Grace is more than ‘unmerited favour’

Many believers defined Grace as ‘unmerited favour’ — while this definition is not wrong but it limits its full meaning as used in the scriptures. First, the word favour is used interchangeably for grace in some verses of different bible translations.

For example, Genesis 6:8:

“But Noah found favour in the eyes of the LORD.” — NIV

“But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.” KJV

Therefore, favour is an act of grace and we know favour means getting something unmerited. If it’s merited then it’s no longer a favour.

In the same way, we describe God’s Love and mercy as unmerited, in fact, many things God do for man is unmerited.

So, using the phrase unmerited favour to describe grace is a pleonasm or tautology.

Surprisingly, the grace of God is not purely unmerited; like a game of luck or random selection. In the scriptures, the grace of God has been on people who live right with God or willing to repent like the people of Ninevah.

From the scriptures above, God didn’t give grace to Noah by chance as the word unmerited may insinuate. The scriptures tell us why He got favour from the LORD in the midst of a corrupt world.

“Noah was a righteous man, blameless among the people of his time, and he walked faithfully with God.” Genesis 6:9

Noah was faithful to God and he got the grace on him and his family. If grace is purely unmerited then God would have spared the corrupt people of Noah’s time or spared the people of Sodom and Gomorrah — after all grace is ‘unmerited.’

“God saw how corrupt the earth had become, for all the people on earth had corrupted their ways.” (Genesis 6:12)

This shows us that when you’re corrupt and not willing to repent, there is no favour of God.

Grace is similar to Love

In Hebrew, the word grace is called ‘Chen’ which derives from a root meaning “favour, mercy, kindness, graciousness.” This is why we can’t limit the definition of grace to favour alone — so favour, mercy, kindness and love are all act of God’s grace.

Grace is similar to Love that has different attributes as defined in scriptures;

“Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud…”1 Corinthians 13:4–8

Note that, using one of the attributes to describe love will be insufficient. For example, Love is kind but we can’t say kindness is Love — because not all kindness is an act of Love. Some people may be kind for selfish reasons or hidden motives. Just like Paul said if you sell all property to give to the poor with no Love it means nothing (1Corinthians 13:3).

In the same vein, favour is an act of God’s grace, but not all favour is God’s grace. Some people experience favour in their life without grace. This could be favour through manipulative means. According to Prophet Habakuk, God’s can’t give favour to the wicked;

Your eyes are too pure to approve evil, And You can not look on wickedness with favour. (Habbakuk 1:13)

So when the wicked prosper as believers we shouldn’t envy them as advised by David in Psalm 37:7. And yes, God causes the sun to shine on the good and bad (Matthew 5:45) — this is to give them an opportunity to repent and not a licence to remain in their sinful ways.

The different use of grace in the scriptures;

Grace is a gift of God:

• 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)
• …because of the surpassing grace God has given you. Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift! (2 cor 9:14–15)
• …and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many. (Rom 5:15)
• For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and are justified by his grace as a gift… (Rom 3: 23 )

Grace is power:

• But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:8–9 )
• And after you have suffered a little while, the God of all grace, who has called you to his eternal glory in Christ, will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you. (1 Peter 4:10)

People can be full of grace:

• And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John 1:14 )

A question for thought; can you say Jesus was full of ‘unmerited favour?

• And Stephen, full of grace and power, was doing great wonders and signs among the people. (Act 6:8)
• For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles — assuming that you have heard of the stewardship of God’s grace that was given to me for you. (Ephesian 3:1)

Believers can grow in grace:

• But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. (2 Peter 3:13)
• Obedience to the gospel of Christ and generosity bring surpassing grace to believers. (2Corinthians 9:6–15)
• But as you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you — see that you excel in this grace of giving also. (2 Corinthians 8:7)

Believers are saved by the grace:

• But we believe that we will be saved through the grace of the Lord Jesus, just as they will. (Act 15:11)
• …made us alive together with Christ — by grace you have been saved. (Ephesians 2:5)
• For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. (Titus 2: 11)
• Now may our Lord Jesus Christ himself, and God our Father, who loved us and gave us eternal comfort and good hope through grace. (2 Thessalonians 2:16 )

Grace relies on faith:

• That is why it depends on faith, in order that the promise may rest on grace and be guaranteed to all his offspring — not only to the adherent of the law but also to the one who shares the faith of Abraham, who is the father of us all. (Roman 4:16)
• Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Through Him, we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God. (Rom 5:1–2)

The ungodly can fall from grace:

• …ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:4 ESV)
• See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled;(Hebrew 12:15)
• …for God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.” (1 Peter 5:5 )
• You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace. (Galatians 5:4)

God’s hand is gracious on those who seek Him:

• The gracious hand of God is on everyone who looks to him, but his great anger is against all who forsake Him. (Ezra 8:22)
• And because the gracious hand of my God was upon me the king grants my request. (Nehemiah 2:8)

Grace is the divine will of God:

• …so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone. (Hebrews 2:9)
• 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)

In summary, God’s grace is more than unmerited favour. Grace is the ever willingness of God to show… (Love, mercy, power, favour and all good things He has for us).