Grace and Mercy Defined

Here are my short, quick definitions of grace and mercy in the Biblical sense. Grace: Where we get what we really don't deserve. Mercy: Where we don't' get what we really do deserve.

When Christians talk about receiving grace and mercy from God, just what do they mean? I am more concerned with a Biblical definition than I am from Webster's Dictionary. The Biblical definition is more important than one taken from a human opinion. The one from heaven is of more inherent value, and of far greater significance. For example, there is a Mercy Rule in my daughter's softball team. When the team is ahead by more than 10 runs, then yes, it is merciful to call the game. The score could become quite embarrassing and end up looking like a blowout football score. And when my daughter took ballet lessons, she was so full of grace (not from my side, mind you) that she was deemed to be graceful. But these definitions are from a human perspective. I am more interested in what God defines as grace and mercy.

Grace Defined

The dictionary terms grace as elegance and beauty of movement or expression. This reflects my daughter's skills as a dancer. This is an apt description of her movements and adept abilities to negotiate pirouettes. She was such a beautiful figure of subtleness in movements, and of unparalleled grace.

God's Definition of Grace

But God's grace is a gift. It is unearned, undeserved and unmerited. We get what we really do not deserve, but He gives it to us anyway. We could never have earned it. We could never have purchased it. It is so expensive, that all the money in the world could never buy it, yet He it offers if freely (John 3:16).

Mercy Defined

From a secular standpoint, mercy is letting your children off the hook for some things that they are clearly guilty of. The broken cookie jar that they were supposed to stay out of until supper is evidence that they have disobeyed the parent's instruction to wait until after supper. But, when the child runs into your arms and openly admits that they did something wrong and with tears, say they are sorry. Mercy is knowing that they have learned their lesson. This compassion and forbearance is what I would describe as the parent having mercy on the child and not punishing them further for their disobedience. It is an act of open compassion or kindness for an offense that normally requires a consequence.

God's Definition of Mercy

God's mercy is somewhat like this, but on an infinitely greater scale. We do not get what we really do deserve. Its our hand in the cookie jar and smashing the cookie jar on purpose, but His forbearance of our being caught in the act, and forgiving us anyway is the ultimate expression of mercy (John 3:17).

John 3:16 is such a famous verse, that everyone forgets about John 3:17. God so loves us that He gave the greatest thing He could give and we certainly didn't deserve it (v.16). Then He does not give us what we actually do deserve (v. 17). This is God's amazing grace and amazing mercy; giving us what we don't deserve, then not giving us what we really do deserve.