[8] For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, [9] not of works, lest anyone should boast. [10] For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.
Grace, charis (Greek) - meaning "favor".
Grace is "unmerited favor", however grace also reigns over our actions as sin once did, and therefore we are "under grace", or under grace's rule. We are no longer slaves to sin, but slaves to God. Many people in the church condone sin by saying that they are under grace, however their actions prove that they are not under grace at all. If grace was their master, they would serve it, but since they continue to serve sin, sin continues to be their master.
Those who are under grace have the favor of God, and those whom He favors, He gives divine assistance. He does so by giving us the Spirit of grace (Hebrews 10:29), who "works in you both to will and to do of His good pleasure" ((Philippians 2:13) by providing the grace needed to make us sufficient for the work of serving Christ (2 Corinthians 3:5; 9:8; 12:9).
We may think, "how could I ever endure persecution?". Thankfully it is possible by God's grace which enables us to do so. Serving Christ for a lifetime is not only difficult, but impossible in our own power and strength. Only He can perform and complete His work.
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