What is Grace?
What does grace really mean? Grace is what someone else does to benefit you that you do not deserve.
Grace consists of three simple elements: 1) you did not do the work; 2) you benefit from it; 3) and you do not deserve it. Grace is simple. Grace must have these three elements or it is no longer grace. Grace can never respond to works of any kind.
Grace can only respond to faith alone.
The greatest example of grace in human history is found in the preaching of the cross, which is the gospel of the grace of God.
By the grace of Christ by giving His life for us, shedding His blood, being buried, and then rising from the dead, He performed all that we could not do to get our sins forgiven and have life with Him eternally in Heaven. This is the salvation gospel message we only get from Paul’s writings.
This precious gift of salvation by grace is offered freely without condition to every ungodly sinner in the world who does not deserve it. And when someone believes and puts their trust in this gospel alone, they are saved once and forever. (Rom 3:23-26; Rom 4:5).
Salvation is by grace through faith (Eph 2:8-9).
Eph 2:7 KJV That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
Eph 2:8 KJV For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Eph 2:9 KJV Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Rom 11:6 KJV And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.
Some may say, “This just gives you the license to sin and live any way you want”. Grace is never a license (an authorization) to sin, ever. But if grace is grace, it must say that your sin, your works, your good deeds are not necessary nor does it hinder grace to take place. God’s grace gives us freedom from the condemnation of sin.
This is why it has to come from God and it has to be free. There is NO other way to be saved today. God’s grace is free. To add anything to it makes it no longer grace by definition
Grace teaches us that we should live godly.
Titus 2:12 KJV Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Yes, we should try to NEVER to sin, but that will never totally happen in this life. People underestimate God's grace and overestimate their works or part in being saved. Works do not save us, works do not keep us saved and works do not prove we are saved.