1.  Grace is the free gift of God (Eph 1:6; Rom 8:32; 1 Cor 2:12).
     -  The expression of God's Love.
     -  What God is free to do based upon His Holiness/Integrity.
2.  Grace is Divine provision on behalf of man (1 Cor 2:9).
3.  Grace is not earned or deserved but freely given by God.
4.  God does the work, and God receives the glory (Rom 11:36; Eph 1:19; 3:7; Phil 4:20).
5.  The concept of Grace stems from a good relationship in which God gives someone a gift.  In a bad relationship God would condemn, judge, or separate.  That would not be Grace but disgrace.
6.  Life and death are the result of accepting or rejecting Grace (Gen 2:16, 17; Deut 30:15, 19; 32:39; 1 Sam 2:6; Isa 1:19-20; Jer 21:8).
7.  Terms:
     a.  Hebrew /j@ (chen) = grace (Ps 84:11)
         Hebrew ds#j# (chesed) = Gracious or unfailing Love (Ps 36:5-9; Isa 63:7; Lam 3:22).
     b.  Greek cavri" (charis) = grace (Eph 2:8).

1.  The provision of Grace is compatible with the Integrity of God (Ps 84:11; Is 63:7; Matt 7:9-11; Rom 8:32; 2 Cor 9:8; Jas 1:17).
2.  God's Grace must not compromise His Integrity, which is His Holiness, or Essence.  For example, God's Grace must not compromise His Righteousness, Justice, or Love.
3.  God's Grace provision is based upon who and what He is – not the goodness of the object.
4.  God's Grace gifts include the riches of His Glory (Rom 9:23; Eph 1:18; 3:16; Col 1:27).  He wants to give us great blessing (Ezek 34:26; Mal 3:10).

Method

1.  Grace is the method that God uses in His work on behalf of man.
2.  The Love of God is expressed through the Grace of God.
3.  This is expressed by the Hebrew chesed, for Gracious or unfailing Love (Ps 36:5-9; Isa 63:7; Lam 3:22).
4.  The opposite of Grace is Satan's policy of evil (Gen 2:17; 6:5; Ps 5:4).

Types of Grace

1.  Antecedent Grace – God's Plan in Eternity past to create man.  This included:
     a.  Sovereign Divine Design for all Creation.
     b.  Portfolio of Grace blessing for every human being.
     c.  Election of believers for Grace blessing, including Salvation and an inheritance (Eph 1:3-6, 11; 2:10; 1 Jn 4:19).
     d.  Provision of Salvation.
2.  Creation Grace – God created all things (Eph 3:9; Col 1:16).
3.  Living Grace – creation (Gen 1:27; 2:7; Isa 64:8) and support of human life (Gen 1:29-30; Deut 6:2; Ps 36:5-8; 91:4, 15-16; 121:5-8; Prov 3:1-2; Jn 10:10).  Life is sustained for believers and unbelievers by Grace (Matt 5:45).
4.  Logistical Grace – provision of food, clothing, shelter and other necessities to sustain mankind (Matt 6:25-33; Luk 12:22-31; Phil 4:19).
5.  Spiritual Life Grace – Grace for executing the Spiritual life in Time (ref. Rom 5:2; 1 Pet 5:12).
     a.  Salvation by Grace (Rom 4:1-8; Eph 2:8).
     b.  Spirituality  by Grace (1 Jn 1:9).
     c.  Production of Divine Good by Grace (2 Cor 9:8, 10-11).
     d.  Marriage Grace – Marriage and the Right Man – Right Woman relationship are supported by Grace (Gen 2:24; Eccl 9:9; Eph 5:31; 1 Pet 3:7).
     e.  Grace blessing:
          - Inheritance of Royal Family (Eph 1:11, 14; 1 Pet 2:9; Rev 1:6)
          - Abundant life (Jn 10:10)
          - Divine operating assets (Isa 40:31; Eph 3:20; Phil 4:4-7, 13; Heb 13:9)
          - Escrow Blessings for Time (2 Cor 9:8; Eph 1:3, 6; Jas 4:6)
6.  Dying Grace – special blessing and support in dying (Job 5:26; Eccl 3:2; Ps 116:15; 2 Tim 4:7-8, 18; 2 Pet 1:13-14).
7.  Resurrection Grace – provision of a Resurrection Body at the Rapture (1 Cor 15:52; 1 Thess 4:17; 1 Pet 1:13).
8.  Surpassing Grace – provision of an inheritance and rewards (1 Cor 3:8-15; Eph 2:7; Col 3:24; 2 Tim 4:8; 2 Jn 1:8; Rev 2:10) in the Eternal State (Jn 14:2-3; Rev 21; Rev 22:1-5).
     a.  Decorations for winners (Rom 5:17; 2 Tim 2:12; Rev 2:7, 17, 26-28; 3:5, 12, 21).
     b.  Crowns.

Qualification for Grace

1.  Humility is the basis for receiving God's Grace (Jas 4:6).
     a.  Arrogance rejects Grace.
     b.  Humility is recognition of God's authority and response to Grace.
2.  Greater Grace may be given when there is capacity for it (Jas 4:6).
     a.  Capacity is increased through learning doctrine (1 Pet 2:2; 2 Pet 3:18).
     b.  Promotion and increased capacity are received by passing testing (Matt 23:12; Lk 1:52; Jas 4:6, 10; 1 Pet 5:5-6, 10).

