How Do You Differentiate Between "Grace" and "Mercy?"

[Salsa_1960]

Easton's Bible Dictionary defines them this way as I have them below, but what is your take on it? How do you see the difference?



GRACE:

(1.) Of form or person (Proverbs 1:9; 3:22; Psalm 45:2).

(2.) Favour, kindness, friendship (Genesis 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Timothy 1:9).

(3.) God's forgiving mercy (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:5).

(4.) The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Romans 6:14; 1 Peter 5:12).

(5.) Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 3:8).

(6.) Christian virtues (2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Peter 3:18).

(7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Peter 1:13).

Grace, means of

An expression not used in Scripture, but employed

(1) to denote those institutions ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of grace to the souls of men. These are the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer.

(2.) But in popular language the expression is used in a wider sense to denote those exercises in which we engage for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessing; as hearing the gospel, reading the Word, meditation, self-examination, Christian conversation, etc.


​

MERCY:

Compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Genesis 19:19; Exodus 20:6; 34:6, 7; Psalm 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matthew 5:7; 18:33-35). ​

 

[elman]

Easton's Bible Dictionary defines them this way as I have them below, but what is your take on it? How do you see the difference?



GRACE:

(1.) Of form or person (Proverbs 1:9; 3:22; Psalm 45:2).

(2.) Favour, kindness, friendship (Genesis 6:8; 18:3; 19:19; 2 Timothy 1:9).

(3.) God's forgiving mercy (Romans 11:6; Ephesians 2:5).

(4.) The gospel as distinguished from the law (John 1:17; Romans 6:14; 1 Peter 5:12).

(5.) Gifts freely bestowed by God; as miracles, prophecy, tongues (Romans 15:15; 1 Corinthians 15:10; Ephesians 3:8).

(6.) Christian virtues (2 Corinthians 8:7; 2 Peter 3:18).

(7.) The glory hereafter to be revealed (1 Peter 1:13).

Grace, means of

An expression not used in Scripture, but employed

(1) to denote those institutions ordained by God to be the ordinary channels of grace to the souls of men. These are the Word, Sacraments, and Prayer.

(2.) But in popular language the expression is used in a wider sense to denote those exercises in which we engage for the purpose of obtaining spiritual blessing; as hearing the gospel, reading the Word, meditation, self-examination, Christian conversation, etc.


​

MERCY:

Compassion for the miserable. Its object is misery. By the atoning sacrifice of Christ a way is open for the exercise of mercy towards the sons of men, in harmony with the demands of truth and righteousness (Genesis 19:19; Exodus 20:6; 34:6, 7; Psalm 85:10; 86:15, 16). In Christ mercy and truth meet together. Mercy is also a Christian grace (Matthew 5:7; 18:33-35). ​

I think they are basically the same as each other and as in saying God loves us.

 

[MsAnne]

I had a Pastor who once said:

Grace - God giving us that which we do not deserve.
Mercy - God not giving us that which we do deserve.

For me, it hit the nail on the head. Ever since then it has made perfect sense.

 

[Salsa_1960]

I had a Pastor who once said:

Grace - God giving us that which we do not deserve.
Mercy - God not giving us that which we do deserve.

For me, it hit the nail on the head. Ever since then it has made perfect sense.

Ya. I just read that "definition" today. I think it says it well too. I read somewhere else today also that "grace" is God offering us salvation/heaven and "mercy" is God not sending us to hell.

 

[MsAnne]

Exactly.

 

[quatona]

I think they are basically the same as each other and as in saying God loves us.

So we have already three synonyms: love, mercy, grace.

 

[quatona]

Ya. I just read that "definition" today. I think it says it well too. I read somewhere else today also that "grace" is God offering us salvation/heaven and "mercy" is God not sending us to hell.

How is allowing us to heaven and not sending us to hell not the same?
Is there a third option I am missing?

 

[Salsa_1960]

How is allowing us to heaven and not sending us to hell not the same?
Is there a third option I am missing?

Maybe it's a matter of perspective.

 

[quatona]

Maybe it's a matter of perspective.

Which perspective, whose perspective?

 

[Salsa_1960]

Which perspective, whose perspective?

Reminds me of the question "Is the glass is half empty or half full.

I guess the difference between entering heaven and NOT being sent to hell is limbo.

 

[Received]

Grace is a metaphorical concept the literal-minded fundies have corrupted. We speak of a person as "graceful" when he/she acts with a certain refinement, a finesse, a beauty; applied to God this holds, but without the spatial sense that can sometimes be applied to the term ("she moved in a graceful way"). Saying God is graceful is another way of saying He acts toward us in a beautiful way. It's really a poetic term.

Mercy usually means the counterpressure to justice; not getting what you deserve. God is said to hold mercy, and it's this mercy that grants us the possibility for salvation. But that's also on the wrong track. Mercy is closer to a paradigm shift; or better, breaking a system for the betterment of the person it's applied to. Without mercy, we would have only justice; but we need justice or else mercy is unjust. Mercy stands higher than justice; it gives the machine of justice a direction, and even makes it possible. It isn't the counterpressure to justice; such is actually contradicted by scripture:

"Also to You, O Lord, belongs mercy; for you render to each one according to his work." -- Psalm 62:12

That is, mercy belongs to you because you act justly -- i.e., give each man what he deserves. Which is to say that, biblically understood, without complete justice, there can be no mercy; mercy entails justice.

 

[kevin36]

Grace - God giving us that which we do not deserve.
Mercy - God not giving us that which we do deserve.

Exactly right.

 

[Received]

It can't be right according to Psalm 62:12.

Calvinists probably made up that dichotomy. To accentuate self-deprecation, augment God-prettiness. When really it doesn't add to God's beauty, though it might to His power.

 

[kevin36]

It can't be right according to Psalm 62:12.

Calvinists probably made up that dichotomy. To accentuate self-deprecation, augment God-prettiness. When really it doesn't add to God's beauty, though it might to His power.

But are those rewards here, or in Heaven?

Not everybody in Heaven will get the same reward, y'know... Eternal life with God... sure, and that's enough for it to be paradise, but there's something else that isn't ever fully explained in the Bible.

 

[Received]

Nah, it seems pretty clear given the context that Psalm 62:12 refers to the present -- nonetheless the Old Testament didn't really have a real concrete understanding of the afterlife. They knew sheol (often falsely translated as Hell), and only a snapshot reference (also in Psalms I think) points out the shades that are in sheol. Of course, this last point is incredibly extensive in seeking to justify. I can't do it by myself; I advise you to read the really cool (and makes-you-look-cool ) book Shades of Sheol: Death and Afterlife in the Old Testament by Philip Johnston.