Grace and mercy of God

God’s grace and mercy are made known in Jesus Christ

John 1:16–17 KJV 1900

And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace. For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The abundance of God’s grace and mercy

Ephesians 2:4–8 KJV 1900

But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus: That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:

See also 2 Sa 24:14; Ps 69:13; Ps 84:11; Ps 102:13; Ro 2:4; Ro 5:17; Ro 9:23; 1 Ti 1:14

God’s grace and mercy are always unearned and unmerited

Deuteronomy 7:7–8 KJV 1900

The Lord did not set his love upon you, nor choose you, because ye were more in number than any people; for ye were the fewest of all people: But because the Lord loved you, and because he would keep the oath which he had sworn unto your fathers, hath the Lord brought you out with a mighty hand, and redeemed you out of the house of bondmen, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.

See also Dt 9:5–6; Eze 36:22; Da 9:18; Ro 9:16; Eph 1:6; Eph 2:8–9; Eph 3:8; Tt 3:5

God’s grace and mercy are a source of blessing

Genesis 21:1–2 KJV 1900

And the Lord visited Sarah as he had said, and the Lord did unto Sarah as he had spoken. For Sarah conceived, and bare Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him.

See also Ge 33:11; 1 Sa 2:21

God’s grace and mercy are expressed in the covenant relationship

Je 31:3 Hebrew “hesed” (translated as “love”, “loving-kindness”, “unfailing love”) expresses specifically the grace and mercy that underlie the covenant relationship.

See also Ex 34:6; Dt 7:9; Dt 7:12; Ne 9:17; Ps 6:4; Is 55:3; La 3:22; La 3:32

Salvation comes by grace

Titus 2:11 KJV 1900

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

See also Mk 10:25–27 Jesus Christ’s words to his disciples; Ro 5:15; Eph 1:5–6; Eph 2:8; 2 Ti 1:9–10

This is ultimately shown in the cross of Jesus Christ

Romans 3:24–25 KJV 1900

Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;

See also Ro 5:8; Eph 1:7; Heb 2:9; 2 Pe 1:10–11

God’s grace and mercy are offered to sinners

Punishment is withheld

Ezra 9:13 KJV 1900

And after all that is come upon us for our evil deeds, and for our great trespass, seeing that thou our God hast punished us less than our iniquities deserve, and hast given us such deliverance as this;

See also 2 Ki 13:22–23; Eze 20:15–17; Ho 11:8; Joe 2:13

Sin is forgiven

Mic 7:18; 1 Jn 1:9

See also Ps 32:5; Pr 28:13; Is 55:7; Je 3:12; Je 33:8; Da 9:9

Sinners’ prayers are heard

Ps 51:1; Lk 18:13–14

See also Ps 6:2–3; Ps 123:3; Hab 3:2

The favour of God

Examples of those who found favour with God

Ge 4:4 Abel; Ge 6:8 Noah; Ex 33:12 Moses; Jdg 6:17–18 Gideon; 1 Sa 2:26 Samuel; Ezr 7:27–28 Ezra; Lk 1:30 Mary; Lk 2:52 Jesus Christ; Ac 7:46 David

Examples of those who seek the favour of God

Ex 32:11 Moses; 2 Ki 13:4 Jehoahaz; 2 Ch 33:12 Manasseh

Nehemiah:

Ne 5:19; Ne 13:31

Da 9:17 Daniel

Promises relating to the favour of God

Le 26:9 It is given to the obedient (see Lev 26:3); Ps 5:12 It is given to the righteous; Ps 30:5 It lasts for a lifetime.

The OT predicts a future age of God’s favour

Isaiah 49:8 KJV 1900

Thus saith the Lord, In an acceptable time have I heard thee, And in a day of salvation have I helped thee: And I will preserve thee, and give thee for a covenant of the people, To establish the earth, to cause to inherit the desolate heritages;

See also Is 60:10; Is 61:2; Eze 36:9

Implications for believers of the grace and mercy of God

God’s grace and mercy are to influence the character and conduct of believers

Romans 6:1–2 KJV 1900

What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

See also Ac 11:23; Ro 6:14; Ro 12:1; Tt 2:11–12

Believers must humbly rely on God’s grace and mercy

Galatians 2:21 KJV 1900

I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.

See also Pr 3:34; Jas 4:6; Jon 2:8; Ro 2:4; 2 Co 6:1–2

God’s grace strengthens believers for service

Ephesians 3:7–8 (KJV 1900)

Whereof I was made a minister, according to the gift of the grace of God given unto me by the effectual working of his power. Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ;

See also 1 Co 3:10; 2 Co 12:7–9; Ga 1:15–16; Eph 4:7; Eph 4:11

Illustrations of God’s grace and mercy

God shows grace to Noah, saving him from the flood and afterwards establishing a covenant with him:

Ge 6:8; Ge 6:22; Ge 9:9–11 God shows mercy in saving first Jonah and then (following their repentance) the people of Nineveh; Jon 1:1–3; Jon 1:17; Jon 2:1–3; Jon 3:1–10; Lk 15:11–32 The forgiving love of the prodigal’s father illustrates the divine mercy of God.