The Gift of Grace: God’s Kindness to Undeserving Sinners

If you’d like a shorter, pocket-sized version of this devotional series, I created a 7-day “Gifts of Jesus”guide that offers quick daily Scripture, reflection, and prayer prompts. It pairs beautifully with what you’re about to read – Day 5 “The Gift of Grace.”

What We Deserve vs. What We Receive

Since the fall of Adam, humankind has been born with a sinful nature that separates us from the Holy God who created us (Romans 5:12). This is the uncomfortable reality we must face before we can understand God’s grace. You weren’t born neutral, waiting to choose between good and evil. You were born with a nature bent toward rebellion, with a heart that naturally turns away from God rather than toward Him.

Based on our inherent sinful nature and rebellion against God, what’s humanly “fair” is that we die and be punished for the disobedience against our Creator. Justice demands it. God’s holiness requires it. We violated His law, rejected His authority, and chose our own way. The fair consequence is eternal separation from the source of all life, goodness, and joy. That’s what we deserve, and God would be perfectly just in giving us exactly that.

But God greatly loved us, so He created a way for us to be redeemed before Him (Ephesians 1:4-5). Before He created the world that would rebel against Him, before He formed Adam who would fall, before sin entered creation—God had already planned your rescue. Not because you would earn it or deserve it, but purely because of who He is.

God’s Grace: The Gift That Defies Fairness

Whereas our punishment for disobedience against our Creator is “fair;” Christ taking on our sins when He had lived a perfect life was “not fair.” Think about the cosmic injustice of the cross. The one man who never sinned, who lived in perfect obedience to the Father, who had no guilt of His own—He bore the punishment for every vile act of humanity. The innocent died for the guilty. The righteous suffered for the unrighteous. The beloved Son experienced the Father’s wrath that we deserved. There’s nothing fair about that transaction.

This is not due to any goodness or anything special about us, but purely God’s kindness (Titus 3:5). You didn’t contribute anything to your salvation except the sin that made salvation necessary. You brought nothing to the table but rebellion and spiritual death. God looked at you in that condition—dead in your trespasses, following the course of this world, walking in disobedience—and He loved you anyway (Ephesians 2:1-4).

He bestowed His mercy and grace when He provided us a means of salvation. Mercy withholds the punishment we deserve. Grace gives us the blessing we don’t deserve. Together, they compose the heart of the gospel. Mercy says, “I won’t give you hell.” Grace says, “I’ll give you heaven.” Mercy clears the debt. Grace credits your account with riches beyond measure.

This is crucial to understand because our natural tendency is to try to earn what God freely gives. We want to contribute something, to add our effort to God’s grace, to feel like we’ve earned our salvation at least partially. But grace, by definition, cannot be earned. The moment you try to work for it, it’s no longer grace—it’s wages (Romans 4:4-5).

Thank God that He doesn’t act according to our perception of fairness. If God operated on fairness, we’d all be condemned. If He gave us what we earned, we’d receive judgment. But God doesn’t weigh your good deeds against your bad ones and hope the scale tips in your favor. He doesn’t grade on a curve or lower the standard so more people can pass. He maintains His perfect holiness while simultaneously offering perfect grace to sinners who believe.

The Mercy That Withholds, The Grace That Gives

God doesn’t owe us anything, but He has given us everything. By His mercy, He withholds judgment from His sinful creation so that those He has called can come to Him and He can redeem them by His grace, love, and the blood of His Son willingly given to redeem us (2 Peter 3:9).

This is where we see both God’s sovereignty and His kindness displayed. He doesn’t owe you an opportunity to be saved. He doesn’t owe you time to repent. He doesn’t owe you the preaching of the gospel or the drawing of the Holy Spirit. But in His abundant mercy, He delays judgment so that those He has chosen can come to saving faith (Romans 9:15-16).

And when they come, what do they find? Not a reluctant God who barely tolerates them. Not a conditional acceptance that depends on their future performance. They find grace upon grace (John 1:16). They find a Savior whose blood is sufficient to cleanse every sin they’ve committed or ever will commit (1 John 1:7).

By His grace, you have everything you need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Not just salvation, but sanctification. Not just forgiveness, but transformation. Not just a ticket to heaven, but power to live righteously now. Grace isn’t just how you entered the Christian life—it’s how you live the Christian life every single day.

When you stumble, grace picks you up. When you fail, grace forgives. When you’re weak, grace strengthens. When you’re tempted, grace provides a way of escape. When you’re discouraged, grace reminds you that God finishes what He starts (Philippians 1:6). You live by grace from beginning to end because you never graduate beyond your need for it.

Living in Gratitude for the Gift of Grace

The proper response to grace isn’t to abuse it by continuing in sin—that shows you never understood it in the first place (Romans 6:1-2). The proper response is overwhelming gratitude that transforms how you live. You don’t obey God to get Him to love you. You obey because He already does. You don’t serve to earn grace. You serve because you’ve already received it.

This grace should devastate your pride. You contributed nothing. You earned nothing. You deserved nothing but judgment, and instead you received everything. There’s nothing to boast about except the cross where grace was purchased with blood (Galatians 6:14).

But this grace should also establish your security. If salvation depends on God’s grace rather than your performance, then it can’t be lost through your failure. The same God who showed you grace when you were His enemy continues to show you grace now that you’re His child. His kindness doesn’t run out. His patience doesn’t expire. His grace is sufficient for every moment of every day for all eternity (2 Corinthians 12:9).

Reflection Questions

1. Do you truly believe you contributed nothing to your salvation, or are you still trying to add your effort to God’s gift of grace? How does your daily life reveal what you really believe?
2. When you sin, do you relate to God as if His grace might finally run out, or do you trust that His mercy is new every morning? What keeps you from resting in the sufficiency of grace?
3. How would your service and obedience change if they flowed from gratitude for grace already received rather than attempts to earn grace you’re trying to deserve?
4. In what specific ways can you extend to others the same kind of undeserved grace that God has shown you?

Prayer

Consider the specific ways you’ve been trying to earn what God has freely given. Thank Him for grace that defies all fairness and human logic. Ask Him to help you live in the freedom and gratitude that grace produces.

If this devotional on the gift of grace encouraged you and you’d like to go deeper, consider exploring more about God’s great love and compassion toward us in the Salvation Series ->