are three forms of Gods Grace taught in scripture, all are worked through means.  That is, God applies his Grace to you (all three at once) through physical means here on planet earth.

When God’s word is rightly preached and the sacraments rightly administered God’s Grace is given as a gift by a work of God through the Holy Spirit.  His Favor Dei is poured out on you to Justification,  His Gratia Infusa is poured into you unto blessings and good works,  and his Gratia Universalis is revealed in that anyone can receive his Grace through the means given with no distinction of persons or privilege.