The Greek word charis is an important concept in the Bible that is commonly translated into English as “grace.” It occurs over 150 times in the New Testament and carries a variety of nuanced meanings related to kindness, favor, and benevolence. Here is an overview of the meaning and significance of charis in the Bible:
Basic Definition
At its most fundamental level, charis refers to the unmerited favor or benevolence shown by God toward humankind. It denotes the gifts and blessings God freely bestows on people, even though they do not deserve them and cannot earn them on their own. As the apostle Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). Grace is contrasted with works – it is completely freely given and cannot be achieved by human effort.
Grace as Kindness
The word charis has the sense of graciousness, kindness, and goodwill. It describes not just the gifts given by God, but also His generous disposition toward humankind. The apostle John writes, “For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). Through Christ, God reveals His gracious kindness and generosity to the world.
Grace as Enablement
Grace is also used in the Bible to refer to the divine enablement given to believers to live the Christian life. It goes beyond salvation to also empower Christians to overcome sin and glorify God. Paul states, “But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me” (1 Corinthians 15:10). God’s grace enables believers to serve Him.
Grace for Sanctification
In addition to justification, the grace of God is also at work in the lifelong process of sanctification – being made holy and Christlike. The New Testament often connects grace with the sanctifying work of the Holy Spirit. As Paul says, “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh…But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Galatians 5:16,22-23). The Spirit empowers believers to grow in godly virtues.
Grace as Spiritual Gift
“Grace” is also one of the spiritual gifts listed in the Bible. Paul writes, “Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching” (Romans 12:6-7). Every Christian receives abilities by God’s grace to serve the church.
Grace as Thanks and Blessing
At times in the New Testament, charis conveys the sense of thanks and gratitude. For example, “Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving [charis]” (Ephesians 5:4). God’s grace should motivate Christians to be thankful. Also, “grace” can be a blessing or benediction, as in “The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen” (Revelation 22:21).
Grace as Generosity
The word “grace” is also used in the context of financial generosity in the early church. Paul refers to the collection for the Jerusalem church as “this grace” (2 Corinthians 8:6) and the Macedonian’s “wealth of generosity” as “the grace of God” (2 Corinthians 8:1). Sharing finances sacrificially is a sign of God’s grace.
Undeserved Grace
A key aspect of charis is that it is undeserved and unmerited favor from God. The grace that saves, sanctifies, and strengthens Christians is a free gift. As Paul says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). There is nothing anyone can do to earn the blessings of God’s grace.
Grace Came Through Christ
The fullest expression of God’s grace came in the person and work of Jesus Christ. John says, “And from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace…grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:16-17). At the cross, Christ bore God’s judgment in place of sinners, so that through Him, we can receive the gift of salvation. God’s grace is found ultimately in Christ.
Grace Can Be Resisted
The Bible warns that it is possible to receive God’s grace “in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). That is, it is possible to resist responding to the gospel of grace with repentance and faith. As Paul says, “We then, as workers together with Him also plead with you not to receive the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). God freely offers grace, but humans can freely resist it as well.
Grace Can Be Turned Into License
Since grace is freely given, some twisted it into a “license for immorality” (Jude 4). But Paul counters this by teaching that grace actually empowers believers to live holy lives: “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). Grace demands moral change.
Grace Should Lead to Obedience
While grace is unearned, it should not be presumed upon. Paul confronts this by asking, “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound? Certainly not! How shall we who died to sin live any longer in it?” (Romans 6:1-2). Grace actually enables obedience rather than excusing disobedience. It empowers Christians to live as God intended.
Grace Produces Good Works
The grace of God does not just save us and change us internally. It impels believers to serve God out of love and gratitude. As Paul taught, “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them” (Ephesians 2:10). Good works are the inevitable fruit of God’s work of grace.
Grace Can Be Multiplied
Peter encourages believers that there is no limit to how much grace God can give: “May grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord” (2 Peter 1:2). By continually depending on God’s grace, Christians can continue growing in the Christian life without ever plateauing.
Grace and Law Contrasted
In several New Testament passages, grace is explicitly contrasted with law to make the point that salvation comes through grace rather than human efforts at law-keeping. As Paul says, “Now it is evident that no one is justified before God by the law, for ‘The righteous shall live by faith.’ But the law is not of faith…for if righteousness were through the law, then Christ died for no purpose” (Galatians 2:16, 21). Grace came in Christ.
Grace Needs to Be Preached
Because grace is such an important concept, the apostles emphasize the need to preach and teach it. Paul tells the Ephesian elders to “shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood” and to “commend you to God and to the word of His grace” (Acts 20:28, 32). All believers need to hear and grow in grace.
Grace Creates Unity
There are differences in spiritual gifts, ministries, and service in the church. But Paul emphasizes that there is unity in the midst of diversity because “there are varieties of gifts, but the same Spirit…there are varieties of service, but the same Lord; and there are varieties of activities, but it is the same God who empowers them all in everyone” (1 Corinthians 12:4-6). Grace creates unity.
Grace Is the Basis for Christian Living
Peter summarizes how grace should permeate all aspects of the Christian life. He writes, “As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace” (1 Peter 4:10). And, “Clothe yourselves, all of you, with humility toward one another…Live in harmony with one another. Do not be haughty…Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you” (1 Peter 5:5-7). Grace enables serving others, being humble, harmony, hope, and casting cares on God.
Grace Needs to Continue
Because living the Christian life is challenging, believers need to continually depend on God’s grace. The author of Hebrews tells Christians to “approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need” (Hebrews 4:16). And Peter says, “You who are elect…are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:5). Believers need sustaining grace.
Grace Leads to Eternal Life
While God’s grace enables the Christian life now, it will find its ultimate fulfillment in eternal life. Peter encourages believers that they have “an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven” for them and they are being guarded through faith for “the salvation ready to be revealed in the last time” (1 Peter 1:4-5). The hope of grace is glory in eternity with Christ forever.
In summary, the New Testament concept of grace is multidimensional. It speaks of the unmerited favor and enabling power of God that saves people, sanctifies them, provides strength for service, imparts spiritual gifts, and will culminate in eternal life. Grace is a foundational concept and the key to living the Christian life in relationship with Jesus Christ.