Faith and Salvation

What Is Grace in Christianity?

Grace is God's unmerited favor toward sinners, His freely given gift of forgiveness and salvation that cannot be earned by human effort or good works.

Published 2026-09-13 · Updated 2026-09-27

Written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team. Read our editorial policy.

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Biblical explanation

Paul explains that “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” (). Grace stands in contrast to earning salvation through personal merit; it is God freely extending mercy to those who deserve judgment. This does not make good works meaningless—Paul continues that believers are created for good works ()—but such works flow out of gratitude for grace already received, not as a means of earning it. Grace also sustains believers throughout the Christian life, as Paul learned that God's grace is sufficient even in weakness (), meaning grace is not only how a person is saved but how they are sustained daily.

In brief

Paul explains that “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” ().

Bible references

Go deeper into this topic Saved by Grace: Why Did Jesus Have to Die? Start the study

Editorial note

This answer is written and reviewed by the Word Oasis Editorial Team, and is presented with supporting references so you can examine each passage in context. If you notice an error or unclear statement, please suggest a correction.