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The word grace appears more than 100 times in the Bible. And this is no accident. Grace is one of the most powerful, profound and transformative ideas in the entire Christian faith. It runs through books, characters, stories and teachings - in both the Old and New Testaments - and completely changes the way God relates to human beings.
But do we really understand what grace is? In the midst of so many repetitions, hasn't the word lost its weight and beauty? Today, we're going to reflect on what the Bible means when it talks about grace - and why this concept appears so often.
What is grace, anyway?
In the Bible, grace is not just kindness or elegance. The word comes from the Hebrew "chen" and the Greek "charis", which mean favor, acceptance, undeserved kindness. In other words, grace is receiving something good without deserving it.
It's forgiveness that comes before complete repentance. It's love that continues even when we make mistakes. It's God's care when we have nothing to give in return.
So it's no surprise to learn that the word grace appears more than 100 times in the Bible. It is the basis of the relationship between God and humanity.
Where does grace appear in the Bible?
From the beginning. In the Old Testament, Noah "found favor with the Lord". Moses asked God to show his grace to the people. David sang about the grace that sustained him. In the New Testament, the term explodes in force: Paul, in particular, speaks of grace in almost every letter.
It's as if God is reminding us all the time: "It's not about what you do. It's because of who I am." Grace is not born of human effort - it is poured out.
Why is it mentioned so often?
Because grace is the center of everything. Without grace, there is no cross. Without grace, there is no new beginning. Without grace, there is no forgiveness, healing or salvation. And that's why, the word grace appears more than 100 times in the Bible - because God knew that we would need to be reminded of this constantly.
Grace confronts the logic of merit. It breaks down pride. It breaks the cycle of guilt. And at the same time, it demands an answer: "Are you going to keep trying to deserve everything, or are you going to learn to receive?"
Is grace the same as mercy?
No. Although they are linked, they are different. Mercy is not receiving the punishment you deserve. Grace is receiving the good you don't deserve.
For example, when someone makes a mistake and isn't punished, that's mercy. When that person is also welcomed with love and given a new chance, that is grace.
Mercy delivers us. Grace transforms us.
What does grace reveal about God?
That he doesn't love out of obligation. That he doesn't demand perfection. That he moves out of love, not bargaining. That his forgiveness doesn't depend on good works, but on a willing heart.
When we understand that the word grace appears more than 100 times in the BibleWe realize that it's not an exaggeration - it's divine insistence. God knows that we tend to blame ourselves, to try to pay, to punish ourselves. And so he repeats: "It's by grace. It's by grace. It's by grace."
How can we live under this grace?
1# Accepting that you don't have to prove yourself all the time
2# Stopping putting conditions on feeling loved by God
3# Treating others with the same grace you have received
4# Starting again, even when you make a mistake, because grace has no time limit
5# Praying sincerely, without a mask, because grace has already seen the whole of you
Grace even changes the way we live our spirituality. It transforms the heaviness of "I must" into the lightness of "I can".
And who lives without grace?
He ends up caught in two traps:
- The pride of those who think they deserve everything
- Or the guilt of those who believe they deserve nothing
Grace frees us from both. Because it doesn't come through effort or desperation. It comes because God is good - and that's that.
When we distance ourselves from this truth, everything becomes an obligation. Faith becomes a burden. Prayer becomes a burden. Service becomes performance. And God, who should be a Father, becomes an inspector.
Is grace running out?
No. Grace is renewed. Every morning. With every fall. With every doubt. With every tear.
It doesn't ignore the mistake, but it doesn't reduce the person to the mistake either. It doesn't protect from the consequences, but ensures that love remains there, firm, even in the midst of the consequences.
So even when all seems lost, even when prayer fails, even when strength is lacking - grace is still enough.
The word grace appears more than 100 times in the Bible. And in your daily life?
This is an important question. Because there's no point in knowing that the word grace appears more than 100 times in the Bibleif it doesn't show in the way you talk to those who irritate you. Or in the way you treat yourself when you make a mistake. Or in the way you look at those who live differently from you.
The grace that is in the Bible doesn't just want to be read. It wants to be lived.
See also: Bible Dictionary App
May 17th, 2025
With a lot of faith and positivity, she writes for Pray and Faith, bringing messages and Divine teachings to everyone.