Kruse: grace

The word charis is found one hundred times (in 95 verses) in Paul’s letters, signifying that it represented a most important theological concept for him. With only nine exceptions (where charis is used of the kindness shown by believers or to express thanks), it denotes the grace of God. It is found frequently in the opening and closing greetings of Paul’s letters (e.g., in 1   Cor 1: 3: ‘Grace and peace to you from God our Father’,  but most often to refer to God’s goodwill expressed in action for the benefit of believers. Paul speaks of God’s grace, God’s goodwill expressed in action, in many different connections. He mentions it in relation to (i)   his own calling and empowering to be an apostle (1: 5; 12: 3; 15: 15; 1   Cor 3: 10; 15: 10; 2   Cor 1: 12; 2: 14; 12: 9; Gal 2: 9; Eph 3: 2, 7-8; 1   Tim 1: 14), (ii)   the calling of believers to faith in Christ through the gospel (Gal 1: 6); (iii)   God’s gift of salvation and justification (3: 24; 5: 15, 17; 2   Tim 1: 9; Tit 2: 11; 3: 7); (iv)   God’s empowering of believers (2   Tim 2: 1); (v)   the fulfillment of God’s promises and the hope he places before believers (4: 16; 2   Thess 2: 16); (vi)   the standing believers have before God (5: 2; 6: 1, 14-15); (vii)   God’s redemptive activity through Christ (5: 20-21; 2   Cor 4: 15; 6: 1; 8: 9; Gal 2: 21; 5: 4; Eph 1: 6-7; 2: 5, 7-8; Phil 1: 7; Col 1: 6; 2   Thess 1: 12); (viii)   God’s choice of the faithful remnant (Rom 11: 5-6); (ix)   God’s gifts of ministry (Rom 12: 6; Eph 4: 7); and (x)   God’s work enabling generosity and concern for others in the lives of believers (2   Cor 8: 1, 6-7, 16; 9: 8, 14).

Kruse, Colin G. (2012-07-01). Paul's Letter to the Romans (Pillar New Testament Commentary) (pp. 185-186). Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing Company. Kindle Edition.