MERCY AND GRACE

Whenever you hear the two terms, "mercy" and "grace" used with one another, you almost always hear them with "grace" listed first. In fact, the two words appear in the Scriptures, six times together, and "grace" is always listed first (Gen. 19:19; 1 Tim. 1:2; 2 Tim. 1:2; Titus 1:4; Heb. 4:16; 2 Jn. 1:3). The only explanation I can come up with is, as genuine believers, we are so amazed with the fact God loves us, that His being a just God is almost forgotten.

God's Riches At Christ's Expense

"Grace" has been described as "God's Riches At Christ's Expense." The Greek word for "grace" is χάρις (charis) meaning "unmerited favor" or "gift." Grace is getting something you do not deserve. Believers are adopted by God to be His children because of His character, and not due to our worthiness (Rom. 8:15; Eph. 1:5).

Mankind Escaping the Righteous Condemnation of Yehovah

But God is just, and because He is, He could allow sinful man to go unpunished. He has declared "the wages of (payment for) sin is death" (Rom. 6:23). Unfortunately, the Bible declares that there are none who are righteous, all have sinned, and as a result, every one of us has a death sentence hanging over his head (Rom. 3:10, 23). So before God could give us something we do not deserve (grace), He had to find a way to show us mercy. The Greek word for "mercy" is ἔλεος (eleos) meaning "clemency" or "not getting what one deserves." Mercy is Mankind Escaping the Righteous Condemnation of Yehovah!

Being just, God had to carry out the death sentence for our sin. That is why, before He created our planet, God's plan involved a way man could be justly forgiven his sins without having to die. Jesus, His only begotten Son, is the Lamb slain for us from before the foundation of the world (Matt. 25:34; Jn. 1:29, 36; Eph. 1:4; Rev. 13:8). Christ was our "Passover Lamb" (1 Cor. 5:7). God showed us mercy by providing a Substitute to take our place; Christ died for us (Rom. 5:8; 8:34; 2 Cor. 5:14; 1 Thes. 5:10).

Because Jesus gave Himself to suffer and die in our place, we have received God's mercy. And because we no longer are under a sentence of death, God's grace is poured out on us. We have been saved from our sin, we are His adopted children, we are sealed to Him by the Holy Spirit, and we will spend eternity with Him. I am so thankful to God for His mercy and His grace!