What is the Difference Between Grace and Mercy

Ed McClanahan

Mercy is the act of withholding a deserved punishment, while grace is the act of unmerited or undeserved favor. In His mercy, God does not give us the punishment (hell) we deserve. In his grace, God gives us the gift (heaven) we do not deserve.

I had an occasion to go to Seattle late last month to pick up a casket for my Mother’s burial. As I was driving out of Seattle, I came up to an intersection and got behind a tall box truck. The truck blocked my view of the (left turn) traffic signal. A few moments later, traffic began proceeding past us in both directions. And then eventually, the box truck began to make its left turn. Unwittingly, I followed in behind the truck, believing that we now had the green arrow the truck had been so patiently waiting for. Wrong! The light was red for him and me. The Officer reviewing the video later could have shown me grace, noting that my vision was blocked by the truck. But he/she didn’t, and it would have been undeserved! I ran the red light! The law makes it clear that it’s my responsibility to wait until I know that the light is green. I could have asked a Judge for mercy, but I didn’t want to drive back to Seattle and decided to pay the penalty!

 The ten commandments (biblical law) make it clear that I’m to love the Lord my God with all of my heart, soul, mind, and strength. I’m going to confess here that I can’t do that for any appreciable length of time. Not for one day, probably most of the time not for even one hour! I’m too flawed and sinful. In his mercy, God clears me of this wrongdoing and calls me clean. 

(1 John 1:7) But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin.

Grace and mercy are both wonderful. I’ll take either one! I’m thanking the Lord for both!