And the child grew and became strong; he was filled with wisdom, and the grace of God was upon him. – Luke 2:40
I have grown up in the faith being taught and believing that grace is the unmerited favor of God for believers.
- Mercy is not getting something your deserve
- Grace is getting something you don’t deserve.
Where this makes definitions easy to remember, they cannot be right.
Why Grace is More Than Unmerited Favor
If they are, then Jesus would have no need for grace. Jesus fulfilled the law perfectly. Therefore, Jesus would have merited and deserved blessings from God. Yet Scripture says grace was on Him.
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if the many died by the trespass of the one man, how much more did God’s grace and the gift that came by the grace of the one man, Jesus Christ, overflow to the many! – Romans 5:15
This shows us: grace is more than unmerited favor. It is the power to live a new standard, the presence of God in action, and the gift of transformation. It was manifested in Jesus, passed to His disciples, and is available to us today.
Grace was manifested in Jesus’ life and ministry and then distributed to us who believe. Where the death passed down by Adam gave sin power over us, grace was passed down by Jesus giving us the ability to live in life. It is the power to live to God’s standard. Grace came through Jesus, came on the disciples, provided by God, and we can grow in it (references: John 1:17, Acts 4:33, 2 Corinthians 1:2, and 2 Peter 3:18).
Grace versus Unmerited Favor: What’s the Difference?
- Unmerited favor suggests we receive something good we did not earn.
- But true grace does more: it empowers us, shapes us, and multiplies through us.
- The difference? Unmerited favor may stop at receiving. Grace goes on to live, to change, to give.
Grace in Action: The Power that Changes Lives
Jesus didn’t simply receive grace… He lived in it. He walked in authority, love, and freedom. Grace empowers us the same way:
- It gives us strength to live God’s standard when we cannot do so on our own.
- It is the presence of God that helps us grow and mature.
- Grace is not passive. It is dynamic. When we treat it merely as “unearned goodwill,” we miss its transformative fire.
How to Grow in Grace
Since grace is more than a one-time gift, here are ways you can grow in it:
- Love it. Don’t treat grace as a doctrinal phrase; cherish it as the posture of God toward you.
- Treasure it. Keep a journal or reflection on how grace has met you in weakness.
- Pursue it. Ask: “Where do I need God’s empowering grace today?”
- Give it away. Grace is meant to flow. When you freely extend mercy, kindness, forgiveness, you invite grace into someone else’s life.
Three Practical Questions to Reflect On
- Where in my life do I feel stuck because I believe I must earn God’s favor rather than receive His grace?
- In what situation do I need God’s empowering presence right now, not just His unearned kindness?
- How will I freely give grace this week? Who doesn’t expect it or even deserve it?
Why This Matters for You
When you grasp that grace is more than unmerited favor, you stop striving for approval and start living from identity. You stop depending on your performance and start depending on God’s presence. Your life becomes less about earning and more about walking with the One who earned it for you.
Display the Grace on You
This “He Found Me” shirt is a testament to your faith. Go grab one as a reminder of the grace and mercy that Jesus offers to all.
Frequently Asked Questions on
Why Grace is More Than Unmerited Favor
1. What does “unmerited favor” mean in the Bible?
“Unmerited favor” refers to the goodness God gives us that we don’t deserve. But true grace is more… it empowers us and changes us.
2. How is God’s unmerited favor different from His grace?
God’s unmerited favor is one part: a gift. His grace includes that gift and the power to live with that gift, to grow, to become.
3. How can I grow in grace rather than just receive it?
Growth happens when we love the grace we’ve been given, pursue its presence, and give it away to others. That moves us beyond the idea of “just receiving” toward “living in” grace.
4. Why did Jesus, who didn’t need grace, still have it on Him?
Because grace is not simply about needing forgiveness. It’s about realizing that God’s presence and power rest on us. Even Jesus had grace upon Him to fulfill His purpose.
5. How does understanding grace change how I live everyday?
When you believe grace is more than unmerited favor, you stop striving to earn God’s love, and start walking in identity and freedom—receiving and giving.
I absolutley agree.The bible says we are saved “by grace through faith” thats what it takes to tap into the supernatural empowerment to endure and live for Christ. Its been said that ” nobody shows up for your pity party but you and the devil” God honors Faith. Without it its impossible to please him and anything thats not of faith is sin. Jesus said ” Im not alone, He who sent me is with me for I do always those things that please Him. Must have been constantly walking by faith to always please the father also how he obtained grace.
Dear William,
Thanks for the comments. Love your pity party quote. Awesome.
Kevin
Being in the midst of enjoying your insights about the whole meaning of Grace and how much greater the Gift is than the trespass, my attention was drawn to the phrase: ” Where the death passed down by Adam gave us the power to sin”. I’m probably just trying to split hairs, but it seems to me that Adam’s legacy gave sin a power over us, from which, through the overwhelming Grace of Christ, we have been set free to follow Him.
Either way though, He Lives that death may die.
Thanks for who you are and what you do,
Doug
Dear Doug,
Thanks for your encouragement and comment. I looked back over what I wrote and thought through your comment, and I think you are right. If we were all innocent as Adam and Eve were at the beginning, we would still have the power to sin otherwise the fruit would have never been eaten. As you said, Adam’s sin gave sin power over us. The power to sin has become a stronger influence. Grace gives us the power over sin, but we still have the power to sin.
I made the change to the post. Blessings,
Kevin
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Two verses come to mind that show that grace is much more than just “unmerited favor.” (It is, but that is just one aspect of grace.) 1st Corinthians 15:10 says, “But by God’s grace I am what I am; and his grace, which was towards me, has not been vain; but I have labored more abundantly than they all, but not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” And 2nd Timothy 4:22 says, “The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be with you.” These two verses shows grace is something more than God’s favor to us. I’ve heard this definition before of grace, which I like: “Grace is all that God has in Christ coming to us and for us.” (I think it might also be summed up in Colossians 1:27 – “Christ in you, the hope of glory!”)
Who better to give the true definition of grace than Peter. In 1st Peter chapter 2 verses 19 and 20 Peter gives the example of what grace is. The operation of the power of the Holy Spirit in us that enables us to respond to life situations differently than what is engrafted in our carnal nature with the spoken word of Christ recalled to our mind the same way he did for the 12 and the 70 he sent out . The word, “thankworthy” and, ” acceptable” are both the Greek word, “charis” in these two verses. May God open our eyes to understand what he really can be in us!