Grace is very simple for a child to understand. He may not know any of the theological and learned meanings of men but he knows it when he experiences it. For example, a child may fall into deep water and begin to drown. His brother happens to come upon him as he's drowning. He doesn't hesitate to lift him out of the water. He is saved and recovers well. For a good while, the little child wonders why in the world would my brother save me. He does mean things to him such as killing his pet fish, stealing money from his room, kicking him between the legs where it really hurts, and putting hot sauce in his tea to make him sick. The little boy has no reason to believe that there is anything within himself that would cause his brother to save him. So he endeavors to ask to brother why. "Brother, why did you save me? Because you're my brother and I care for you." But the little child was not satisfied with the answer. So he asked again with greater depth: "Why did you save me, knowing a lot of the bad things I've done to you, how cruel I've treated you? You could have set back and watched and let me get what I deserve." Other brother: "Well, I love you not because of what you've done to me but because of who you are in relation to me."
      From this perspective, we learn that every man is his brother's keeper according to the flesh. Only those who are saved are divinely enabled to be their brother's keeper according to the Spirit. The Bible says, "And he answering said, Thou shalt love thy Lord God with all thine heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy thought; and thy neighbor as thyself." (Luke 10:27, Geneva Bible) Yes, the Bible says you are to love your neighbor as yourself but it must first start with love in your heart to your Lord God.  Without the proper love of God in your heart, trying to love your neighbor in a human sense would all but be in vain Scripturally. Martin Luther in one of his sermons explains it very well: "John 13:34. Here it is seen that HE loved us and did everything for our benefit, in order that we may do the same, not to Him, for He needs it not, but to our neighbor; this is His commandment, and this is our obedience. Therefore it is through faith that Christ becomes our own, and His love is the cause that we are His. He loves, we believe, thus both are united into one. Again, our neighbor believes and expects our love, we are therefore to love him also in return and not let him long for it in vain. One is the same as the other; as Christ helps us so we in return help our neighbor, and all have enough." (The complete sermons of Martin Luther, Volume 1 by Baker Books, pg. 145)
     For God to love us the way He does in spite of ourselves and many sins, It is His grace that makes it possible. Grace is unmerited favor. When God shows grace, He is giving us what we do not deserve. He expresses favor toward us regardless of our behavior and actions, etc. This is impartial grace: "For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life." (John 3:16, KJV)                            

WRITTEN BY BROTHER MATTHEW C. ALTMAN