Grace is at the very heart of the Christian faith.
It is God’s undeserved kindness, unearned favor, and undeserved love poured out on those who do not deserve it.
Without grace, there is no salvation, no hope, and no relationship with God.
But because God is gracious, we are welcomed, forgiven, and transformed.
Why is it so difficult for us to grasp the concept of God’s grace?
Because the world does not operate that way. We live in a world of earning and deserving.
We learn that we must work hard to achieve good outcomes. If we perform well, we are rewarded; if we fail, we face the consequences.
That is how the world operates, but it is not how God’s grace works.
Grace is the opposite of earning. It is receiving what we could never earn simply because God chooses to give it to us.
The apostle Paul explains grace beautifully in Ephesians 2:8-9:
"For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God,
not of works, lest anyone should boast.
Grace is a gift from God
Grace is not something we achieve; it’s something we receive. It is not given because we deserve it but because God is good, which is what makes it so amazing.
Grace in Action: The Story of the Prodigal Son
Jesus once told a parable about two sons.
You’ve probably heard it called "The Parable of the Prodigal Son," but really, it’s the story of two lost sons. Luke 15:11-32.
The youngest son demanded his inheritance from his father and then wasted it on reckless living.
He found himself broke, starving, and alone. In his desperation, he chose to return home.
He understood he did not deserve a warm welcome as a son, so he intended to ask his father to accept him back as a servant.
When his father saw him coming, he ran to meet him.
Instead of punishing him, the father embraced him. Rather than rejecting him, the father welcomed him. Instead of making him a servant, the father restored him as a son.
That is grace!
Maybe you relate to that son.
Maybe you’ve run from God, thinking you could find happiness elsewhere. Maybe you’ve made a mess of your life. Maybe you’ve sinned so much that you don’t believe God could ever take you back.
But thankfully—grace is for the lost. Grace is for the broken. Grace is for the sinner who knows he needs saving.
If that’s you, come home. The Father is already running toward you.
But there was another son, one who never left home.
The older son had stayed, worked hard, followed the rules, and did everything he believed a good son should do.
And when he heard the music and laughter celebrating his brother’s return, he was furious.
He refused to go in to celebrate his brother’s return.
He couldn’t believe his father would show such kindness to someone who had squandered everything.
So the father came out to him and pleaded with him to come in and celebrate.
But the older son complained. "I’ve served you all these years. I never disobeyed you. And yet, you never threw a feast for me!"
He believed he deserved something his brother did not earn. He had spent his whole life seeking his father’s love when, in reality, it had always been his.
Perhaps you identify more with the elder son. While you may not have strayed far from God in open rebellion, you’ve attempted to earn His favor.
You go to church, read your Bible, serve, and do everything you believe a "good Christian" should do.
But deep down, you wonder why God doesn’t bless you more.
Why does He seem to show kindness to people who don’t deserve it?
Why does grace come so freely to those who haven’t worked as hard as you have?
If you feel that way, proceed with caution—you might be farther from the Father than you realize.
Grace is not about earning. It’s about receiving.
Your best efforts will never be enough.
But there is good news: the Gospel. You don’t have to be enough—because Jesus is.
The cross is the ultimate display of God’s grace.
Jesus took on your punishment. He bore your shame and paid your debt.
And now, He offers you everything for nothing—His righteousness in exchange for your sin.
Grace Through Jesus Christ Alone
Grace is not just a general kindness of God; it is specifically given through Jesus Christ.
John 1:17 says,
"For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."
The law showed us what was right and wrong, but it could not save us.
It revealed our sin, but it could not remove it.
That is why Jesus came. Grace is God doing for us what we could never do for ourselves.
We see this in Romans 3:23-24:
"For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus."
We have all sinned. We have all fallen short. But we are justified—made right with God—freely by His grace. Not by our works. Not by our goodness. But by His grace, through Jesus.
It is God’s grace that sustains you every single day.
Grace is not just about salvation; it is about how we live every day.
You need grace for your struggles, your weaknesses, your failures.
God’s grace is not a one-time event; it is a daily gift.
You need grace when you fall into sin again, grace when you struggle to believe, and grace when you feel like giving up.
God does not get tired of giving you grace. He does not look at you in frustration, wishing you would just get it right.
His grace is sufficient, even when you feel like you’re failing.
The Apostle Paul deeply understood this.
He struggled with a weakness—a "thorn in the flesh"—and begged God to take it away.
But God’s answer was not to remove the struggle. Instead, He said in 2 Corinthians 12:9,
"My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness."
You may desire a simpler life, for challenges to vanish, and for temptation to be eliminated.
But sometimes, grace isn’t about changing your circumstances. Sometimes, grace is the strength that helps you get through them.
The only way to experience God’s grace is to accept it as a free gift.
That means letting go of pride.
If you’re like the younger son, that means coming home and admitting you need forgiveness.
If you’re like the older son, that means realizing you need grace just as much as anyone else, and you come in and celebrate His grace.
The Father is inviting you in—will you step into His grace?
How Can You Allow God’s Grace to Transform You?
When you truly understand grace, it changes us.
Grace is not an excuse to continue in sin but a power that sets us free from it.
Paul explains this in Titus 2:11-12:
"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age."
Grace does not only save us—it teaches us.
It changes our desires.
It leads us to live differently, not because we are trying to earn God’s favor, but because we already have it.
Imagine a man drowning in the ocean.
He is helpless, unable to save himself. Suddenly, someone throws him a life preserver and pulls him to safety.
That man does not look back at the water and wish he could return.
He is grateful. He knows he was saved.
That is how grace works.
When you understand what God has done for you, you won’t want to return to your old way of life. You will desire to live for Him.
Experiencing Grace Every Day
You can experience God’s grace daily?
First, you receive it. Grace cannot be earned, only accepted.
If you are trying to prove yourself to God, trying to be "good enough," stop!
You cannot earn His love—you already have it.
Second, you learn to trust in His grace.
When we fail, struggle, or feel unworthy, we remember that God’s grace is greater than our mistakes.
Romans 5:20 tells us,
"Where sin increased, grace increased all the more."
There is no sin too great for grace, and no failure beyond God’s mercy. His grace is always greater.
Finally, When we understand how much grace you have received, you now have the ability to give it.
Just as God forgives you, you can also forgive those who offend you. Just as God loves you, you can love others who don’t love you.
Colossians 3:13 says,
"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you."
Grace is not just something you receive; it is something you give.
It influences how you treat others, how you respond to offenses, and how you live your life.
The evidence of someone who truly understands grace is that they extend it to others.
Come Experience God’s Grace Today
If you feel distant from God, if you believe you have failed too often, if you question whether God could ever love you, remember this:
His grace is for you, right now, just as you are.
You do not have to clean yourself up first. You do not have to fix everything. Just come to Him.
Hebrews 4:16 invites us:
"Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."
Grace is waiting for you.
Run to the Father. Let Him embrace you. Let Him forgive you. Let Him fill your life with His love.
Because grace changes everything.