Grace

has various uses, (a) objective, that which bestows or occasions pleasure, delight, or causes favorable regard; it is applied, e.g., to beauty, or gracefulness of person, Luke 2:40; act, 2—Corinthians 8:6 , or speech, Luke 4:22 , RV, "words of grace" (AV, "gracious words"); Colossians 4:6; (b) subjective, (1) on the part of the bestower, the friendly disposition from which the kindly act proceeds, graciousness, loving-kindness, goodwill generally, e.g., Acts 7:10; especially with reference to the Divine favor or "grace," e.g., Acts 14:26; in this respect there is stress on its freeness and universality, its spontaneous character, as in the case of God's redemptive mercy, and the pleasure or joy He designs for the recipient; thus it is set in contrast with debt, Romans 4:4,16 , with works, Romans 11:6 , and with law, John 1:17; see also, e.g., Romans 6:14,15; Galatians 5:4; (2) on the part of the receiver, a sense of the favor bestowed, a feeling of gratitude, e.g., Romans 6:17 ("thanks"); in this respect it sometimes signifies "to be thankful," e.g., Luke 17:9 ("doth he thank the servant?" lit., "hath he thanks to"); 1—Timothy 1:12; (c) in another objective sense, the effect of "grace," the spiritual state of those who have experienced its exercise, whether (1) a state of "grace," e.g., Romans 5:2; 1—Peter 5:12; 2—Peter 3:18 , or (2) a proof thereof in practical effects, deeds of "grace," e.g., 1—Corinthians 16:3 , RV, "bounty" (AV, "liberality"); 2—Corinthians 8:6,19 (in 2—Corinthians 9:8 it means the sum of earthly blessings); the power and equipment for ministry, e.g., Romans 1:5; 12:6; 15:15; 1—Corinthians 3:10; Galatians 2:9; Ephesians 3:2,7 .

"comeliness, goodly appearance," is said of the outward appearance of the flower of the grass, James 1:11 .