To get a clearer picture of God, we need to understand His unearned, undeserved favor toward us. His grace goes far beyond simply forgiving our sins; it is His way of dealing with those who receive Christ. Grace provides assurance, stability, and direction in the lives of believers. It is not something reserved for when we eventually get to heaven; it immediately begins working in our daily lives the instant we believe and accept Jesus as our Lord and Savior. The beauty of grace is that it is based not on what we do, but on what Jesus already did and our faith in that. We are forgiven, holy, and righteous not because of our efforts, but because God said so. Knowing and accepting our right-standing with God changes our entire lives.