What is the difference between mercy and grace?

Response

Mercy and grace are closely connected. Although the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not identical. Mercy involves kindness and compassion; it is often mentioned in the context of God not punishing us as our sins deserve. Grace encompasses kindness and compassion, but also conveys the concept of granting a gift or favor. It can be helpful to consider mercy as a subset of grace. In the Bible, mercy is frequently linked with deliverance from judgment (e.g., Deuteronomy 4:30-31; 1 Timothy 1:13), while grace always involves bestowing a blessing upon the undeserving.

According to the Bible, we have all sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). As a consequence of this sin, we all deserve death “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”, (Romans 6:23), and eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12-15). Considering what we deserve, every day we live is an act of God’s mercy. If God were to give us what we deserve, we would all be currently condemned for eternity. In Psalm 51:1–2, David implores, “Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin.” Pleading for God’s mercy is requesting Him to demonstrate kindness and refrain from the judgment we deserve.

We do not deserve anything good from God. God does not owe us any good thing. The goodness we experience is a result of God’s grace «even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) », (Ephesians 2:5). Grace is simply defined as “unmerited favor.” God favors us—He shows us approval and kindness—by blessing us with good things that we do not deserve and could never earn. Common grace refers to the blessings that God bestows on all of mankind regardless of their spiritual standing before Him, while saving grace is that special blessing whereby God sovereignly bestows unmerited divine assistance upon His elect for their regeneration and sanctification.

Mercy and grace are evident in the salvation available through Jesus Christ. We deserved judgment, but in Christ, we receive mercy from God and are delivered from judgment. In Christ, we receive eternal salvation, forgiveness of sins, and abundant life «The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly. », (John 10:10)—all gifts of grace. Our response to the mercy and grace of God should be to fall on our knees in worship and thanksgiving. Hebrews 4:16 declares, “Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”