What is the gospel of the grace of God (Acts 20:24)?

In Acts 20:17–38, the apostle Paul, on his third missionary journey, is hurrying back to Jerusalem, determined to arrive in time for the Feast of Pentecost. Fully aware that suffering, danger, and imprisonment lie ahead, Paul seeks one last opportunity to minister encouragement to the believers in Ephesus. Thus, he stops in Miletus, a coastal city in southwest Asia Minor, and invites the elders of the Ephesian church to meet him there. In his farewell address, Paul lays bare the heartbeat of his ministry and message: “But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24, ESV).

Nothing but the gospel of the grace of God mattered to Paul; everything else was worthless and of no value to him (see Philippians 3:1–11). He had one priority: “telling others the Good News about the wonderful grace of God” (Acts 20:24, NLT). The English word gospel (euangelion in Greek) means “good news” or “good message.” For Paul and the early Christians, this was not just any good news, but the life-transforming message about Jesus Christ—His death and resurrection for the salvation of humanity.

Grace (charitos in Greek) refers to God’s goodwill, favor, and kindness freely given to us, despite our unworthiness. We cannot earn or achieve God’s grace through our own merit, efforts, or good deeds; rather, it is a gift from Him. Our heavenly Father most fully reveals His grace to us through the gift of salvation that comes through believing in His Son, Jesus Christ (John 3:16; Romans 5:8, 15; 2 Corinthians 5:18–19; Ephesians 1:5–6; 2:8–9; Titus 2:11).

The gospel of the grace of God is the glad announcement that God, out of sheer love and kindness, has provided the way for our salvation through Jesus Christ. By placing our faith in Jesus and His atoning sacrifice on the cross, we are granted redemption and complete forgiveness of our sins (Acts 13:38–39; Romans 3:22–24; 5:1–2, 16–17; Ephesians 2:4–5; 1 Peter 1:10). The God of all grace has covered our sin with the blood of Jesus (Romans 5:17; Hebrews 12:24; Ephesians 2:13; Titus 3:5; Revelation 1:5). He gives us His extraordinary, life-saving grace “not because we deserved it, but because that was his plan from before the beginning of time—to show us his grace through Christ Jesus” (2 Timothy 1:9, NLT).

The gospel of the grace of God assures believers that their standing before God is forever secure because it rests on what Christ has done, not on their own achievements or failures: “When God our Savior revealed his kindness and love, he saved us, not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He washed away our sins, giving us a new birth and new life through the Holy Spirit. He generously poured out the Spirit upon us through Jesus Christ our Savior. Because of his grace he made us right in his sight and gave us confidence that we will inherit eternal life” (Titus 3:4–7, NLT; see also Romans 3:21–26). Our new identity and our eternal future are grounded in God’s kindness, mercy, and grace.

The gospel of God’s grace transforms our lives (2 Corinthians 5:17), freeing us from guilt, shame, and the impossible burden of earning God’s acceptance (Romans 5:1–2; 8:1–2; 2 Corinthians 12:9; Titus 2:11–14; Hebrews 4:16). It allows us to receive God’s love deep in our hearts (Romans 5:5; Ephesians 3:17–19), to live in gratitude (Ephesians 5:20; 1 Thessalonians 1:2; 5:16–18), and to extend grace to others (2 Corinthians 9:8; Colossians 3:12–13).

Paul’s goal—his driving purpose in life—was to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. After the Lord met him on the road to Damascus, Paul spent the remainder of his days sharing the hope of salvation in Jesus. He would never give up, but would run like an Olympic athlete, keeping his eyes on the finish line and the prize awaiting him in heaven (1 Corinthians 9:24–27; 2 Corinthians 4:7—5:10; Philippians 3:13–14; 2 Timothy 4:7–8). The good news of God’s grace in Jesus Christ is the anthem of the Christian faith. The gospel continues to offer hope and transformation to all who hear and receive it.