JUSTICE, MERCY, AND GRACE

JUSTICE is getting what I deserve.  MERCY is not getting what I deserve. 

 

But GRACE is freely getting what I DO NOT deserve!

 

"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 ye are 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 show 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" (Eph. 2:4-9).

 

What does this mean? What is GRACE? Grace is God’s unmerited favor, His undeserved kindness. Grace is God’s approval, God’s acceptance, God’s favor towards the sinner because of Jesus Christ. None of it is deserved. None of it is earned. The sinner does not merit it and cannot merit it. God has graciously and freely poured out His love and kindness toward the sinner who believes on His Son.

 

Grace has nothing to do with wages. A wage is something that a person works for and earns. Grace is something a person receives that he does not deserve and that he cannot and did not earn. A wage is payment for work done. Grace is something freely given based upon the work done by Another, even the Lord Jesus Christ.

 

Grace has nothing to do with debt. Debt is something that is owed. Debt has to do with work and earnings. If a person works for someone, then that person owes him something. He needs to pay the worker for the work done. Grace is something freely given. God does not owe anyone salvation. If God were to give us what we have earned and what He owes us, it would be eternal death (Rom. 6:23a).

 

Grace focuses upon all that God gives to the sinner which the sinner does not deserve, such as eternal life, forgiveness of sins, and peace with God. Mercy focuses upon all that God does not give to the sinner which he does deserve, such as God’s wrath, punishment, eternal death, and hell. God is gracious to the believing sinner in freely giving to Him the gift of Christ and all that comes with the gift of His Son (Rom. 8:32). God is merciful to the believing sinner in that He has withheld His justice toward us by placing His wrath upon Jesus.