Mercy and Grace

This week, I'd like for us to examine two very vital, and yet very different, biblical concepts, mercy and grace. Many people are under the mistaken impression that these terms are interchangeable, that they are the same thing, but this is not the case. I have a plaque which explains the difference very well. It reads..."Grace is when God gives us what we don't deserve. Mercy is when God doesn't give us what we do deserve." Let's examine these differences a little further...

Ephesians 2:1-9 gives examples of both mercy and grace, and contrasts one with the other in a very profound way..."And you hath He quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others. But God, who is rich in mercy, for His great love wherewith He loved us, even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace are ye saved;) and hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: that in the ages to come He might shew the exceeding riches of His grace in His kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. 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."

We were all dead in sin, bound by original sin, as well as our own sins. We are completely and utterly dependent upon God's mercy, because we owe a debt that we cannot pay. We are unclean from birth, and are unable to break free from the bondage of sin, and since we are told that the penalty of sin is death, this is what we deserve. The death penalty is our sentence. We are told in James 1:14-15..."But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death." And in Romans 6:23..."For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord." It is only the great mercy of God that provides us with hope. The word "mercy" is defined as "compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm." It is certainly within God's power to punish us for our sin, but He is longsuffering and compassionate, and has provided us with a way out, a second chance. His mercy was the catalyst which led Jesus to make the decision to come to this earth to suffer and die for us. In contrast, let's look at the definition of "grace"..."the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners." We see that there is a profound difference between these two concepts. While mercy lends itself to a holding back of deserved punishment, of a compassionate decision to withhold the consequences of our sin, it is contrasted by grace, which is the giving of a gift that we could never deserve. It is the gift of Jesus Christ which saves us from our sin. Grace is the foundation of our salvation, activated by faith, and given as a free gift of God. We can take no credit for any part in our salvation, not even in our own faith, because it is the gift of God. We truly owe it all to Him. Without His supreme sacrifice, we would have no hope. Our eternal destiny is entirely contingent upon His death, burial, and resurrection. He is our hope, our Savior, the Way, the Truth, and the Life. And so, with a thankful heart, may we ever depend upon His mercy, and find rest for our souls in His grace.