--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: If grace is to be free - which is the…" description: "\"If grace is to be free - which is the very meaning of grace - we cannot view it as something to be repaid.\" — John Piper" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/john-piper-255_grace_if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very_233561.png" --- # If grace is to be free - which is the very meaning of… ![“If grace is to be free - which is the very meaning of grace - we cannot view it as something to be repaid.” quote by John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/john-piper-255_grace_if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very_233561.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/john-piper-255_grace_if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very_233561.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/john-piper-255_grace_if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very_233561.png) > “If grace is to be free - which is the very meaning of grace - we cannot view it as something to be repaid.” [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Grace is unearned and cannot be repaid, so it must be received freely. **In simple terms:** Grace is a free gift, not a debt. Key Takeaway Accept grace without expecting repayment. Themes theology grace freedom Mood reflective hopeful Type doctrinal inspirational When to use this quote - personal prayer - church teaching - counseling sessions Key Concepts unconditional love gift economy spiritual liberty Questions to Reflect On - How does free grace change your view of merit? - What does it mean to live gratefully? A Different Perspective Misunderstanding grace can lead to entitlement. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Grace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) ## Related quotes > [“Grace is never out of view. Grace secures our relationship with God despite our sin. Grace maintains our forgiveness despite the inadequacies of our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bryan-chapell/grace-is-never-out-of-view-grace-secures-our-relationship-with-god/) [Bryan Chapell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bryan-chapell/) > [“Grace is free because God would not be the infinite, self-sufficient God He is if he were constrained by anything outside Himself.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/grace-is-free-because-god-would-not-be-the-infinite-self-sufficient/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Grace, Gold, Glory. Those three little words now have the biggest meaning for me. 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Grace to love yourself enough to be willing to put your trust in releasing the pain attached to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tracy-a-malone/forgiveness-is-the-meaning-of-grace-grace-to-love-yourself-enough-to/) Tracy A Malone > [Grace is free only because the giver himself has borne the cost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/grace-is-free-only-because-the-giver-himself-has-borne-the-cost/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [Once you have grace," I said to him, "you are free. Without it, you cannot help doing the things you know you should not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/once-you-have-grace-i-said-to-him-you-are-free-without-it-you-cannot/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [Grace is free, but when once you take it, you are bound forever to the Giver and bound to catch the spirit of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/grace-is-free-but-when-once-you-take-it-you-are-bound-forever-to-the/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [Grace is Gods kindness and goodness toward you without regard to worth or merit. As a believer, you have a duty to obey the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/regina-malabago/grace-is-gods-kindness-and-goodness-toward-you-without-regard-to/) [Regina Malabago](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/regina-malabago/) > [Grace binds you with far stronger cords than the cords of duty or obligation can bind you. Grace is free, but when once you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/e-stanley-jones/grace-binds-you-with-far-stronger-cords-than-the-cords-of-duty-or/) [E. Stanley Jones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/e-stanley-jones/) > [Grace is free, but it's not cheap.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-deyoung/grace-is-free-but-it-s-not-cheap/) [Kevin DeYoung](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-deyoung/) > [Grace is the free, undeserved goodness and favor of God to mankind.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/matthew-henry/grace-is-the-free-undeserved-goodness-and-favor-of-god-to-mankind/) [Matthew Henry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/matthew-henry/) > [Grace is the free, unmerited favor of God, working powerfully on the mind and heart to change lives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/timothy-keller/grace-is-the-free-unmerited-favor-of-god-working-powerfully-on-the/) [Timothy Keller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/timothy-keller/) > [“Grace doesn’t free us to live for us. The purpose of God’s grace is not to make your little kingdom of one work better.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-david-tripp/grace-doesn-t-free-us-to-live-for-us-the-purpose-of-god-s-grace-is/) [Paul David Tripp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-david-tripp/) ## More by John Piper > [“Even in the miserable guilt we feel over our beastlike insensitivity, the glory of God shines. If God were not gloriously desirable, why would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/even-in-the-miserable-guilt-we-feel-over-our-beastlike-insensitivity/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [The absence of God in most spheres of life is perceived to be normal, and even Christians feel it as normal - which is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-absence-of-god-in-most-spheres-of-life-is-perceived-to-be-normal/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“The Spirit inspired the Word and therefore He goes where the Word goes. The more of God's Word you know and love, the more…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/the-spirit-inspired-the-word-and-therefore-he-goes-where-the-word/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Do you feel loved by God because you believe he makes much of you, or because you believe he frees you and empowers you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-feel-loved-by-god-because-you-believe-he-makes-much-of-you-or/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Worship is. Missions exists because worship doesn't. Worship is ultimate, not missions, because God is ultimate, not man. When this age is over, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-missions-exists-because-worship-doesn-t-worship-is/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [What is sin? It is the glory of God not honored. The holiness of God not reverenced. The greatness of God not admired. 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What will enthrall the beloved this way is the glory…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/love-is-doing-what-will-enthrall-the-beloved-with-the-greatest-and/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“If you hold a grudge, you doubt the Judge.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-you-hold-a-grudge-you-doubt-the-judge/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Evangelicals are distraught over the state of America because they have not been taught that we're aliens here.