Grace is often misunderstood in our culture. While we might think of grace as simple kindness or courtesy, the biblical definition goes much deeper. True grace is God's favor toward the unworthy—His benevolence on the undeserving. What makes grace so special is that it's unmerited; we can't earn it. It's an extension of God's immense love for us and His response to our tendency to sin.

The religious definition of grace is "God's favor towards the unworthy" or "God's benevolence on the undeserving." The keyword that makes grace so incredible is "undeserving." God's grace is something we cannot earn—it's an extension of His immense love for us despite our deep propensity to sin.

Grace is a conscious decision to let go of anger, bitterness, and the desire to punish someone for their wrongdoings. This is what makes grace so special and why it's a core Christian doctrine.

Ephesians 2:8 reminds us: "For by grace you have been saved through faith. It is not your own doing; it is the gift of God." This is the gospel message—that God would give sinners grace for free.

In Matthew 18, Jesus tells a powerful parable that illustrates the concept of grace perfectly. When Peter asked how many times he should forgive someone who sins against him, suggesting seven times as a generous number, Jesus responded with "seventy-seven times," essentially meaning infinitely.

Jesus then tells the story of a servant who owed his king an astronomical debt—approximately 10,000 talents, which in today's money would be worth around $226 billion. This was an amount impossible to repay in a lifetime. When the servant begged for mercy, the king forgave the entire debt—an incredible act of grace.

This parable illustrates our position before God. We're not the king in this story—we're the servant with an immense debt. Romans 3:23 reminds us that "all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God." Every sin we commit is against an eternal God, building up a debt we could never hope to pay off.

The most profound example of grace is found in Jesus' words on the cross: "Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do." Even as He was being crucified by the very people mocking and torturing Him, Jesus extended forgiveness.

Romans 3:24-25 explains that we "are justified by his grace as a gift through the redemption that is in Jesus Christ, whom God put forward as propitiation by his blood to be received by faith."

Since the fall of man, every person has accumulated a debt to God through sin. God came down as a man, lived a perfect life, and died on the cross that our sins deserved. Three days later, He rose from the grave. He loved us so much that He wanted to forgive our sins, so He paid that debt for us.

This king chooses not to enact justice but instead opts for forgiveness. No one would think God unjust for holding us accountable, but instead He says, "I don't want the 10,000 talents; I want you." That's what grace means—you're worth everything to Him.

In 2009, Dr. Chuck Sandstrom was assaulted by Michael Ayers, suffering a traumatic brain injury that affects him to this day. Yet during Ayers' trial, Sandstrom and his wife chose to join the defense, petitioning for a reduced sentence and access to treatment, work, and school.

Sandstrom later said, "People think we're special to have forgiven this man, but trust me, my wife and I are not abnormally good people. What is true, however, is that the path of forgiveness can take ordinary people on an extraordinary journey."

You don't have to be God, a king, or a minister to forgive people. You just need to be aware of the forgiveness you've been given. While forgiveness doesn't always mean staying in unsafe situations, extending grace as God has given us is transformative.

Because of grace, we can answer with confidence when asked if we're saved: "Yes, by the grace of God." This assurance should change every aspect of our lives, allowing us to live fearlessly for God.

What would you do if you knew you could not fail? How would you live if you knew that death was not a problem? This is the reality for Christians—we have assurance in Christ.

The early church faced persecution we can hardly imagine, yet they remained fearless because of grace. Stephen, while being stoned to death, saw Jesus at the right hand of God and echoed Jesus' words: "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do."

Grace gives us fearlessness because we know that no matter what happens, God is with us. Whether we live or die, we belong to Christ. There's no amount of sin, no distance we can run from God where He will not still extend grace to us. That's the beauty of the gospel.

This week, consider how God's grace has transformed your life. Have you fully embraced the freedom that comes from knowing your enormous debt has been paid? Are you extending that same grace to others who have wronged you?

Ask yourself:

1. Is there someone in my life whom I need to forgive, just as Christ has forgiven me?
2. Am I living fearlessly for God, confident in His grace?
3. How can I better communicate God's grace to those around me who may not understand it?

Remember, receiving grace isn't just a "get out of jail free" card—it's an invitation to live differently. As recipients of such incredible grace, we're called to forgive others, live fearlessly, and share this good news with everyone we meet.

The path to receiving this grace is simple: repent, believe, and be baptized. As Peter said in Acts 2:38, "Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of your sins, and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit."

There's no sin too great, no person too far gone. God's grace is available to all who will receive it.