Grace and Mercy

Created Date: 5-Jun-2019

 

Last updated: 17-Sep-2022

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Sections:

1 What is Grace and Mercy? 2Desires not met by God?
3 Acronym for Grace and Isaiah 53 4Scriptural References on Grace and Mercy

What is Grace and Mercy?

Grace applies to getting gifts, rewards, benefits, love, being preserved and many other positive attributes from God that were not the result of anything we have done to merit them.

Mercy applies to punishments where we do not receive any negative consequences or only partial negative consequences because of sinful actions done by ourselves.

Note that Christians need to understand the full ramifications of suffering which can be a positive and life changing occurrence for our betterment.  In the topic on suffering, any suffering that is not caused by sinful actions in our part will be turned into a blessing from God, which might be hard to comprehend at the time of the suffering.  Indeed, even suffering that is a consequence of sinful actions can be turned into a blessing from God also!

Desires not met by God?

Grace and Mercy have always been operative in all of the Dispensations throughout history of the Earth.  Many of us have confused God's Infinite Love with the belief that God will always give us the desires of our heart and when we do not receive the desires of heart we are sometimes discouraged. 

There are no scriptures that promise that our lives will be:

Jesus Christ told us that in our life there will be troubles, but He will always be there for us which only requires us to take the guidance that is given through the Holy Spirit.

Proverbs 11:8 The righteous is delivered from trouble, and the wicked walks into it instead.
Matthew 6:33-34 33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. 34 So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Romans 5:3-5 3 And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; 4 and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope; 5 and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
James 1:2-4 2 Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Matthew 11:29-30 29 "Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and YOU WILL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS. 30 "For My yoke is easy and My burden is light."

There are principles of successful Christian living where we might be the cause of not receiving the full and abundant blessing when we are in disobedience.  The confusion in our minds is when we are not receiving immediate consequences for sinful actions, so in our incorrect belief, the sinful actions are condoned by God when really God is giving us mercy and time to repent, which is MercyGrace comes into effect as God is always still acting in our best interest for those whom He loves.

Acronym for Grace and Isaiah 53

Before listing some scriptures, there is an acronym from Hal Lindsey that is a wonderful way to remember what Grace means.  It is God's Riches at Christ's Expense.  This is absolutely true as everything that is given to us is because of the complete work of Jesus Christ.

Isaiah 53 is called the Holy of Holies of the Old Testament.  It is an amazing scriptural passage detailing the suffering the Messiah would be subjected to unto death so that we could be with God in eternity and also for blessing of Grace and Mercy in our Earthly lives.

Colossians 1:27 to whom God willed to make known what is the riches of the glory of this mystery among the Gentiles, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.
James 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom can be no variation, neither shadow that is cast by turning. 
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Scriptural References on Grace and Mercy

This is by no means a complete list of scriptural references to Grace and Mercy.  Also notice that this list contains more scriptural verses dealing with Grace.  The greatest gift of both Grace and Mercy that was given to us is of course Jesus Christ payment on the Cross for us so that we can have entrance into Eternity with God, which we could not have earned or achieved!

Scriptures on Grace:

1 Samuel 26:23 "The LORD will repay each man for his righteousness and his faithfulness; for the LORD delivered you into my hand today, but I refused to stretch out my hand against the LORD'S anointed.
Proverbs 15:6 Great wealth is in the house of the righteous, But trouble is in the income of the wicked
Psalm 18:20 The LORD has rewarded me according to my righteousness; According to the cleanness of my hands He has recompensed me.
Ephesians 1:7-8 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace which He lavished on us. In all wisdom and insight
Ephesians 2:7 so that in the ages to come He might show the surpassing riches of His grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.
Ephesians 3:8 To me, the very least of all saints, this grace was given, to preach to the Gentiles the unfathomable riches of Christ,
Philippians 4:19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
2 Corinthians 9:10-11 Now He who supplies seed to the sower and bread for food will supply and multiply your seed for sowing and increase the harvest of your righteousness; you will be enriched in everything for all liberality, which through us is producing thanksgiving to God.
Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified us to share in the inheritance of the saints in Light.
Colossians 3:24 knowing that from the Lord you will receive the reward of the inheritance It is the Lord Christ whom you serve.
Acts 20:32 "And now I commend you to God and to the word of His grace, which is able to build you up and to give you the inheritance among all those who are sanctified.

Scriptures on Mercy:

1 Peter 3:18 Because Christ also suffered for sins once, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God; being put to death in the flesh, but made alive in the spirit
Romans 5:10 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God through the death of His Son, much more, having been reconciled, we shall be saved by His life.
Psalm 19:9-10 The fear of the LORD is clean, enduring forever; The judgments of the LORD are true; they are righteous altogether. They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold; Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Ephesians 2:4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us,
Romans 2:4 Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance?

What to read next?

What is Salvation?  Is it possible to lose Salvation?  We have eternal life Evolution is not real.  When a Christian suffers is there benefits from it.  Rewards in heaven.  Do we Tithe?  What does the 3rd Commandment tell us?  Is there an Age of Accountability?  Is there a place of unending punishment and exile form God?