Let me share with you the difference between grace and mercy.
I. Definitions
A. Mercy is compassion shown to a law breaker or enemies. Mercy is not getting what we deserve. We deserve Hell for our sin, but God shows us mercy because of Jesus.
This story will put mercy into a life situation:
A young employee secretly misappropriated several hundred dollars of his business firm’s money. When this action was discovered, the young man was told to report to the office of the senior partner of the firm. As he walked up the stairs toward the administrative office, the young employee was heavy-hearted. He knew without a doubt he would lose his position with the firm. He also feared the possibility of legal action taken against him. Seemingly his whole world had collapsed.
Upon his arrival in the office of the senior executive the young man was questioned about the whole affair. He was asked if the allegations were true, and he answered in the affirmative. Then the executive surprisingly asked this question: “If I keep you in your present capacity, can I trust you to no steal anymore in the future?” The young worker brightened up and said, “Yes, sir, you surely can. I’ve learned my lesson.” The executive responded, “Then I’m not going to press charges, and you can continue in your present responsibility.”
The senior partner concluded the conversation with his younger employee by saying, “I think you ought to know, that you are the second man in this firm who succumbed to temptation and was shown leniency. I was the first. What you have done, I did. The mercy you are receiving, I received.
(I failed to document where I read this story)
I want you to appreciate mercy even more. God’s justice is an integral part of His dealings with mankind. Justice and mercy are 2 attributes of God that work in unity with His character. Pastor Michael Houdmann made this interesting observation about God’s justice:
"Christianity is unique compared to all the world religion in that God’s mercy is shown through His justice. There is no setting aside of justice to make room for mercy. The Christian doctrine of penal substitution states that sin and injustice were punished at the cross of Christ and it’s only because the penalty of sin was satisfied through Christ’s sacrifice that God extends His mercy to undeserving sinners who look to Him for salvation".
Got questions.com
That is mercy. Now let’s look at grace.
B. Grace -- It is a gift or favor shown to another. Lots of people have defined grace as God’s unmerited favor.
Maybe this acrostic will help you remember grace – each letter stands for one word - God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense
Donald Grey Barnhouse observed "Love that gives upward is worship, love that goes outward is affection; love that stoops is grace. (found in preceptbyaustin.com)
One of the great hymns of our faith is Grace Greater Than Our Sin
Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt,
Yonder on Calvary’s mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was split.
Grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God’s grace, grace that is greater than all our sin.
Memorize these simple phrases to distinguish between mercy and grace.
Mercy is not getting what we deserve, and grace is receiving a gift we don’t deserve.
What do we deserve because of our sin? Hell. Yet God’s mercy shown through Jesus’ sacrifice on the cross, allows us to miss going to Hell for our sins.
Grace is receiving a gift we don’t deserve because of our sin – what is that gift? Forgiveness of our sins and Heaven. The sacrifice of Jesus on the cross and our repentance brings God’s grace into our lives.
Repeat this phrase with me out loud:
Mercy is not getting what we deserve, and grace is receiving a gift we don’t deserve.
II. Texts words used in – for the sake of time we will only look at two verses
A. Hebrews 4:16 – I want to start with this verse because it had both words in one verse.
16 Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.
Where are we going? God’s throne of grace. Thrones were places of authority and judgment to most people. However, the one sitting on this throne isn’t a tyrant or a dictator; He isn’t indifferent to our needs and concerns. He dispenses grace to the repentant. The writer of Hebrews calls the throne “grace”.
What will we find there? Receive or obtain mercy and find grace. Mercy and grace work together to help the searcher find what their soul needs.
There have been times when trying to witness to people, their attitude is “I am as good as the church member”. Maybe in a moral sense you are right, but as long as you have that attitude, you cannot receive God’s mercy. God is looking for the humble and repentant person to show His mercy and grace too.
B. I Timothy 1:12-14 – here is another text that has both words used in it
12 I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that he considered me trustworthy, appointing me to his service. 13 Even though I was once a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent man, I was shown mercy because I acted in ignorance and unbelief. 14 The grace of our Lord was poured out on me abundantly, along with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.
Verse 13 Paul felt he was shown mercy – he was not punished by God for the bad things he had done in opposing Christ and His church. His ignorance was no excuse for his actions nor is it for others who reject Christ.
Paul was shown mercy because he didn’t receive the punishment he deserved. Mercy didn’t save his soul or forgive his sins – that comes through God’s grace. The two work together in harmony.
In verse 14 Paul experienced the grace of God. He did receive something he didn’t deserve this grace gift given to him “poured out on me abundantly”.
III. Application
I want to give you more than teaching and information about the meaning of these two terms, we must apply them to our lives:
1. Ephesians 2:8 “for by grace you are saved through faith – and this is not of yourselves, it is a gift of God” – the gift we receive is salvation. Have you been saved? Have you received God’s gift of grace? Have you been born again by the Spirit of God? If not, you can be today.
If you have been saved, then live to the glory of God witnessing to others about what God has done for you.
2. Matthew 5:7 Jesus said “blessed are the merciful for they shall receive mercy” – as we live with other people, conflict happens, and we must forgive and love them as Christ forgives and loves us. That is being merciful. Because you have received mercy from God, you are to show mercy to those who offend you.
3. Most of the time we focus on God’s saving grace. A second kind of grace can also be a gift of God’s comfort.
Booth Tucker was an evangelist working with the Salvation Army. Booth Tucker was preaching in Chicago and after the service he was confronted by a man who said you wouldn’t be saying those things about the virtues of Christ if you had lost your wife and the children were inconsolable. Booth Tucker told the man he would pray for him.
A few days later Booth Tucker’s wife was killed in a wreck. After the funeral, but before they closed the casket, Booth Tucker stood looking at his lifeless body of his wife and he remembered the words of the confronting man. Booth Tucker said “a man said I couldn’t say Christ was sufficient if my wife was dead and my children were crying for their mother. If that man were here, I would tell him that Christ is sufficient! My heart is bleeding, it is crushed, it is broken but it has a song and Christ put it there. Christ speaks comfort to me today”.
That man was in the sanctuary and he heard what Booth Tucker said and he rushed forward knelt by the casket and gave his life to Christ.
(I failed to document where I read this)
Invitation appeal:
Maybe you have never been forgiven of your sins and you are ready to receive God’s great salvation. Come forward during this song and let me share with you how to be saved.
Maybe you are hurting today and need God’s grace gift – come forward and receive it.
Maybe you realize you have broken God’s laws and you need mercy, come forward and receive it.
Prayer