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/evangelicals-are-distraught-over-the-state-of-america-because-they/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Worship is the highest moral act a human can perform, so the only basis and motivation for it that many people can conceive is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/worship-is-the-highest-moral-act-a-human-can-perform-so-the-only/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Do you love the cross because it makes much of you? Or do you love it because it enables you to enjoy and eternity…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/do-you-love-the-cross-because-it-makes-much-of-you-or-do-you-love-it/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“job 14:1 man who is born of a woman is few of days and full of troubles "If that isn't your experience now it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/job-14-1-man-who-is-born-of-a-woman-is-few-of-days-and-full-of/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [“Not to aim to show God is not to love, bc God is what we need the most deeply. And to have all else…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/not-to-aim-to-show-god-is-not-to-love-bc-god-is-what-we-need-the-most/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [God has given us prayer as a wartime walkie-talkie so that we can call headquarters for everything we need as the kingdom of Christ…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/god-has-given-us-prayer-as-a-wartime-walkie-talkie-so-that-we-can/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) > [Ignatius, when he heard the clock strike, would say, "Now I have another hour to answer for." (Eph. 5:16)](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/ignatius-when-he-heard-the-clock-strike-would-say-now-i-have-another/) [John Piper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) [Explore all 803 John Piper quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/) ## More Grace quotes > [We only enter into the full life if our faith gives thanks. Because how else do we accept His free gift of salvation if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-voskamp/we-only-enter-into-the-full-life-if-our-faith-gives-thanks-because/) [Ann Voskamp](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-voskamp/) > [“There is still a certain grace in a dead festival. It has been happy.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/there-is-still-a-certain-grace-in-a-dead-festival-it-has-been-happy/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [Enlightenment is lightening up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mike-myers/enlightenment-is-lightening-up/) [Mike Myers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mike-myers/) > [“Serve in the grace of strength within thy soul.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/serve-in-the-grace-of-strength-within-thy-soul/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Grace does not destroy nature, it perfects it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-aquinas/grace-does-not-destroy-nature-it-perfects-it/) [Thomas Aquinas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-aquinas/) > [There are two kinds of beauty; there is a beauty which God gives at birth, and which withers as a flower. And there is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-kuyper/there-are-two-kinds-of-beauty-there-is-a-beauty-which-god-gives-at/) [Abraham Kuyper](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-kuyper/) > [Grace is the wonderful spirit that imbues every fiber of our being when we practice the fruits of the spirit: kindness, patience, understanding, forgiveness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-cayce/grace-is-the-wonderful-spirit-that-imbues-every-fiber-of-our-being/) [Edgar Cayce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-cayce/) > [We are puzzled and bewildered whenever we see suffering in this world because we have become accustomed to the mercy and the long-suffering of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/r-c-sproul/we-are-puzzled-and-bewildered-whenever-we-see-suffering-in-this-world/) [R. C. Sproul](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/r-c-sproul/) > [Asanas bring perfection in body, beauty in form, grace, strength, compactness, and the hardness and brilliance of a diamond.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patanjali/asanas-bring-perfection-in-body-beauty-in-form-grace-strength/) [Patanjali](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patanjali/) > [Grace is the power of the Holy Spirit coming to us free of charge to enable you to do with ease what you could…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/grace-is-the-power-of-the-holy-spirit-coming-to-us-free-of-charge-to/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [ “Through the grace of a thief, one can become a thief and through the grace of a Gnani \[the enlightened one\], one can become… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dada-bhagwan/through-the-grace-of-a-thief-one-can-become-a-thief-and-through-the/) [Dada Bhagwan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dada-bhagwan/) > [“God reproduces and lives out His image in millions of ordinary people like us. It is a supreme mystery. We are called to bear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philip-yancey/god-reproduces-and-lives-out-his-image-in-millions-of-ordinary-people/) [Philip Yancey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philip-yancey/) > [One of the noblest words in our language is "grace," defined as "unearned blessing." We live by grace far more than by anything else.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/d-elton-trueblood/one-of-the-noblest-words-in-our-language-is-grace-defined-as-unearned/) [D. Elton Trueblood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/d-elton-trueblood/) > [“We have grace of strength to work, to clear our cities of any dirt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/we-have-grace-of-strength-to-work-to-clear-our-cities-of-any-dirt/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [Grace is upside-down, to-do-list wrecking, scandalous and way-too free. It's one-way love.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tullian-tchividjian/grace-is-upside-down-to-do-list-wrecking-scandalous-and-way-too-free/) [Tullian Tchividjian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tullian-tchividjian/) [Browse all 6,886 Grace quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/grace/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "If grace is to be free - which is the very meaning of grace - we cannot view it as something to be repaid.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "John Piper" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very-meaning-of-grace-we-cannot/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Grace" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very-meaning-of-grace-we-cannot/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/john-piper-255_grace_if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very_233561.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/john-piper-255_grace_if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very_233561.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/53b/john-piper-255_grace_if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very_233561.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“If grace is to be free - which is the very meaning of grace - we cannot view it as something to be repaid.” — John Piper", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "John Piper", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-piper/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "If grace is to be free...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very-meaning-of-grace-we-cannot/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-piper/if-grace-is-to-be-free-which-is-the-very-meaning-of-grace-we-cannot/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```