Grace Orientation

1.  Grace Orientation is response of the believer to the Grace of God (2 Cor 12:9, 10; Heb 4:16).
2.  Grace Orientation is symbolized by the Door of the Holy Place in the Tabernacle.  The Holy Place symbolizes the Spiritual life (ref. Rom 5:2):

X – Table of Shewbread – Doctrinal Orientation
Y – Golden Lampstand – Walking in the Light
Z – Altar of Incense – Authority Orientation, Spirituality, Prayer

3.  Grace Orientation separates true believers from apostates.  Apostates do not believe in Salvation by Grace or Spirituality by Grace.  Reversionists turn away from Grace (Gal 5:4; Heb 12:15).
4.  The opposite of Grace Orientation is worldliness (Jn 15:19; Rom 12:2; 1 Jn 2:15-16; 4:5).

Growing in Grace

1.  Growing in Grace (2 Pet 3:18) is the same as receiving "greater Grace" (Jas 4:6), increasing in Grace, "Grace in fullest measure" (1 Pet 1:2), or Grace multiplied (2 Pet 1:2).
2.  Growing in Grace is accomplished by passing testing.
3.  The three parts of the Tabernacle symbolize growing in Grace in the advance to Spiritual Maturity.
     a.  Outer Court – Salvation Grace
     b.  Holy Place – Spiritual Life Grace
     c.  Holy of Holies – Surpassing Grace of Heaven (Eternal State)
4.  Zerubbabel's Temple was completed with shouts of "Grace, grace to it!" (Zech 4:7).
     a.  The repetition of "grace, grace" emphasized the request for Grace.
     b.  The Temple symbolized the Lord Jesus Christ and the relation to Him through Grace.
5.  Jesus Christ in Hypostatic Union brought Grace multiplied to a higher power.

John 1:16 Grace Multiplied to a Higher Power
For out from His (Christ's) fulness we have all received, even Grace in exchange for Grace (Grace raised to a higher power).

     a.  Here the Greek preposition a*ntiv (anti) means in exchange for or for.
     b.  "Grace for Grace" is a new higher state (or power) of Grace, e.g. Grace of the Spiritual life replacing Salvation Grace as symbolized by advancing from the Gate to the Door of the Tabernacle.  It is a Grace promotion to a higher level, like going to a higher floor in a building.

Timing

1.  Everything in God's Plan for mankind is scheduled (Eccl 3:1ff).  God's time is the right time.
2.  Grace is smooth timing, function, and balance.
3.  Satan hinders and interferes with Grace (Rom 1:13; 1 Thess 2:18).
     a.  Satan creates confusion to hinder Grace (1 Cor 14:33).
     b.  Satan counterattacks Grace through the Prostitute of Babylon (1 Ki 19:2-8).
     c.  Satan is the enemy (Matt 13:39; Acts 13:10; 1 Tim 5:14).
4.  Grace for historical impact is symbolized by an open door, and a closed door symbolizes no grace (Ps 78:23; Isa 45:1; Luk 13:25; Acts 14:27; 1 Cor 16:9; Col 4:3; Rev 3:8, 20; 4:1).
5.  Stumbling blocks hinder Grace (Jer 6:21; Ezek 14:3, 4, 7; Matt 16:23; 18:7-9; Rom 9:33; 1 Cor 1:23; Rev 2:14).

Enemies of Grace

1.  The world (Phil 3:18; 2 Thess 3:2; Jas 4:4; 1 Jn 2:15-16)
2.  The flesh – Old Sin Nature (Rom 6:13; 8:5-8; arrogance, Jas 4:6)
3.  The devil (Matt 13:19, 39; Jn 17:15; Acts 13:10; Eph 4:27; 6:11-12; 1 Ti 5:14-15; Jas 4:7; 1 Pet 5:7; 1 Jn 2:13).
4.  Giants (Goliath, 1 Sa 17:40-54; Other Philistine Giants, 2 Sa 21:15-22), ref. Spiritual Warfare.
5.  Prostitute of Babylon, Jezebel (1 Ki 18:4; 19:2; Rev 2:20).
6.  Evil King (Josh 12:7-24).
7.  A hurricane symbolizes rejection of the Grace message of the pastor by the congregation like the Right Woman who rejects the authority of her Right Man (Jer 2:20; 44:16; 2 Tim 4:3).

Grace of Man

1.  The eyes symbolize grace toward others (Gen. 30:27; 32:5; 33:8, 10, 15; 34:11; 39:4; 47:25, 29; 50:4; Ex 3:21; 11:3; 12:36; Nu 33:3; 1 Sa 1:18; 18:26; 20:3; Esther 2:15).
2.  Being gracious includes thoughtfulness of others (Eph 4:2; Phil 2:3; Col 3:12, Greek prautes = thoughtfulness of others).
3.  The eyes also symbolize love (SOS 1:15; 5:12).
4.  Having eyes on the Lord is a metaphor for occupation with Christ (2 Chron 20:12; Psa 25:15; 141:8; Heb 12:2).
5.  Having a mote in the eye is analogous to self-righteous judging (Matt 7:3-5; Luk 6:41-42).

References

1.  Larry Wood.  Grace, Jan. 31, 2016.
2.  Larry Wood.  Doctrinal Definition, "Living Grace," October 3, 2016.