Understanding Grace in Simple Terms
If you’ve ever wondered what people mean when they talk about “the grace of God,” here’s a simple way to put it: Grace is God giving love and kindness to people who haven’t earned it and don’t deserve it—in fact, people who have done the opposite. Imagine someone giving you a present even though you did nothing to deserve it and, if anything, had every reason to expect punishment instead. That’s what the Bible means by grace.
Why does this matter? For some, the idea of grace isn’t very meaningful because they don’t see themselves as needing it, or they imagine that God only helps those who are already good. But for anyone who realizes that they’ve messed up, that they owe a debt they can’t pay, grace is life-changing. The good news Christians call the gospel is all about how God—who could rightly judge us—has instead made a way to save us.
Grace and Salvation Go Together
The Bible says, “By grace you have been saved” (Ephesians 2:5, 8). This means that salvation—being rescued from the consequences of our mistakes—isn’t something we can buy, work for, or win as a prize. It’s a gift. God’s message is that, even though we were lost, God loved the world so much that he gave his only Son, Jesus, so that anyone who trusts in him won’t be lost but will have eternal life (John 3:16). Even while we were still doing wrong, Jesus died for us (Romans 5:8).
Three Ways Grace Shows Up
· Grace wipes the slate clean. According to the Bible, grace is what allows God to forgive our wrongs. It’s like going from being a person who’s been found guilty and is waiting for a sentence, to someone who’s suddenly told, “You’re free—and not just free, but you’re now part of the family and have a huge inheritance coming.” This forgiveness, called justification, happens the moment you put your trust in Jesus. It’s free for us but cost God a lot—the life of Jesus.
· 2. Grace is the reason behind the whole plan. Forgiveness is great, but the story is bigger. The Bible says God’s decision to save us wasn’t a last-minute idea. It was part of a plan that started before the world even began and will finish when everyone who trusts God is together with him. God’s love, mercy, and kindness are behind everything, and nothing can stop his plan from being completed.
· 3. Grace guarantees you won’t be dropped. Sometimes people worry that they’ll mess up again and lose their faith. But the Bible reassures us that, just as God’s grace started the process, it’s also what keeps us going. Your future with God doesn’t depend on your ability to hold on, but on God’s promise and strength to hold you.
What Should Our Response Be?
Knowing about God’s grace isn’t just supposed to make us feel good—it’s meant to change us. The right response to grace is gratitude. Instead of making us careless, it stirs up thankfulness and a desire to live in a way that honors such a generous gift. When you’ve been loved freely and forgiven so much, you want to share that love and do good, not because you’re trying to earn something, but because you’re so thankful for what you’ve already been given.
So, in simple terms: The grace of God is love we could never buy, never earn, and never deserve—but it’s real, and it’s offered freely to all. All we can do is accept it with wonder, gratitude, and a willingness to live differently because of it.
Minister A Francine Green
September 2025
afrancinegreen.com 