The Grace of God Conclusion
Our previous article showed that the apostle Paul was consumed by the transforming reality of God’s grace. Many times Paul used the word grace in his epistles to the Romans, Corinthians, and Galatians.
Now we will examine Paul’s use of the word grace in the rest of his epistles, and then in the remaining New Testament (NT) books.
Paul’s Use of the Word ‘Grace’
In His Epistle to the Ephesians:
1:2—“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1:5–6—“according to the good pleasure of His will, to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He made us accepted in the Beloved.“
1:7—“In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace.”
2:5—“Even when we were dead in trespasses, [God] made us alive together with Christ (by grace you have been saved).”
2:7—“that in the ages to come He might show the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.”
2:8–9—“For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, lest anyone should boast.”
3:2—“if indeed you have heard of the dispensation of the grace of God which was given to me for you.”
3:7—“I became a minister according to the gift of the grace of God given to me by the effective working of His power.”
3:8—“To me, who am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”
4:7—“But to each one of us grace was given according to the measure of Christ’s gift.”
4:29—“Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.”
6:24—“Grace be with all those who love our Lord Jesus Christ in sincerity. Amen.”
In His Epistle to the Philippians:
1:2—“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1:7—”Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.”
4:23—“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
In His Epistle to the Colossians:
1:2—“To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ who are in Colosse: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1:5–6—“the word of the truth of the gospel, which has come to you, as it has also in all the world, and is bringing forth fruit, as it is also among you since the day you heard and knew the grace of God in truth.”
3:16—“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom, teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
4:6—“Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.”
4:18—“This salutation by my own hand—Paul. Remember my chains. Grace be with you. Amen.”
In His First Epistle to the Thessalonians:
1:1—“Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy, to the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
5:28—“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you. Amen.”
In His Second Epistle to the Thessalonians:
1:2—“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1:12—“that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
2:16–17— “Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself, and our God and Father, who has loved us and given us everlasting consolation and good hope by grace, comfort your hearts and establish you in every good word and work.”
3:18—“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
In His First Epistle to Timothy:
1:2—“To Timothy, a true son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord.”
1:12–14—“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief. And the grace of our Lord was exceedingly abundant, with faith and love which are in Christ Jesus.”
6:21—“Grace be with you. Amen.”
In His Second Epistle to Timothy:
1:2—“To Timothy, a beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
1:8–9—“God, who has saved us and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began.”
2:1—“You therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.”
4:22—“The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.”
In His Epistle to Titus:
1:4—“To Titus, a true son in our common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Savior.”
2:11—“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”
3:4–7—“But when the kindness and the love of God our Savior toward man appeared, not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Savior, that having been justified by His grace we should become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.”
3:15—“All who are with me greet you. Greet those who love us in the faith. Grace be with you all. Amen.”
In His Epistle to Philemon:
1:3—“Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.” 1:25—“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
Use of the Word ‘Grace’ in Other NT Books
In the Book of Hebrews:
No one knows for certain who wrote this epistle. The author did not include his name in its text. Nor is there a historical record available that identifies the author. Some Bible scholars have suggested Paul wrote Hebrews; others offer significant reasons for believing otherwise.
2:9—“But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, that He, by the grace of God, might taste death for everyone.”
4:16—“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
10:29—“Of how much worse punishment, do you suppose, will he be thought worthy who has trampled the Son of God underfoot, counted the blood of the covenant by which he was sanctified a common thing, and insulted the Spirit of grace?”
12:15—“looking carefully lest anyone fall short of the grace of God.”
12:28—“Let us have grace, by which we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear.”
13:9—“It is good that the heart be established by grace.”
13:25—“Grace be with you all. Amen.”
In James’s Epistle:
4:6—“But He gives more grace. Therefore He says: ‘God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’”
In Peter’s First Epistle:
1:2—“Grace to you and peace be multiplied.”
1:10—“Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you.”
1:13—“Rest your hope fully upon the grace that is to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.”
3:7—“Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.”
4:10—“Minister it to one another, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God.”
5:5—“God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”
5:10—“the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus.”
5:12—“This is the true grace of God in which you stand.”
In Peter’s Second Epistle:
1:2—“Grace and peace be multiplied to you in the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.”
3:18—“But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To Him be the glory both now and forever. Amen.”
In John’s Second Epistle:
v. 3—“Grace, mercy, and peace will be with you from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love.”
In Jude’s Epistle:
v. 4—“For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.”
In Revelation, by John:
1:4—“John, to the seven churches which are in Asia: Grace to you and peace from Him who is and who was and who is to come, and from the seven Spirits who are before His throne.”
22:21—“The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.”
