What the Bible Says About Grace

Grace is the basis for the Christian faith. We believe we are saved by faith through grace. God’s grace is usually defined as undeserved favor. Grace cannot be earned; it is something that is freely given. We count on God’s grace and the bridge he built in our relationship with him.

Bible verses about grace abound. From the foundation of the Old Testament, we know that grace is a part of God’s character. He is a loving and gracious God. Then, in the New Testament, we learn about the role of grace in our faith and salvation.

As we experience God’s grace in our lives and seek to be more like Jesus, we can have more grace with others. Having grace-filled hearts and lives prompt us to share God’s love.

Here at Compassion, we encourage sponsors to write letters to the children they sponsor and share how they’ve seen God at work in their lives. Letters give sponsors the opportunity to pour into their sponsored child’s life and let them know they’re praying for them. Sponsors can share about how they’ve experienced God’s love and grace.

Grace in God’s Character

Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

— Hebrews 4:16, NIV

“The LORD bless you and keep you; the LORD make his face shine on you and be gracious to you; the LORD turn his face toward you and give you peace.

— Numbers 6:24-26, NIV

The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.

— Psalm 103:8, NIV

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

— 1 Peter 5:10, NIV

Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

— Isaiah 30:18, NIV

For the LORD your God is gracious and compassionate. He will not turn his face from you if you return to him.

— 2 Chronicles 30:9b, NIV

Out of the depths I cry to you, LORD; Lord, hear my voice. Let your ears be attentive to my cry for mercy.

— Psalm 130:1-2, NIV

What is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them?

— Psalm 8:4, NIV

For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.

— 2 Corinthians 8:9, NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

— John 1:14, NIV

“Return, faithless Israel,” declares the LORD, “I will frown on you no longer, for I am faithful,” declares the LORD, “I will not be angry forever.”

— Jeremiah 3:12b, NIV

Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for he is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

— Joel 2:13, NIV

But in your great mercy you did not put an end to them or abandon them, for you are a gracious and merciful God.

— Nehemiah 9:31, NIV

God’s Grace in Our Lives

With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all.

— Acts 4:33, NIV

Let the wicked forsake their ways and the unrighteous their thoughts. Let them turn to the LORD, and he will have mercy on them, and to our God, for he will freely pardon.

— Isaiah 55:7, NIV

But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace to me was not without effect. No, I worked harder than all of them — yet not I, but the grace of God that was with me.

— 1 Corinthians 15:10, NIV

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.

— Revelation 22:21, KJV

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

— Philemon 25, NIV

Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.

— Romans 1:7b, NIV

May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope, encourage your hearts and strengthen you in every good deed and word.

— 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17, NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

— 2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace.

— Romans 6:14, NIV

So Paul and Barnabas spent considerable time there, speaking boldly for the Lord, who confirmed the message of his grace by enabling them to perform signs and wonders.

— Acts 14:3, NIV

But he gives us more grace. That is why Scripture says: “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble.”

— James 4:6, NIV

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.

— 1 Peter 4:10, NIV

Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God — the gospel he promised beforehand through his prophets in the Holy Scriptures regarding his Son, who as to his earthly life was a descendant of David, and who through the Spirit of holiness was appointed the Son of God in power by his resurrection from the dead: Jesus Christ our Lord. Through him we received grace and apostleship to call all the Gentiles to the obedience that comes from faith for his name’s sake.

— Romans 1:1-5, NIV

Now Stephen, a man full of God’s grace and power, performed great wonders and signs among the people.

— Acts 6:8, NIV

But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.

— Ephesians 4:7, NIV

Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.

— John 1:16, NIV

But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be glory both now and forever! Amen.

— 2 Peter 3:18, NIV

You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

— 2 Timothy 2:1, NIV

May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, and the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.

— 2 Corinthians 13:14, NIV

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.

— Romans 16:20, NIV

But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.

— Isaiah 40:31, NIV

Grace and peace be yours in abundance through the knowledge of God and of Jesus our Lord.

— 2 Peter 1:2, NIV

And the child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom. And the favor of God was upon him.

— Luke 2:40, ESV

Saving Grace

But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved.

— Ephesians 2:4-5, NIV

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

— Titus 2:11-12, NIV

He has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time.

— 2 Timothy 1:9, NIV

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus.

— Romans 3:23-24, NIV

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works, so that no one can boast.

— Ephesians 2:8-9, NIV

For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

— John 3:16, NIV

But the free gift is not like the trespass. For if many died through one man's trespass, much more have the grace of God and the free gift by the grace of that one man Jesus Christ abounded for many.

— Romans 5:15, ESV

So that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

— Romans 5:21, NIV

However, I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me — the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.

— Acts 20:24, NIV

No! We believe it is through the grace of our Lord Jesus that we are saved, just as they are.

— Acts 15:11, NIV

And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.

— Romans 11:6, NIV

So that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

— Titus 3:7, NIV

Now I commit you to God and to the word of his grace, which can build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

— Acts 20:32, NIV

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

— Romans 5:8, NIV

For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more.

— Hebrews 8:12, NIV

I do not set aside the grace of God, for if righteousness could be gained through the law, Christ died for nothing!

— Galatians 2:21, NIV

Therefore, the promise comes by faith, so that it may be by grace and may be guaranteed to all Abraham’s offspring — not only to those who are of the law but also to those who have the faith of Abraham. He is the father of us all.

— Romans 4:16, NIV

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?

— Romans 6:1-2, NIV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

— Titus 2:11-14, ESV

In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace.

— Ephesians 1:7, ESV

And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

— Colossians 2:13-15, ESV

Lifestyle of Grace

“For if you forgive other people when they sin against you, your heavenly Father will also forgive you.”

— Matthew 6:14, NIV

But since you excel in everything — in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in the love we have kindled in you — see that you also excel in this grace of giving.

— 2 Corinthians 8:7, NIV

Then Peter came to Jesus and asked, “Lord, how many times shall I forgive my brother or sister who sins against me? Up to seven times?” Jesus answered, “I tell you, not seven times, but seventy-seven times.”

— Matthew 18:21-22, NIV

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.

— 2 Corinthians 12:9, NIV

For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means!

— Romans 6:14-15, NIV

May the favor of the Lord our God rest on us; establish the work of our hands for us — yes, establish the work of our hands.

— Psalm 90:17, NIV

Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.

— Psalm 23:6, NIV

Therefore, with minds that are alert and fully sober, set your hope on the grace to be brought to you when Jesus Christ is revealed at his coming.

— 1 Peter 1:13, NIV

Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper, but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.

— Proverbs 28:13, NIV

Do not be carried away by all kinds of strange teachings. It is good for our hearts to be strengthened by grace, not by eating ceremonial foods, which is of no benefit to those who do so.

— Hebrews 13:9, NIV

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.

— 2 Corinthians 9:8, NIV

For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you.

— Romans 12:3, NIV

Share God’s Blessing in Your Life With a Child Living in Poverty. Sponsor a Child Today!