Want to gain a better understanding of the grace of God, and what it means for your life? Let’s study these 27 Bible verses about God’s grace, to learn more about it.
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I know, I know, the concept of ‘grace’ is not the easiest to understand! It’s all too easy to miss its true meaning, or mistake it for something it’s not.
But, grace is so important! After all, the grace of God is the very foundation of our faith, as Ephesians 2:8 says: “it is by grace you have been saved, through faith”. We could never have earned our salvation; it’s the gift of God’s grace!
As a new believer, for a long time I thought God’s grace was all about the pardon (from sin), and nothing more. Like, hey, I’m saved by grace, and that’s all there is to it. Easy peasy, no effort expected on my part.
Have you had this misunderstanding as well? Or maybe you’re so confused about the concept of grace, you can’t even begin to know what it means?
That’s okay… as with many things in life, it’s never too late to learn.
God’s Word provides plenty of explanation as to the meaning of grace… In fact, if you’ve ever wondered “How many times is grace mentioned in the Bible?”, well, it’s in there quite a lot! Depending on the translation, it’s estimated that ‘grace’ is mentioned some 100-200+ times in the Bible (131 in the NIV, for example). Clearly, it’s an important concept.
So then, let’s have a little Bible study on grace…
What is the meaning of God’s grace?
Recently, I came across this great quote by theologian and pastor John Piper, in which he said “Grace is not simply leniency when we have sinned. Grace is the enabling gift of God not to sin. Grace is power, not just pardon”.
WHOA! That totally makes sense though, when you consider how many Bible verses about grace actually describe it more as a kind of strength we receive from God, rather than just forgiveness or mercy.
If you want to learn more about these different meanings of grace, read or listen to this John Piper interview on DesiringGod.org, which is very insightful! But for now, we’ll press on to see what the Bible says about these different meanings of grace…
27 Bible Verses About God’s Grace
So, having been inspired by that John Piper quote above, I’ve organized these Bible verses about God’s grace into different categories, the main two being God’s grace as pardon, and God’s grace as power. And, I also added a third category: myths or misconceptions about God’s grace. That final category contains Bible verses about grace and truth, which advise against misconstruing God’s grace as something it’s not (like, it’s not a license to sin!).
I do pray these 27 verses help you to understand the different types of grace in the Bible, and what the grace of God can do in your life!
God’s Grace as Forgiveness/Favor
This first batch of Bible verses about God’s grace are focused on the most commonly understood concept of grace: that is, as God’s gift of salvation. If we look at the Greek word for grace (‘gratia’), it means ‘unmerited favor’ and also ‘gratitude’. So, God’s grace is first and foremost, a gift that we didn’t deserve! And, it’s something we should have a deep gratitude for! Our response to grace (in gratitude for it), should be to move further and further away from sin, to live as God wants us to.
There are lots of great examples of grace in the Bible which illustrate this concept well… One of my favorites, is the story of the adulterous woman in John 8:1-11. She had clearly sinned, and yet Jesus told her her sins were forgiven (grace as pardon—as seen in the Bible verses about grace and forgiveness in this section), and also to “go and sin no more” (grace as power—more on that in the next section).
1) John 1:17 (AMP)
For the Law was given through Moses, but grace [the unearned, undeserved favor of God] and truth came through Jesus Christ.
2) Romans 5:8 (NIV)
But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
3) Romans 5:1-2 (NRSV)
Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand; and we boast in our hope of sharing the glory of God.
4) 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.
5) Romans 11:5-6 (NLT)
It is the same today, for a few of the people of Israel have remained faithful because of God’s grace—his undeserved kindness in choosing them. And since it is through God’s kindness, then it is not by their good works. For in that case, God’s grace would not be what it really is—free and undeserved.
6) Acts 15:11 (NLT)
We believe that we are all saved the same way, by the undeserved grace of the Lord Jesus.
7) Romans 3:22-24 (NIV)
This righteousness is given through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference between Jew and Gentile, 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.
8) Ephesians 1:4-8 (NIV)
For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight. In love he predestined us for adoption to sonship through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves. In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, in accordance with the riches of God’s grace that he lavished on us.
God’s Grace as Empowerment for Righteous Living
So far, we’ve clearly seen that grace is about undeserved mercy and forgiveness God lavishes on our life. But what about grace as power not to sin? As this next category of Bible verses about God’s grace can attest, grace is also about how God helps us in our struggle against sin and weakness.
9) Romans 6:14 (NIV)
For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.
10) 2 Corinthians 5:17-18 (NLT)
This means that anyone who belongs to Christ has become a new person. The old life is gone; a new life has begun! And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.
