Grace in Its Various Forms

Dear God seekers, 

We often think of grace as just the kind which saves you. But Peter the apostle wrote that there are various forms of God’s grace. He said: “Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms.” (1Pe 4:10). 

Various Forms of Grace

Let’s take a look at the various forms of God’s grace mentioned in Scripture, which are twelve in number.

1. Saving grace: Grace to justify sinners through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ (Eph 2:5, 7-8; 2 Tim 1:9; Tit 3:7).

2. Serving grace: Grace for gospel work; grace to be a servant of the gospel and to call people to the obedience of faith; grace to serve (1Pe 4:10; Rom 1:5; 15:15-16; 2 Co 1:12; Gal 2:9; Eph 3:2, 7-8; 4:7, 11-12; 2 Tim 2:1).

Foundation-building grace: Grace to build wisely in God’s kingdom (1 Co 3:10). This is basically a type of serving grace.

3. Speaking grace: Grace to speak for God graciously and powerfully, whether publicly or privately, whether in person or on video (Rom 12:3; Col 4:6).

4. Writing grace: Grace to write for the Lord in whatever manner the Holy Spirit leads (eg., books, booklets, articles, letters, tracts, blogs, etc.), in a way that effectively communicates the gospel, as well as any biblical truth found in Scripture (Rom 12:3; 15:15).

5. Grace for godliness: Grace to say no to ungodliness and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives (Tit 2:11-12).

6. Existential grace: Grace to be who God has called you to be in Christ. We are who we are by the grace of God (1 Co 15:10; Gal 1:15).

7. Grace of giving: Grace to give generously to others (2 Co 8:1-4, 7-9).

8. Suffering grace: Grace to endure suffering, hardship, and even to die for the Lord (2 Co 12:9; Heb 2:9).

9. Strengthening grace: Grace that strengthens your heart (Heb 13:9).

10. Charismatic grace or the grace of gifts: Grace to operate God’s gifts (Rom 12:6).

11. Glorifying grace: Grace that enables the name of our Lord Jesus Christ to be glorified in you and you to be glorified in Him (2 Thes 1:12).

12. Helping grace: Grace to help us in our time of need (Heb 4:16).

Putting it All Together

I hope this has helped to demonstrate that there are many various forms of God's grace, not just saving grace. In fact, there are at least twelve forms of God's grace mentioned in Scripture, including saving grace, serving grace, foundation-building grace, speaking grace, writing grace, grace for godliness, existential grace, the grace of giving, suffering grace, strengthening grace, charismatic grace, glorifying grace, and helping grace. 

These affect not only our spiritual condition or position before God, but are very functional and practical forms of grace that enable us to put the Word of God into practice and to do the good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do (Eph 2:10). Once we come to know the Lord as one of His genuine disciples, He gives us these various kinds of grace at different times, often in answer to our prayers. so that we might be not only a hearer of the Word, but a doer of it as well (Js 1:22-24).

Attribution notice: Scripture quotations taken from the Holy Bible NIV, copyright Zondervan, used by permission. 

Author's note: If you enjoyed this post, please also see the following: Costly Grace, Amazing Grace, By Grace Alone, Grace Mercy and Peace, Being Blessable, The Blessing of Abraham, and The Afflictions of the Righteous, You may find the Main Directory for this blog at Home, and you may also access my complete blog directory at "Writing for the Master." 

Do You Want to Know Him?
If you want to know Jesus personally, you can. It all begins when you repent and believe in Jesus.  Do you know what God's Word, the Bible says?

“Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of God, and saying, ‘The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God is at hand; repent and believe in the gospel.’” (Mar 1:14b-15).  He preached that we must repent and believe. 

Please see my explanation of this in my post called "Do You Want to Know Jesus?"

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Len Lacroix is the founder of Doulos Missions International.  He was based in Eastern Europe for four years, making disciples, as well as helping leaders to be more effective at making disciples who multiply, developing leaders who multiply, with the ultimate goal of planting churches that multiply. His ministry is now based in the United States with the same goal of helping fulfill the Great Commission. www.dmiworld.org.