Just what is so special about grace anyways? Every Christian believes in it, all people want to be recipients of it, yet what is it all about? Defining grace and understanding its meaning is not always that simple. Extreme views are inherent on both sides of this theological issue. One perspective is that we can live however we want, because in the final analysis, God will demonstrate His grace towards us. The other extreme position is that while grace is necessary, it is not ultimately sufficient in saving sinners. The danger with the former is that it can easily lead to passivity and to careless living, while the latter introduces extra-biblical concepts. From this perspective, God does not operate upon the human soul directly while working salvation, but rather, has established external means or instruments by which His saving grace is communicated. A number of doctrines are perverted in this view, everything from justification and regeneration to sanctification and glorification. In the final analysis, both ends of the spectrum distort what grace means in a scriptural context—but how many people recognize this, or even care?

If I have learned anything over the years while interacting with Christians from a variety of theological persuasions it is this: Evangelicals are often confused about the nature and meaning of biblical grace. Part of the problem can be traced to the fact that the Bible uses grace in a number of ways. Combine this with the reality that relatively few Christians have given serious consideration to the importance of this Christian distinctive, and it is no wonder why a tidal wave of confusion and contradiction has swept through our churches. Rarely does it seem as if believers consider the importance of grace in the life of the saved. New Christians—and mature ones as well—do not adequately understand the extent of God’s role in saving sinners nor do they fully grasp the ramifications of their commitments to their theological presuppositions. I am reminded of the saying "a mist in the pulpit, is a fog in the pew." We have never before had so much mist in the church and fog in the mind of the believer when it comes to the doctrine of God’s grace. Properly understanding the essential nature of grace, therefore, is paramount to our efforts in embracing the faith that was delivered once for all the saints and communicating it clearly to an unbelieving world. Without a firm grasp of Christian truths, we will not be fully equipped to give people hope for a brighter future in union with God. Misunderstanding or misapplying grace also brings a watered down version of the gospel and impedes the message we are trying to present. A spurious view of grace distorts the truth of the gospel and only hampers our evangelistic efforts.

I am convinced that if more people understood grace from a biblical and historical perspective many of the current theological divides among Evangelicals would abate. If only the majority of Christians would simply take the time to think through what it means to embrace sola gratia, unity would be closer than many realize. Confusion is perhaps the best way to characterize the current evangelical thinking when it comes to discussing God’s grace as it relates to His absolute sovereignty and role He takes in the salvation of His creation. Therefore, it is important we start from the beginning by providing a brief definition of the topic now under consideration.

The word "grace" used in the English language does not necessarily carry the exact biblical meaning of the term. Oftentimes we hear of people using grace in a manner that suggests some sort of human virtue or character of attractiveness. While this is arguably one aspect of the word, it is not the clearest or best definition to bring to the Bible when trying to reconcile our understanding of grace with the apostolic usage. So it is easy to understand how people can become confused and possess a rather hazy or vague idea of grace in Scripture.

The same probably holds true for believers who were raised in the Christian faith from an early age and attended Sunday school. They might have learned the little acrostic: God’s Riches at Christ’s Expense. While this is indeed another side of grace, it does not sufficiently tell us what grace is. Rather, this definition explains to us what we get from grace, that is, God’s riches. Someone else might offer the pithiest of all definitions—"unmerited favor". And that would be truest in the most basic sense. Simply put, biblical grace is God’s unmerited favor towards us—favor that is unmeritable. Meaning not only is grace granted without deference to the recipient, but also that it cannot be relationally tied to any sort of human effort. Time and again Scripture presents grace as God’s favor bestowed upon the undeserving. Paul recognizes this about his own conversion experience. The apostle recorded, "But when he who had set me apart before I was born, and who called me by his grace, was pleased to reveal his Son to me, in order that I might preach him among the Gentiles" (Gal 1:15–16).

