New to this
Grace
In plain words
God's undeserved kindness: He gives us love, forgiveness and help we could never earn.
Grace means getting good you did not earn. Imagine you smashed a neighbour's window, and instead of sending you the bill, he pays it himself and invites you for dinner. That is a small picture of grace. The Bible says we are saved by grace through faith, and it is not our own doing, so nobody can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9).
Go further Growing
Grace does not only forgive. Paul says it "instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age" (Titus 2:12). So grace is never permission to carry on as before. It is the power to change. Paul learned that God's grace was enough even in his weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9). You can bring your weakness to God instead of hiding it.
Go deeper Going deeper
The Greek charis means a free gift or favour. In the Old Testament, Hebrew chen and the rich word chesed, steadfast covenant love, prepare the ground. Paul shows that where sin increased, grace increased all the more (Romans 5:20). Christians differ on how grace and human choice work together in coming to faith, but agree that salvation is God's gift from first to last.
My verses
For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God, not by works, so that no one can boast.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone. It instructs us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live sensible, upright, and godly lives in the present age.
The law came in so that the trespass would increase; but where sin increased, grace increased all the more.
But He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is perfected in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly in my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest on me.