The phrase, “It is by grace you are saved” is found twice in Ephesians chapter 2. Grace or charis (Greek) is a hard word to define but in a nutshell it is the kindness and favour of God which we don’t deserve but He showers on us anyway. Some people think they can earn God’s grace by doing good works but it doesn’t work that way, God’s grace isn’t earned, it is freely given. “For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God” (Eph 2:8; ESV). (See also Rom 6:14; 11:6). The apostle Paul had a lot of revelation on the subject of grace. When he was asking God to remove “the thorn in his flesh”, God told him, “My grace (My favour and loving kindness and mercy) is enough for you” (2 Cor 12:9; AMPC). This applies to us too, when we are dealing with “thorns” God’s grace is still sufficient.

Many of the letters written by the apostles begin with the greeting of “grace and peace be yours” (2 Peter 1:2). (See also 1 Tim 1:2; 2 Tim 1:2). The Bible also tells us that God will cause His grace to abound to us (2 Cor 9:8; Rom 5:17). Because God has shown great grace to us, we must in turn show grace to others by being forgiving, loving when taxed and speaking kind words; it is God’s grace that helps us to do this, so we need to pray for God’s grace to help us every day.

“May grace and perfect peace cascade over you” (2 Peter 1:2; TPT).