Notice the events surrounding his spiritual transformation. Foundational to Paul’s conversion and call to the ministry was based solely upon the good pleasure of God and His grace. The words "set me apart…and who called me by his grace" form an incomparable truth that links together the sovereign pleasure and God’s love to the undeserving—and in this instance, Paul. In his case the time of setting the apostle apart was accomplished prior to his physical birth, before he had the opportunity to show any inclination or approbation before God. The language Paul employs indicates that God did not express His love and grace upon him because he possessed something intrinsically pleasing or because he acted agreeably in the sight of God. Rather, God set him apart and called him by grace before he had done anything good or bad. The reason for his calling was solely God’s own pleasure. That God ordained Paul’s apostleship prior to his birth and in spite of his zealous persecution makes the decision all the more glorious. Some of the greatest crimes perpetrated against the church were not seen as too great or evil for the Lord to forgive. The iniquities committed by Paul, the "chief of all sinners," were not counted against him because of God’s grace. Indeed, the calling of Paul brings to light the reality of the beauty of what the word actually means, but it is not the only verse.

In fact, the topic of the grace of God is a subject that is contained on nearly every page of Holy Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. From the first reference of grace in Genesis 6:8, "But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD" (KJV), until the final reference in the concluding words of Scripture in Revelation 22:21, "The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all," this theme dominates the entirety of God’s Word. No other topic is so clearly and abundantly expressed as grace. I would submit to you that grace is the sum and substance of the gospel message. It is, at its core, the essence of the Christian faith. Consider for a moment another Scriptural definition of grace from the epistle to Titus. "But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy…" (Titus 3:4–5). The words of Paul stand on their own. Sinners are spared from being eternally separated from God because God saved them on the basis of His own love, and nothing more.

Everything about this word "grace" in the New Testament Greek demonstrates that it is enriching and ennobling, a term that can ascend no higher peak, a word that can convey no more magnanimity in its conception—truly a term that attest to the blessings of a thrice-holy God upon sinners. This revolutionary concept in many ways, however, is radically more plentiful than the usage of charis from the earliest times.

The classical word rendered as grace originally conveyed a wide range of meaning from charm to elegance, loveliness to attractiveness, and pleasure to joy, either in some thing or movement. In Hellenistic Greek, charis retained all of the earlier classical forms, but the greatest departure was the referencing as an attribute of deity, not merely to earthly sovereigns. In the New Testament, however, charis ascends to a meaning greater than any previous held definition of favor that is freely performed, without any sense of obligation and expectation of something in response. Aristotle defined the term as "something that is conferred freely, with no expectation of return, and finding its only motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver." Building upon these concepts, the New Testament writers gave charis an even healthier meaning and more profound significance. That is, grace is to be understood in light of the singular event which completely altered the course of human history and gave man a radically different outlook on life—the Incarnation. Out of a sheer love, God sent His Son to redeem His people, a special favor that was not based upon any human merit. God Himself, therefore, is the basis of charis and is not rooted in the fulfillment of any divine commands. Jesus Christ is the actualization of grace. Romans 5:15, "But not as the offence, so also is the free gift. For if through the offence of one many be dead, much more the grace of God, and the gift by grace, which is by one man, Jesus Christ, hath abounded unto many."

So, the special sense of charis in the New Testament is the reference to God’s action that is revealed and fulfilled through His Son, Jesus Christ. He loves those who are naturally hostile towards Him (Rom 8:7). Remember that in Greek culture charis expressed favor manifested towards friends, but Paul uses grace in a higher sense as found in Romans 5:6–10. He writes that, "God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us (v. 8)." In this manner, God bestowed a blessing, not to a friend, but to an enemy. God demonstrated His eternal love and unmerited favor towards those who were at enmity with Him. John, likewise, recognizes that divine grace transcends mere human grace when he writes, "See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God; and so we are" (1 John 3:1).

Grace, consequently, is that unmerited favor manifested towards the undeserving, those who have no right to demand the goodness of God. The wellspring of all benefits that humans receive comes via grace, the greatest of which is salvation. This too must be free because as Paul argues, "If it is by grace, it is no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace (Rom 11:6)." Here we find yet another example where "grace" is unmistakable. Again we see that it is an attitude on God’s part that proceeds entirely from Him and apart from any external influences or factors. Salvation is wholly given upon the basis of His love, mercy, and kindness that He expresses—and not as a payment of debt. Indeed, it is in fact God actively working. That is to say, it is God loving the unlovely, pardoning the guilty, and saving the lost—all of which is charis, biblical grace.