The Principal of Grace

God's grace flows freely throughout the Bible! In the abolished Old Testament both Noah and Israel found favor or grace in the eyes of God (Gen. 6:8; Acts 7:46). The original word for “grace” expresses God's unmeritted, unearned, and undeserved favor. It is comforting to know that God's grace is extended to men though we are unworthy. Due to sin, no man has any claim on God, nor can we demand or bargain with God because of our goodness (Rom. 3:23; 6:23). God's grace is always conditional.

The Purpose of Grace

For salvation, God's grace has appeared and been extended to all (Titus 2:11-12). The only reason men will not be saved will not be the fault of God, but man. Jesus Christ brought grace and truth to the world (John 1:17). It was by grace that Jesus died for every man (Hebrews 2:9). By this sacrifice, all have the privilege offered to “come boldly unto the throne of grace” (Hebrews 4:16).

The Procurement of Grace

The riches of God's grace can be obtained through the blood of Christ today (Eph. 1:7; 2:7). It has been announced in “the Gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24; 20:32). God's wonderful grace must be coupled with our whole-hearted obedient faith (Hebrews 5:8-9; Acts 8:37-39). Our belief in the testimony of the Bible produces our obedience to Jesus as our Lord (Luke 6:46). The Bible declares that no one can be saved by “grace alone” (Eph. 2:8-10), nor by “faith only,” as many denominations teach (James 2:24). We can know the truth by which God's grace is offered, and rejoice in the consolation and good hope through it (2 Thess 2:16), when we believe, repent, confess, are baptized into Christ, and live faithfully.