What is grace in the Bible?
Grace is God’s unearned favor — kindness and forgiveness given to people who could never deserve it. In the Bible, grace is the basis of salvation: God gives what we need freely, on the basis of Christ’s work rather than our performance.
Grace means a gift, not a wage. The New Testament repeatedly contrasts grace with works: if salvation were earned, it would be a payment owed; because it is grace, it is received as a free gift.
Ephesians 2:8–9 captures it: “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith … it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.” Grace removes pride and gives confidence, because it rests on God’s generosity, not our record.
Grace also shapes how believers live — not as a license to sin, but as gratitude that produces love and obedience in response to such kindness.
Original BibleDawn answer · reviewed 2026-06. Drafted with AI assistance and reviewed for accuracy.