Grace is a word people often use in different ways. We might describe someone as having grace, meaning elegance, or speak of “saying grace” before a meal. In the Bible, however, grace has a more personal meaning. It is God’s undeserved, free gift of love to us.

God’s grace is most clearly seen in God providing His son, Jesus, as a sacrifice so that we can be forgiven for our sins:

“… God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5 v 8)

The Bible also teaches that we can’t earn salvation by the things we do. Even though Paul the apostle worked hard for God, he knew that his efforts could not save him (see 1 Corinthians 15 v 9 & 10).

Paul explains this by saying that just as people earn wages for their work, we earn death as a consequence of sinning:

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” (Romans 6 v 23)

We all sin, so we naturally deserve to die in God’s eyes, but He offers to forgive and save us from everlasting death through Jesus. Grace, then, is truly wonderful. It is undeserved, freely given and life-changing. So, as Paul says,

“Thanks be to God for his inexpressible gift” (2 Corinthians 9 v 15)