Jesus was God's son and was the physical embodiment of all the characteristics of God. One of the reasons Jesus came to earth was to demonstrate God's grace for us, which we received because of Christ's death on the cross.
The Bible describes the need for both grace and mercy in our lives. Because the words are sometimes used interchangeably, it can be difficult to figure out what the difference is.
According to Merriam-Webster, grace is defined as “Unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification; approval or favor.” Mercy is defined as “compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one's power.”
Mercy is withholding punishment for an offense; grace is unearned favor because the offense has already been paid for in full. Both mercy and grace are very similar and are easily confused because of the slight nuances of the concepts. How are grace and mercy similar?
Neither grace nor mercy is mutually exclusive from the other. Through Christ, Christians receive both mercy and grace. Christ paid the ultimate price for us to approach God's throne and receive salvation. But we still need ongoing mercy for the many times we will stumble into sin.
Both are the antidote to the religious spirit. The Pharisees were known for being experts in the law. But what they knew in their minds often didn't translate into action.
They were far from demonstrating grace despite the forgiveness they had already received from Christ. They said and did all the right things to appear religious, but their thoughts and deep- seeded jealousy of Jesus proved otherwise.
There are many examples throughout the Bible where this is apparent. Luke 7:36-50 demonstrates Jesus’ rebuke to Simon, the pharisee who immediately overreacted with disgust and disdain for the woman who came to his home to receive Jesus’ forgiveness:
“When the Pharisee who had invited him saw this, he said to himself, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is — that she is a sinner.”
Simon only saw the woman's reputation and sin. Jesus, however, saw beyond all of that and saw her as a woman in desperate need of forgiveness and grace.”
Similarly, in the prodigal son parable, the eldest son is a perfect example of someone who possesses a religious spirit, one who believes they can earn salvation on their own merits. Although the eldest son was already entitled to his father's inheritance, he spent years slaving in the field.
The moment his brother, who had not helped him take care of the father's property, returns home, and receives a party, the eldest son, instead of demonstrating mercy and grace, chooses to allow jealousy to rule over him:
“The older brother became angry and refused to go in. So his father went out and pleaded with him. But he answered his father, ‘Look! All these years I’ve been slaving for you and never disobeyed your orders. Yet you never gave me even a young goat so I could celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours who has squandered your property with prostitutes comes home, you kill the fattened calf for him!’ ‘My son,’ the father said, ‘you are always with me, and everything I have is yours’” (Luke 15:28-31).
In this example, the father exemplifies both mercy and grace as he withholds punishment for the prodigal son’s evil ways and also extends grace to him despite his sinful background. Neither mercy nor grace can exist without love. Love is the glue that bonds them both together.
Both the Pharisee and the eldest son lacked love towards the woman and the prodigal son. Both believed they were good enough and could earn God’s love on their own by doing enough good things (the eldest son working in the field; Simon being an expert in the law).
It is God's great love for his people that was the catalyst to send Jesus, his only son, to die for us so we could receive both mercy and grace. It is the sacrificial love of God that allows mercy and grace to co-exist.
To demonstrate both mercy and grace, Christians need to be people who understand their need for both mercy and grace in their own lives. It takes great humility for a Christian to display mercy and grace to others.
Christians need to remember that we are all sinners in need of a Savior. When we see ourselves as saved by God’s grace, we can extend mercy and forgiveness to others because our lives reflect the love and forgiveness to others we have received from Christ.
That said, we need to also understand that because we are sinners in need of a Savior doesn't mean we stay that way.
Because of Christ’s complete atonement on the cross, we can live each day in the knowledge of God's grace and full forgiveness of us because “his mercies are new every morning.”
God’s mercy and grace cannot be earned. We cannot ever be good enough to earn God's mercy and grace. Rather, each is freely given because Christ already paid the penalty for our sins.
The best way we can be examples of Christ to the world is to withhold punishment for others when they deserve it or approve of others despite their sinful backgrounds.
If you are struggling to understand how best to demonstrate grace and mercy to others, here are some ways in your daily life you might be able to best demonstrate these qualities:
1. Make amends with a friend with whom you've been in conflict for some time.
2. Instead of punishing your child for a misdeed, tell them you choose to forgive them and let it go. You can also go one step further and do the punishment for them. This is a very tangible example of what Christ did for us on the cross.
3. Resist the need to correct your spouse the next time they do something that doesn't meet your approval.
4. Remind your children there is nothing they can say or do to ever make you love them less.
5. During your quiet time, make a list of all the people who have offended you over the years. Ask the Lord to reveal any offenses for which you have not fully forgiven. Demonstrate mercy by asking the Lord to help you forgive each person and each specific offense.
6. Use your social platforms to be a positive influence and post encouraging posts rather than use them to spew negative opinions about the world.
7. Dedicate part of your prayer time to praying for your friends, family, and nation. Ask the Lord to heal our land as he promises to do and Deuteronomy.
Although grace and mercy may be similar in their function, no Christian can demonstrate the qualities of Christ without both. Ask the Lord to help you be a person full of grace and mercy to those around you.
For further reading:
Why Are We Given Grace Upon Grace from the Lord?
What Is the Difference Between Grace and Mercy?
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