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    Grace

    χάρις (Charis)

    Unmerited favor from God; His free gift of salvation and blessing

    Greek
    Strong's G5485
    Pronunciation: KHAR-is
    Quick Answer

    Grace (charis in Greek, chen in Hebrew) is God's undeserved kindness toward humanity. It is the foundation of the Christian gospel — salvation is by grace through faith, not by works.

    "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast." — Ephesians 2:8-9 (KJV)

    Key Verses

    Ephesians 2:8-9

    “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.”
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    Romans 6:14

    “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace.”
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    2 Corinthians 12:9

    “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.”
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    Strong's Concordance

    Strong's G5485 — Grace (χάρις (Charis))

    Browse the full lexicon entry and every KJV verse where χάρις (Charis) appears.

    Open Strong's G5485

    Grace in the Old Testament

    The Hebrew word for grace is 'chen' (חֵן), meaning favor or kindness. Noah 'found grace in the eyes of the LORD' (Genesis 6:8). Moses asked God, 'shew me thy glory,' and God responded with grace (Exodus 33-34). Throughout the Old Testament, grace appears as God's compassionate choice to bless people who did not deserve it — choosing Israel not because of their righteousness but because of His love.

    Grace in the New Testament

    The Greek word 'charis' appears over 150 times in the New Testament, becoming the defining concept of the Christian gospel. Paul's letters are saturated with grace — it is the opening and closing word of nearly every epistle. Grace is not merely an attribute of God but His active intervention in human history through Jesus Christ. 'The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men' (Titus 2:11).

    Grace vs. Works

    The Bible draws a sharp distinction between grace and works. Romans 11:6 states, 'If by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace.' Grace means that salvation cannot be earned, purchased, or achieved by human effort. It is entirely God's gift, received through faith. This does not mean grace promotes lawlessness — Paul asks, 'Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid' (Romans 6:1-2).

    Living in Grace

    Grace is not only the means of salvation but the power for daily living. Paul testified, 'By the grace of God I am what I am' (1 Corinthians 15:10). Grace empowers believers to endure suffering (2 Corinthians 12:9), to give generously (2 Corinthians 8:1-7), and to grow in Christlikeness (2 Peter 3:18). The Christian life begins with grace, continues by grace, and will be completed by grace.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    What is the difference between grace and mercy?

    Grace is receiving what we do not deserve (God's favor and blessing), while mercy is not receiving what we do deserve (God's judgment and punishment). Grace gives; mercy withholds. Both flow from God's love, and both are essential to the gospel.

    Can grace be lost?

    This is a debated question among Christians. Some traditions teach that true saving grace cannot be lost (eternal security), while others believe it is possible to fall from grace through persistent unbelief. All agree that grace must be actively received and lived out through faith.

    What does 'means of grace' mean?

    The 'means of grace' refers to the channels through which God delivers His grace to believers. Traditional means of grace include Scripture, prayer, the sacraments (baptism and communion), worship, and Christian fellowship. These are not ways to earn grace but ways to receive what God freely gives.

    What is the Greek word for "Grace" in the Bible?

    χάρις (Charis), pronounced "KHAR-is." It means unmerited favor from god; his free gift of salvation and blessing. Its Strong's number is G5485. It is the word behind "Grace" in both Testaments, for example in Ephesians 2:8-9.

    Related Words

    Mercy
    Faith
    Redemption
    Salvation

    Related Reading

    Continue your study with related content from across our library:

    Word Meaning

    Grace (χάρις (Charis))

    Unmerited favor from God; His free gift of salvation and blessing

    Strong's

    Strong's G5485 — Grace

    χάρις (Charis) • Unmerited favor from God; His free gift of salvation and blessing

    Word Meaning

    Grace (Charis) (χάρις (charis))

    Unmerited divine favor — God's free, generous gift to the undeserving.

    Q&A

    What Does 'Saved by Grace Through Faith' Mean?

    Sin & Salvation

    Dream Meaning

    Biblical Meaning of Fish in a Dream (KJV)

    Souls, provision, and the harvest of the gospel.

    Dream Meaning

    Biblical Meaning of Spiders in a Dream (KJV)

    Traps, deception, and fragile hopes built apart from God.

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