Nine Names of Grace

The Story Behind the Hymn

Grace has many names because it does many things. This hymn takes the great single word of Ephesians 2:8 — by grace are ye saved — and names the grace that goes before, saves, keeps, gives freely, holds sovereign, meets us in weakness, walks common ground with us, amazes with kindness, and welcomes at the throne. Nine names, one grace, one Christ, one household.

Scripture Anchor

“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” Ephesians 2:8-9 · KJV

Companion passages: Titus 2:11 ("the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men") · 2 Corinthians 12:9 ("My grace is sufficient for thee") · Romans 5:20 ("where sin abounded, grace did much more abound") · John 1:16 ("of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace").

Listen & Sing Along

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Verse 1

Grace that goes before us like the dawn,

Grace that saved us at the wounded tree,

Grace that keeps us walking though we fall,

Grace that makes us more than we could be.

Verse 2

Common grace on every open field,

Sufficient grace when weakness turns to prayer,

Free grace with no price we ever paid,

And sovereign grace that lifts us to his care.

Bridge

Grace amazing, grace that will not end,

Grace that makes the ruined ones his own;

Grace that carries what we cannot bear,

Grace, and grace, and grace before the throne.

Verse 3

Then let this household count the names of grace,

And write them on the doorpost and the wall;

That every child who comes and every guest

May feel the ninefold welcome grace of all.

Bridge (Repeat)

Grace amazing, grace that will not end,

Grace that makes the ruined ones his own;

Grace that carries what we cannot bear,

Grace, and grace, and grace before the throne.

Verse 3 (Repeat)

Then let this household count the names of grace,

And write them on the doorpost and the wall;

That every child who comes and every guest

May feel the ninefold welcome grace of all.

The highlighted line is the line the choir is singing now.

Reflection

Christian households live inside the mercy of a God whose grace is big enough to be called by many names. Every ordinary morning is a form of common grace. Every unearned welcome is a form of free grace. Every strength that arrives when we are weak is a form of sufficient grace. The hymn does not multiply grace; it multiplies our attention to it. Nine names is not a limit — it is a door.

A Prayer of the Ninefold Grace

Lord Jesus, thou art the whole of grace, in every name it wears. Teach this household to see thee in the ninefold way — before us, beneath us, beside us, above us, within us, before us again at the throne. In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.

Watch & Share

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Shorts: A short-form YouTube Shorts clip of this hymn will be published so households can share a verse in a minute. The Shorts placeholder is here so the ecosystem is ready when the video ships.

Use This Hymn At Home

Morning Before the day begins

Read Ephesians 2:8-9 aloud before breakfast. Sing Verse 1. Ask the household to name one grace they see already this morning.

Evening As the house grows quiet

Sing the Bridge slowly. Let each 'grace' be a bell. Then quiet the house.

With Children Simple enough for little ears

Count nine graces with the children on nine fingers. Read the Beatitudes as a companion. Sing Verse 3 together and let the counting be the game before sleep.