Esther 2:17 English Standard Version (ESV) the king loved Esther more than all the women, and she won grace and favor in his sight more than all the virgins, so that he set the royal crown on her head and made her queen instead of Vashti.
Looking at the first use of the word grace in the bible we find this verse. Jesus Christ is King of Kings and we are His betrothed. This verse reminds us of several things about this relationship. He loved us first. Then we won grace. Then we found favor in His sight. Lastly we win the crown.
The order is love, grace, favor, and then title.
Over the years teachers have defined for us that grace is unmerited favor. Finding favor listed separately after grace in this first use scripture gives us pause to ask if the teacher’s definition of grace is sufficient to explain grace.
It does not help the matter to find the Hebrew word for grace is ḥēn and is defined as favor, grace and charm. It is difficult at times to define the differences between words when they are found together in definitions. The word favor in this verse is ḥeseḏ in the Hebrew and is defined as goodness, kindness and faithfulness.
What do we, Christ betrothed, win?
1 Corinthians 9:20-22 English Standard Version (ESV)
20 To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. 21 To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. 22 To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some.
We win souls to Christ just as we too were won by grace.