Grace and Mercy

The words “mercy” and “grace” appear hundreds of times in scripture. We use them in the vast majority of our public prayers. They are among the most common words heard in churches and among Christians conversing.

As with so many words we use to express religious truths, both terms easily become jargon; clichés so comfortable we don’t even think about what we are saying. Grace especially has a broad semantic range, creating some overlap in meaning. (For example, the throne of grace is where we receive mercy and find grace.) Nevertheless, the concepts are not interchangeable despite their similarities and their occasional appearance in the same scriptural context.

It’s Tuesday. Let’s differentiate.

The Problem with Neat Definitions

I have been hearing neat one-sentence definitions of “grace” all my life. You can probably think of a few. I’m not going to try to coin a new one. It would be just as inadequate as the ones we’re familiar with, maybe more so.

The writers of the New Testament used the Greek word translated “grace” in multiple different ways only context can define for us. Consider: Luke uses charis in chapter 2 of his gospel as a noun that means “favor”, then two chapters later as an adjective that means something like “appealing”, then again two chapters later as a noun that means “credit” or “benefit”. In chapter 17, he’s using it as a verb that means “to thank”. Paul uses it to mean something like “specific ability”, and a related word [charisma] in the same verse to signify “gift”, as in spiritual gift.

What single, pithy definition might we use to cover all that territory? All attempts would be inadequate. For the purpose of this post, let’s limit our study of grace to the character quality frequently conflated with mercy, and let’s try to distinguish the two scriptural ideas from one another.

With Respect to a Fallen World

Mercy does not exist outside the context of a fallen world. It requires objects in distress and sins in need of forgiveness. One related term is frequently translated “alms”. People require mercy because they are impoverished and unable to get what they need without help. Another related word means “miserable”. Such are the objects of mercy. We will not need mercy in eternity. Nobody will receive mercy in the New Jerusalem, and nobody in the eternal state with us will inspire our latent merciful qualities.

Grace is eternal and on display in every situation where God is active. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ exists both in- and outside of time, and those who are his may feel it and be transformed by it. Grace and truth came to us through him, and grace remains “in Christ Jesus” as he sits on his throne in heaven. There is a “Spirit of grace” and a “throne of grace”.

Mercy and Grace Displayed or Withheld

Mercy withheld is sometimes appropriate. An absence of grace never is. James writes, “Judgment is without mercy to one who has shown no mercy.” Isaiah writes, “This is a people without discernment; therefore he who made them will not have compassion [mercy] on them.” He who set aside the Law of Moses died “without mercy” on the evidence of two or three witnesses.

In withholding his mercy, God is not unjust, nor is his character diminished in any way. Mercy is optional for him, though he prefers to display it whenever he can do so righteously.

Grace, on the other hand, is not optional. God displays it both naturally and intentionally. Even when he shows no mercy to evil men, in judging them he is displaying his grace to their victims and potential victims by removing them from the scene and putting them where they can do no further damage.

Negatives and Positives

Mercy is a sort of negation. What I mean is that receiving mercy means the bad thing that was going to happen to me now does not happen. In a sense, it’s a non-event rather than an event. Mercy is an intervention that prevents harm, as opposed to doing me positive, measurable good.

Grace is an unremitting positive even if it comes at great cost to the one who is gracious. How did God make his grace manifest? Hebrews says it was when Christ tasted death for everyone. That’s not cheap grace. It cost him everything, but the object was not merely to delay or prevent my rightful judgment by God, but rather, as the context clearly says, to bring “many sons to glory”.

That’s the grace of God. It overflows bountifully in blessing in ways mere mercy never could.