What does the word grace mean in the Bible?

What does the word grace mean in the Bible? Is it simply the fact that God likes us?

Many people in the church talk about grace and even sing songs about it. They know he came through Jesus Christ (John 1:14, 17), but few know his true definition! Is it the freedom, according to the Bible, to do what we want?

When Paul wrote the words “… to you you are not under law but under grace” (Romans 6:14) he used the Greek word charis (Strong's Concordance # G5485). God saves us from this charis. As this is the way of a Christian's salvation, it is critically important and something the devil is doing his best to confuse the true meaning of grace!

The scriptures say that Jesus grew up in charis (Luke 2:52), which is translated as "favor" in the KJV. Many marginal notes show "grace" as an alternative translation.

If grace means undeserved forgiveness in Luke 2, as opposed to favor or grace, how could Jesus, who never sinned, grow into undeserved forgiveness? The translation here of "favor" is obviously the correct one. It is easy to understand how Christ grew in favor of his Father and of man.

In Luke 4:22 the people were amazed by the words of grace (favorable to men) that came out of his mouth. Here the Greek word is also charis.

In Acts 2:46 - 47 we find the disciples "having charisma with all the people". In Acts 7:10 we find it delivered to Joseph in the eyes of Pharaoh. The KJV has translated charis as “favor” here, as opposed to grace, as in other places (Acts 25: 3, Luke 1:30, Acts 7:46). It is not clear why some do not like this translation. It implies that it doesn't matter what you do once you accept Jesus Christ as your Savior. However, many believers know it matters what Christians do! We are told that we must keep the commandments (Acts 5:32).

Man receives favor for two different reasons. First, Jesus died for us while we were still sinners (Romans 5: 8). Almost all of Christendom would agree that this is God's grace in action (see John 3:16).

The cancellation of the death penalty on us is the first part of the salvation process. A Christian is justified (past sins paid for) by the death of Christ. Christians can do nothing for their sins but accept this sacrifice. The question is why does man receive this amazing favor in the first place.

Our Heavenly Father has not favored the angels who have sinned with salvation and does not offer them the opportunity to become children (Hebrews 1: 5, 2: 6 - 10). God favored man because we are in his image. The offspring of every being appear to be the father in nature (Acts 17:26, 28-29, 1Jn 3: 1). Those who do not believe that man is in the image of his Creator cannot even understand why we receive charity or the grace of justification.

The other reason we receive favor is that it resolves the argument between grace and works. How do you grow in favor of any boss? It keeps its directives or commands!

Once we believe in Jesus' sacrifice to pay for our sins (break the law), repent (keep the commandments), and be baptized, we receive the Holy Spirit. We are now the children of the Lord by the presence of his spirit. We have His seed in us (see 1Jn 3: 1 - 2, 9). Now we have grown in favor (grace) in His eyes!

True Christians are under the great favor or grace of God and must be perfect. He watches over us as any good father watches over his children and favors them (1 Peter 3:12, 5:10 - 12; Matthew 5:48; 1Jn 3:10). He even favors them with punishment when needed (Hebrews 12: 6, Revelation 3:19). Therefore we keep his commandments in the Bible and remain in his favor.