Grace

"But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, even when we were dead in our transgressions, made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved)...For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God..."  Ephesians 2: 4-5, 8

"...My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.  Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."          2 Corinthians 12:9

...good will, lovingkindness, favor of the merciful kindness by which God, exerting His holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ...keeps, strengthens, increases them in faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues....

Greek: Original Word: χάρις

Phonetic:  khar'-ece

Strong's Concordance:  5485

-grace, as a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ

-favor

-gratitude, thanks

-favor, kindness

Mentioned around 150 times in the Bible.

We received grace because Jesus died for us while we were yet sinners: "But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while were yet sinners, Christ died for us.  Much more then, having now been justified by His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him."  Romans 5:8 We see the grace of God in this action:  "For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life.  John 3:16 But grace is more than the payment of the debt of sin by Jesus dying in our place.  It is the gentle encouragement by the Holy Spirit to lay aside the old self (Ephesians 4:22) and live in the freshness and confidence of being made alive in Christ. Now that you've accepted His grace, may you strive to live in it. Grace and peace to you....