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Grace is often confused with mercy. Especially in Afrikaans the word “genade” is used for mercy and for grace. Mercy is when failure gets overlooked or forgiven. Grace is when failure stops.
Grace is a very specific concept in spiritual terms. Below is a word study to examine how it is used in the Bible and what we can conclude the word GRACE means to God.
Shouts of “Grace Grace”
So he answered and said to me:
“This is the word of the Lord to Zerubbabel:
‘Not by might nor by power, but by My Spirit,’
Says the Lord of hosts.
‘Who are you, O great mountain?
Before Zerubbabel you shall become a plain!
And he shall bring forth the capstone
With shouts of “Grace, grace to it!” ’ ”
Zechariah 4:6-7
Grace for Grace through Jesus Christ
And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.17. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.18. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.
John 1:16-18
That Grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord
For as by one man’s disobedience many were made sinners, so also by one Man’s obedience many will be made righteous.20. Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more,21. so that as sin reigned in death, even so grace might reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Romans 5:19-21
Grace is the power to overcome sin
For sin shall not have dominion over you, for you are not under law but under grace.
Romans 6:14
Elected by Grace
Even so then, at this present time there is a remnant according to the election of grace.6. And if by grace, then it is no longer of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace. But if it is of works, it is no longer grace; otherwise work is no longer work.7. What then? Israel has not obtained what it seeks; but the elect have obtained it, and the rest were blinded.8. Just as it is written:
“God has given them a spirit of stupor,
Eyes that they should not see
And ears that they should not hear,
To this very day.”
Romans 11:5-8
Grace brings power and enablement
According to the grace of God which was given to me, as a wise master builder I have laid the foundation, and another builds on it. But let each one take heed how he builds on it.
1 Corinthians 3:10
Grace empowered Paul to effective ministry
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
1 Corinthians 15:10
Fallen from Grace (shocker!)
You have become estranged from Christ, you who attempt to be justified by law; you have fallen from grace.
Galatians 5:4
Minister by Grace
of which I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.
Ephesians 3:7
Knowledge of Grace brings fruit
which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth;
Colossians 1:6
Christ Name is Glorified by Grace
when He comes, in that Day, to be glorified in His saints and to be admired among all those who believe, because our testimony among you was believed.11. Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power,12. that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.
2 Thessalonians 1:10-12
Various other descriptions of Grace
You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.
2 Timothy 2:1
Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Hebrews 4:16
But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: “God resists the proud, But gives grace to the humble.”
James 4:6
Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you,11. searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow.12. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
Therefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;14. as obedient children, not conforming yourselves to the former lusts, as in your ignorance;
1 Peter 1:10-14
Grace is not for lowering the standard
For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
Jude 4
Saved by Grace
that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.8. For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,9. not of works, lest anyone should boast.10. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Ephesians 2:7-10
