Grace Upon Grace: When More Keeps Arriving

A journey through the grace that finds you, covers you, saves you, and never runs dry

We often treat grace as the doorway into faith — what gets us through the gate.

But in the Gospel of John, grace isn’t just the starting point.
It’s the whole terrain.

“From His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1:16)

The phrase suggests a rhythm: one wave of grace replacing another, endlessly. Theologians call it cumulative, replacing, overflowing.

But maybe, for the soul that feels tired, tangled, or unsure, it’s just the gentle assurance that you haven’t run out of grace.
Because grace hasn’t run out of you.

Let’s trace that rhythm from the beginning.

Grace That Finds — Genesis 6:8

“But Noah found grace (chen) in the eyes of the Lord.” — Genesis 6:8 (KJV)

Hebrew: חֵן (chen) — favor, kindness, freely given mercy

This is the first mention of grace in Scripture.
And it comes in the middle of judgment.

The world was unraveling. Evil was loud.
And still — grace found Noah. Not because he earned it, but because God gave it.

Grace doesn’t always arrive when you’re ready.
Sometimes it arrives when you’re surrounded.
It reaches you in the middle of ruin and says, “You are still seen.”

Grace That Covers — Exodus 33:12–19

“If I have found grace in your sight, show me your ways… Let Your presence go with us.” — Exodus 33:13–15

Moses, standing between a rebellious people and a holy God, pleads for grace.

Not just forgiveness. Presence. He doesn’t want to go anywhere without God going too.

And God responds:

“I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious…”
“…and I will cause all my goodness to pass before you.”

Here, grace isn’t just pardon.
It’s companionship. It’s the covering of God’s nearness in the middle of uncertainty.

Grace says, “You don’t have to go it alone.”

Grace That Saves — Ephesians 2:8–9

“For by grace (charis) you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God…”

Greek: χάρις (charis) — kindness, unearned favor, divine gift

This is the grace that lifts you from the grave.
Not self-help. Not effort.
But a rescue you couldn’t orchestrate and a love you couldn’t deserve.

Grace doesn’t wait for you to be worthy.
It meets you in death and calls you alive.

Grace doesn’t just find or cover.
It resurrects.

Grace That Keeps Arriving — John 1:16–17

“For from His fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Greek: χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος — “grace instead of grace,” or “grace in place of grace”

It’s not a one-time dose.
It’s grace layered on grace — fulfilled, replenished, never running out.

Where the law revealed our lack, Jesus revealed God’s heart.

His fullness doesn’t deplete. It overflows.
And in Him, grace is not exhausted. It is exchanged.
Law for love. Striving for rest. Earning for belonging.

Reflection: Why Grace Is Still Coming

Grace upon grace means the last grace wasn’t the last.
It means the failure you thought disqualified you is met by a greater covering.
It means you don’t have to work to stay loved.
And when you’re running low, grace isn’t.

Which grace do you most need right now?

Grace that finds you when you’re hiding?
Grace that covers you when you feel exposed?
Grace that saves you from trying to earn your worth?
Grace that keeps arriving, even after you’ve used up yesterday’s?

Write it down. Speak it aloud.
Let the grace you need today meet the part of you still aching.

And tomorrow? There will be more.
Grace, upon grace.

Grace and Mercy: A Side Note

These two often walk together in Scripture — but they’re not quite the same. Here’s how they differ:

Grace

Gives what you don’t deserve
Flows from generosity
Focuses on abundance and welcome
Uplifts and empowers
Greek: charis (gift, favor)
Hebrew: chen (favor), chanan (to stoop in kindness)

Mercy

Withholds what you do deserve
Flows from compassion
Focuses on relief and forgiveness
Protects and nurtures
Greek: eleos (pity, compassion)
Hebrew: rachem (womb-compassion), chesed (steadfast love)

Grace gives you the seat at the table.
Mercy removes the charges that should have kept you out.

Grace is the outstretched hand.
Mercy is the shield that stood between you and the blow.

One fills your cup.
The other stops it from being shattered.

Scripture Where They Meet:

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”
— Hebrews 4:16