Attributes of God
God’s mercy and grace are probably the most important of His attributes. Why? Romans, 5:8 says, “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” This is the best example of mercy and grace that we can know. Christ paid the price for our sins. There is nothing better to offer in this world than eternal salvation.
So what is Mercy? Grace? Mercy is defined as kindness or favor. It is those things, but it also has an additional connotation. Mercy is kindness or compassion granted to someone who deserves punishment; in this case, punishment for our sins. Grace is when someone receives something that they do not deserve based on compassion, and not neccesarily deserving punishment.
The reality is that the two words are the same. The only difference between Mercy and Grace is that Mercy requires that you deserve punishment of some sort while Grace does not. For example, a man robs a convenience store because he has no money to feed his family. The clerk takes mercy on him and does not call the police. Not that, that would happen, but if it did, that would be mercy and not grace. On the other hand, if a man sits on a street corner and asks bystanders for money to feed his family and someone is gracious enough to give it to him; that is grace…and mercy. It’s grace and mercy because the man did not deserve punishment for his actions but, received a gift which he did not necessarily deserve.
For purposes of salvation, there is not a difference. Romans 3:23 says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” That means that we all deserve punishment and so the gift of Christ’s death can be described as mercy or grace.
The gift of salvation is truly the best gift of grace which we have received but, let’s look at some other scenarios where God showed Grace toward man.
In the book of Genesis, Jacob is sending his sons to Egypt for a second time to retrieve their brother Simeon who was being held there by Joseph. When Jacob sends them off, he says, “And may God Almighty grant you mercy before the man so that he will let your other brother and Benjamin come back with you.” This is specifically mercy not grace. This is because the brothers sold Joseph into slavery so they were deserving of being enslaved themselves.
Paul comments on the grace and mercy that is Jesus Christ repeatedly; and rightly so. He does occasionally write of other ways that grace has been poured out on him. In 1st Corinthians 3:10 Paul writes, “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder.” He means that he has been given the gift to teach and that his teaching is the foundation of the church.
So what of grace and mercy? If I understand it then what do I do?
1. Look for God’s grace and mercy in your life. When you find it, thank Him for it.
2. Share the grace and mercy that you have been shown with others. Be a witness to all people so that they can know the grace of God as well.
3. If you have not up until now, give your life over to God and experience his mercy and grace first hand. It’s a free gift and it is for all men.
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