Ask the average believer what the Bible word βgraceβ means, and he will doubtless reply, βunmerited favorβ.
Actually, however, grace is much more than this. ItΒ is that loving attitude, or disposition, on Godβs part, from which all His kindness toward us flows.
Thus we read in Ephesians 2:2-6 that we wereΒ βthe children of disobedienceβΒ and thereforeΒ βby nature the children of wrath, even as othersβ.
βBut God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus.β
Note:Β This passage begins with those who were βchildren of disobedienceβ and βchildren of wrathβ and, saving them βby grace,β gives them a position in the heavenlies in Christ Jesus!
Godβs grace to us as sinners was great indeed, for:
βIn [Christ] we have redemption through His blood, THE FORGIVENESS OF SINS ACCORDING TO THE RICHES OF HIS [Godβs] GRACE.β
But now, having given us a position in His beloved Son, Godβs grace goes out to us in still greater measure.
Ephesians 1:6 declares that God has βmade us accepted [Lit., βengraced usβ] in the Belovedβ.
Beholding us in Christ, God loves us and delights in us more than any father ever delighted in his son, or any grandfather in that precious grandchild.
Thus, while in Ephesians 1:7 we read that we haveΒ βredemptionβ¦ the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His graceβ, in Ephesians 2:7 we see these riches of grace increased to us βexceedinglyβ, now that we occupy a position βin the Belovedβ:
βThat in the ages to come He might show THE EXCEEDING RICHES OF HIS GRACEβ¦β
How?
ββ¦in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesusβ! source