Grace (Greek: charis) means unmerited favor — God's goodness extended to people who deserve the opposite. The Reformation's sola gratia (grace alone) articulates the distinctively Christian claim: salvation is entirely God's gift, entirely undeserved, and entirely apart from human merit. Ephesians 2:8-9 — 'For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith — this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God — not by works.' 98/100 Christ-Centered — grace is the heart of the Christian gospel.
The New Testament word for grace is charis (χάρις), meaning favor, gift, or goodwill — specifically goodwill that is freely given without being earned or deserved. The Hebrew equivalent is chesed — covenant lovingkindness, steadfast love. Both words point to the same reality: God's disposition toward humanity is one of undeserved generosity.
The standard definition: grace is God's unmerited favor toward sinners — his decision to extend goodness to people who deserve judgment. This definition is essential: if grace is merited, it is not grace. Romans 11:6 — "And if by grace, then it cannot be based on works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace."
Grace and mercy are closely related but distinct: mercy is not giving someone what they deserve (the withholding of punishment); grace is giving someone what they don't deserve (the gift of blessing). Both are expressions of God's love, but grace is the more radical concept. A judge who lets a guilty person go without sentencing shows mercy. A judge who pays the fine himself out of his own pocket and then gives the guilty person a check for their new life shows grace.
The cross is simultaneously both: God absorbs the punishment our sins deserve (mercy — not giving us what we deserve) and gives us the status of righteousness we could never earn (grace — giving us what we don't deserve).
The Reformation's battle cry was Sola Gratia — by grace alone, not by grace + works, not by grace + sacraments, not by grace + sincere effort. Ephesians 2:8-9 — "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." Titus 3:5 — "He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy."
This is Christianity's most radical claim and its most distinctive feature. Every other major religion has some form of moral achievement as the path to favor. Christianity alone claims that God's favor is entirely free — that the ungodly are justified (Romans 4:5). As C.S. Lewis reportedly described it to a group debating what made Christianity unique: "That's easy. It's grace."
Grace is not only the basis for salvation — it is the framework for all of Christian life. Romans 5:2 — "We have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand." 2 Corinthians 12:9 — "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Grace means: you don't have to perform to earn God's love, you don't have to maintain a minimum standard to remain in his favor, and your failures do not define your standing before God. See our guide on How to Become a Christian and our Theology hub. The Gospel Coalition's essay on grace provides thorough treatment. GotQuestions on grace is accessible and comprehensive.
For the legal declaration that flows from grace, see our guide What Is Justification by Faith?