What Does the Bible Say About God's Grace? 6 Ways God's Grace Transforms Us

Do you find it challenging to understand the meaning of grace? It’s easy to recite the definition of grace as God’s “unmerited favor towards us,” but what does it mean to truly experience God’s grace?

God’s grace has the power to save and transform us in every area of our lives. Let’s explore what the Bible says about God’s grace.

“For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.”

John 1:16 ESV

God’s Grace Saves Us

“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 work, so that no one may boast.”

Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV

As a child, I was not raised in a Christian home. Instead, when I heard the Lord’s name, it most likely was being used in vain.

While my parents were not regular churchgoers, my mom took us to a small Lutheran church during the holidays. It was there I felt the first touch of the grace of God at the tender age of five years old.

Growing up, our home was not a peaceful place to live. It was quite the opposite.

Because of my father’s excessive drinking, my parents argued incessantly. This resulted in one nervous, fearful, and anxious child.

Being so young, I had no idea how hard life was going to get and how much I would need God’s grace in my life.

I remember the day Jesus first spoke to my heart. I didn’t hear him audibly, but somehow I knew it was his voice as he said, “Take my hand, Dawn. Never let it go. You are going to need me for this life.”

While I had never heard the words “born again” in my life, I believe I experienced the grace of salvation as Jesus came to live in my heart.

About six years later I finally received Jesus Christ as my Lord and Savior after praying what is known as the “Sinner’s Prayer.”

In an act of boundless love, God demonstrates his grace to us by offering us salvation and eternal life through his Son, Jesus Christ. The gift of God’s grace is priceless, one we could never pay on our own.

“In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,”

Ephesians 1:7 ESV

God’s Grace Grants Us Eternal Life

Living in heaven with Jesus forever is a gift of grace, one we cannot earn on our own merits.

When I first learned about heaven, I knew I wanted to go there. Who wouldn’t? But somewhere along the way, I started believing that the only way to get to heaven was to earn my way there by being good and doing good works.

But that is not what the Bible teaches about God’s grace. Instead, God’s grace provides a way for us to spend eternity with God through the shed blood of Jesus Christ.

He paid the price for our sins because of his mercy towards us as sinners. It is only by his grace that we have the promise of eternal life.

“But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”

Titus 3:4-7 ESV

“The meaning of life. The wasted years of life. The poor choices of life. God answers the mess of life with one word: grace.”

Max Lucado, Grace for the Mess

God’s Grace Teaches Us to Live Godly Lives

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.”

Titus 2:11-13 ESV

When I accepted Jesus into my heart, I kept being the same rambunctious girl I had always been. While I knew Jesus loved me and I loved him, it took a while longer for me to realize that along with loving Jesus I was also supposed to obey him.

Because we all have a sinful nature, living a godly life can be challenging. God’s grace helps us to live in a manner pleasing to God, instead of continuing to sin against him.

Along with granting us salvation, God’s grace through his Son Jesus Christ teaches us how to live godly lives.

“For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. What then? Are we to sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!”

Romans 6:14-15 ESV

God’s Grace Empowers Us to Do Good Works

“And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”

2 Corinthians 9:8 ESV

When the Lord places a calling on our lives, he often places it just outside our comfort zone and beyond our ability to do it on our own.

He does so because he wants us to trust him to empower us to walk in his purpose and do the work he calls us to do.

When I chose a career, I looked at my talents and skills before moving forward.

When the Lord called me to the ministry and to serve others, he made sure I would need to depend on him every step of the way. I often feel overwhelmed and underqualified.

That’s how God’s grace works. He calls us. We step out obediently in faith. Then his grace empowers us to use the gifts he gives us to serve others.

How grateful I am for God’s gifts of grace!

“As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace.”

1 Peter 4:10 ESV

God’s Grace Strengthens Us in Our Weakness

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV

One of the biggest battles I faced in my life would have been impossible to endure had it not been for God’s grace.

Addiction crept into our family and wreaked havoc on it. As my son continued to decline, my faith grew weaker, and I began to lose hope.

Daily I pleaded with the Lord to give me the strength to fight this battle physically, but most importantly, on my knees. God’s grace strengthened me when I was powerless to do anything but cry out to him for mercy.

No matter what you are facing, God’s grace is sufficient. His power is perfected in our weaknesses.

We don’t have to be strong because our Lord is fighting our battle for us. Oh, the mighty power of God’s grace working in our lives!

“You then, my child, be strengthened by the grace that is in Christ Jesus,”

2 Timothy 2:1 ESV

God’s Grace Cultivates an Attitude of Gratitude

“For it is all for your sake, so that as grace extends to more and more people it may increase thanksgiving, to the glory of God.”

2 Corinthians 4:15 ESV

When I think about God’s grace in my life, I can’t help but be thankful. His tender mercies and loving-kindness, his divine favor, are evident in every area.

It is my prayer that our hearts will always be open to see the Lord’s great love for us as we live each day sharing his grace with others.

The Blessing of God’s Grace

“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace.”

Numbers 24-26 ESV 

Author

Dawn Ward

Dawn is a speaker, writer, and biblical life coach. She is the founder of The Faith to Flourish, a ministry equipping women to live transformed through inspiring teaching, mentoring, and biblical resources. Dawn also offers support and encouragement to women with addicted loved ones. She is married to Steve and is a mom to three adult children. She is the author of, “From Guilt to Grace: Hope and Healing for Christian Moms of Addicted Children” and a contributor to the book, “Life Changing Stories“.