11) Titus 2:11-14 (NLT)
For the grace of God has been revealed, bringing salvation to all people. And we are instructed to turn from godless living and sinful pleasures. We should live in this evil world with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God, while we look forward with hope to that wonderful day when the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, will be revealed. He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds.
12) Ephesians 2:7 (AMP)
Yet grace [God’s undeserved favor] was given to each one of us [not indiscriminately, but in different ways] in proportion to the measure of Christ’s [rich and abundant] gift.
13) Hebrews 4:16 (AMP)
Therefore let us [with privilege] approach the throne of grace [that is, the throne of God’s gracious favor] with confidence and without fear, so that we may receive mercy [for our failures] and find [His amazing] grace to help in time of need [an appropriate blessing, coming just at the right moment].
14) 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 (NIV)
May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.
15) 2 Corinthians 9:8 (NIV)
And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.
16) Acts 4:33-35 (AMP)
And with great ability and power the apostles were continuously testifying to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus, and great grace [God’s remarkable lovingkindness and favor and goodwill] rested richly upon them all. There was not a needy person among them, because those who were owners of land or houses were selling them, and bringing the proceeds of the sales and placing the money down at the apostles’ feet. Then it was distributed to each as anyone had need.
17) 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.
18) 1 Corinthians 15:10 (NLT)
But whatever I am now, it is all because God poured out his special favor on me—and not without results. For I have worked harder than any of the other apostles; yet it was not I but God who was working through me by his grace.
19) Galatians 5:4-5 (NLT)
For if you are trying to make yourselves right with God by keeping the law, you have been cut off from Christ! You have fallen away from God’s grace. But we who live by the Spirit eagerly wait to receive by faith the righteousness God has promised to us.
20) 2 Timothy 2:1-2 (NRSV)
You then, my child, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus; and what you have heard from me through many witnesses entrust to faithful people who will be able to teach others as well.
21) Hebrews 13:9 (NLT)
So do not be attracted by strange, new ideas. Your strength comes from God’s grace, not from rules about food, which don’t help those who follow them.
22) Acts 20:32 (NLT)
And now I entrust you to God and the message of his grace that is able to build you up and give you an inheritance with all those he has set apart for himself.
23) 1 Peter 4:10 (AMP)
Just as each one of you has received a special gift [a spiritual talent, an ability graciously given by God], employ it in serving one another as [is appropriate for] good stewards of God’s multi-faceted grace [faithfully using the diverse, varied gifts and abilities granted to Christians by God’s unmerited favor].
24) 2 Peter 3:18 (NIV)
But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.
God’s Grace: What It’s NOT
And finally, as we seek to understand the answer to the question: “What is the spiritual meaning of grace?”, we need to be careful to not distort the true meaning of grace. This last group of Bible verses about God’s grace deal specifically with truths that might otherwise be glossed over, in favor of ‘easier’ views of grace.
25) 1 Peter 5:5 (NLT)
In the same way, you who are younger must accept the authority of the elders. And all of you, dress yourselves in humility as you relate to one another, for
“God opposes the proud
but gives grace to the humble.”
26) Romans 6:1-4 (NLT)
Well then, should we keep on sinning so that God can show us more and more of his wonderful grace? Of course not! Since we have died to sin, how can we continue to live in it? Or have you forgotten that when we were joined with Christ Jesus in baptism, we joined him in his death? For we died and were buried with Christ by baptism. And just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glorious power of the Father, now we also may live new lives.
27) Jude 1:4 (NLT)
I say this because some ungodly people have wormed their way into your churches, saying that God’s marvelous grace allows us to live immoral lives. The condemnation of such people was recorded long ago, for they have denied our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.
At the end of the day, I think it’s a good idea to view grace as a multi-faceted concept, much like a diamond. It’s not just mercy, and it’s not just power… The grace of God is a magnificent gift of forgiveness, empowerment to “go and sin no more”, strength in your weakness, encouragement, hope, and more.
My personal favorite Bible verse about grace, is 2 Corinthians 12:9. As a person with narcolepsy, Paul’s words in this passage speak volumes to me. Like him, I can say that living with a sleep disorder has made me humble, and ever more grateful for God’s grace—which is sufficient even in my weakness!
I hope this study of Bible verses about God’s grace has helped you to understand the full meaning of grace, and how it applies in your life! If you have any questions at all, please let me know.
Hi! Thank you so much for visiting Divine Creative Love. I’m a Jesus-lovin’ girl, lettering artist, designer, and general creative-at-heart. And, I have narcolepsy. I blog about faith in God, overcoming challenges, and creative topics such as Bible journaling. If you’re new here, be sure and subscribe to my list so you won’t miss anything!