Good question!  Before we answer that question with Scripture, we need to define the word “grace.” GRACE means “unmerited favor” which simply means “we don’t deserve it” and “we can’t work for it.” There is NO MERIT in ourselves that can earn God’s favor towards us.

Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by GRACE you have been saved THROUGH FAITH, and that NOT OF YOURSELVES; it is the gift of God, NOT OF WORKS, lest anyone should boast” (NKJV). Here we learn that we first experience grace in salvation. We first learn that we are lost sinners (Luke 19:10; Romans 3:23) and then with the “hand of FAITH” we reach out to accept the gift of God’s salvation “through FAITH in Christ” (Romans 6:23; John 3:16; Acts 16:31). Some teach that FAITH is a “good work” on our part but we saw clearly that salvation through faith is “not of ourselves” and thus “not of good works.”

Hebrews 4:14 states, “Let us therefore come boldly to the THRONE OF GRACE, that we may obtain mercy and FIND GRACE to help in time of need.” After we are “saved by grace” we will need God’s grace each day to help us in trials (see Philippians 4:6-7), in making decisions, and in living a godly life until we are taken home to heaven. When we do approach the “throne of grace” we are to be keenly aware of our utter helplessness to live a life to the glory of God in our own strength. We come into God’s presence by faith to acknowledge that and to ask our Father to give us everything we need to glorify Him and to be a blessing to those around us. This is one of the vital ways to “acquire grace.”

Acts 20:32 exhorts us, “So now, brethren, I commend you to God and to the WORD OF HIS GRACE, which is able to build you up and give you an inheritance among all those who are sanctified.” In addition to prayer, we absolutely need to read and meditate upon God’s word to acquire His grace. We are told in 2 Timothy 2:15, “STUDY to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing THE WORD OF TRUTH” (KJV). As we study God’s Word the truth will instruct us to show us how to live. It is God’s GRACE “through His Word” that will accomplish this. We see this in Titus 2:11-12, “For the GRACE of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, TEACHING US that, denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.”

In 1 Corinthians 15:9-10 the Apostle Paul said, “For I am the least of the apostles, who am not worthy to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But BY THE GRACE OF GOD I AM WHAT I AM, and His GRACE toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly that they all, yet not I, But THE GRACE OF GOD WHICH WAS WITH ME.” Paul was a humble man; he knew that everything he had become was to be attributed to the amazing GRACE of God. He was a true man of God who constantly availed himself of the “throne of grace” (Ephesians 1:15-17; 3:14-21; 6:18-19; Philippians 1:3-4; Col. 1:3) and the “Word of God’s grace” (2 Timothy 1:13). His life of devotedness to God and others was all due to God’s GRACE. And thus, he could exhort others towards the end of his life with these words, “Be strong in the GRACE that is in Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 2:1).

John 1:16-17 declares “And of His fullness we have all received, and GRACE FOR GRACE. For the law was given through Moses, But GRACE and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Some may be thinking, “Perhaps God has a limited supply of grace for us.” No, God’s grace, like Himself, is infinite! When it says “of His fullness” it teaches us that God’s grace will never run out! Christ came to be God’s “channel of grace” and He will give us grace whenever we need it. But remember, to acquire it, we must “come to the THRONE OF GRACE” and we must “study the WORD OF HIS GRACE.”  (DO)  (660.5)