Characteristics of Grace
Grace appears only four times in the gospels, all of which refer to the character of Jesus. In the KJV, caris (Strong’s 5485) is translated acceptable, benefit, favour, gift, grace, gracious, joy, liberality, pleasure, thank, thanks, and thank-worthy.
- Romans 3:24 “Justified freely by means of His grace, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.” Jesus’ grace is paralleled to redemption.
- Romans 4:4 “Not counted as grace but as debt.” Grace and debt are contrasted.
- Romans 4:16 “of faith that it might be according to grace” Grace is contrasted with wrath (v 15).
- Romans 5:2 “access by faith into this grace” The faithful enter into grace. The following list consists of character traits.
- Romans 6:14 – 15 “You are not under Law but under grace.” Grace is contrasted with law.
- Romans 11:5 – 6 “If by grace then it is no longer of works” Grace and works are contrasted.
- Romans 12:3 “Through the grace given to me.” The grace given to Paul enabled his message. (also 15:15, 1 Corinthians 3:10, 15:10, Galatians 2:9, Ephesians 3:2, 7, 8)
- Romans 12:6 “Gifts differing according to the grace given to us.” The following list contains character traits.
- 1 Corinthians 1:3 “For the grace of God that was given to you.” The following list names speech and knowledge.
- 1 Corinthians 10:30 “If I partake with grace…” Also translated “thanks,” from which we get the euphemism “say grace.” Is that appropriate to this context?
- 2 Corinthians 1:12 “We conducted ourselves…by the grace of God.” The specifics are character traits.
- 2 Corinthians 8:1 “The grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia.” Grace includes generosity, faith, speech, knowledge, diligence, love. (see 8:6 – 9, 19)
- 2 Corinthians 9:8 “God is able to make all grace abound into you.” Grace includes sufficiency to accomplish every good work.
- Galatians 1:6 “Turning from the grace of Christ into a different gospel.” Grace and Law are contrasted. (also 2:21, 5:4)
- Ephesians 2:5 – 8 “By grace you have been saved.” Part of grace is kindness.
- Ephesians 4: 7 “To each one of us grace was given.” In this case, leadership positions.
- Ephesians 4:29 “Impart grace to the hearers.” Includes edification and is in contrast to corruption.
- Philippians 1:7 “You all are partakers of grace with me.” Following are affection, knowledge, discernment, sincerity, the fruits of righteousness.
Grace is the collection of godly character traits. So, grace is closely connected with glory, which is a parade of the collection of godly character traits.
What characteristics fit the context?
- Acts 4:33 “Great grace was upon them all”
- Acts 11:23 “When he had come and seen the grace of God
- Acts 13:43 “…urged them to continue in the grace of God.”
- Acts 14:3 “…bearing witness to the word of His grace.”
- Acts 14:26 “From where they had been commended to the grace of God into the work they had completed.” (also Acts 15:40)
- Acts 18:27 “…believed through grace.”
- Acts 20:24 “…to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” (also v 32)
- Romans 1:5 “Through Him we have received grace and apostleship”
- Romans 1:7 (and most letters similarly) “Grace to you and peace.”
- Romans 5:15 “the grace of God and the gift by grace of the one Man” (through 6:1))
- 2 Corinthians 4:15 “Grace, having spread through the many, may cause thanksgiving to abound to the glory of God.”
- 2 Corinthians 6:1 “Not to receive the grace of God in vain.”
- 2 Corinthians 9:14 “The grace of God in you.”
- 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you.”
- Galatians 1:15 “Called me through the grace of Him.”
- Ephesians 1:6 – 7 “To the praise of the glory of His grace.”
- Colossians 1:6 “Since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”
- Colossians 3:16 “Singing with grace in your hearts.”
- Colossians 4:6 “Let your speech always be with grace.”