Romans 5:1-5 We often describe grace as God's unmerited or unearned favor. It certainly is that; but the concept is so much bigger than that. A rigid definition is hardly possible, but still a single conception is actually present in almost every case where "grace" is found-the conception that all a Christian has or is, is centered exclusively in God and Christ, and depends utterly on God through Christ. For Paul, grace is practically synonymous with the gospel. Grace brings salvation (Ephes. 2:5; Ephes. 2:8). Grace brings eternal life (Romans 5:21; Titus 3:7). To share in the gospel is to be a partaker of grace (Phil. 1:7; Col. 1:6). In Christ Jesus, God's grace is open to all people (Titus 2:11; compare 2 Cor. 4:15); but the experience of God's grace is conditional upon human response. It can be rejected or accepted (2 Cor. 6:1; Galatians 1:6; Galatians 5:4). From the human perspective, the divine grace is a power which undergirds the present life. God's grace abides in us (2 Cor. 9:14); we stand in it (Romans 5:2). Our calling, our witness, our works are all based on the power of God's grace in our lives (2 Thes. 1:11-12). Grace never gives freedom to sin. Paul's own experience had shown him a new power of the divine grace active in his ministry in spite of his human weakness (2 Cor. 12:9). In fact, all who experience God's grace have gifts of that grace for ministry and service (Romans 12:6; Ephes. 4:7).

God's Grace - Our Hope