The qualities of God's character by which he shows himself compassionate, accepting, and generous to sinful human beings, shielding them from his wrath, forgiving them, and bestowing on them his righteousness so that they can live and grow in faith and obedience. Grace and mercy are particularly expressed through God's covenant with his chosen people and through Jesus Christ's atoning death on the cross.
God's grace and mercy are made known in Jesus Christ
From His fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The abundance of God's grace and mercy
Ephesians 2:4–8 See also 2 Samuel 24:14 parallel 1 Chronicles 21:13; Psalm 69:13, Psalm 84:11, Psalm 102:13; Romans 2:4, Romans 5:17, Romans 9:23; 1 Timothy 1:14
But because of His great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in our trespasses. It is by grace you have been saved! And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with Him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages He might display the surpassing riches of His grace, demonstrated by His kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not from yourselves; it is the gift of God,
God's grace and mercy are always unearned and unmerited
Deuteronomy 7:7–8 See also Deuteronomy 9:5–6; Ezekiel 36:22; Daniel 9:18; Romans 9:16; Ephesians 1:6, Ephesians 2:8–9, Ephesians 3:8; Titus 3:5
The LORD did not set His affection on you and choose you because you were more numerous than the other peoples, for you were the fewest of all peoples. But because the LORD loved you and kept the oath He swore to your fathers, He brought you out with a mighty hand and redeemed you from the house of slavery, from the hand of Pharaoh king of Egypt.
God's grace and mercy are a source of blessing
Genesis 21:1–2 See also Genesis 33:11; 1 Samuel 2:21
Now the LORD attended to Sarah as He had said, and the LORD did for Sarah what He had promised. So Sarah conceived and bore a son to Abraham in his old age, at the very time God had promised.
God's grace and mercy are expressed in the covenant relationship
Jeremiah 31:3 Hebrew “hesed” (translated as “love”, “loving-kindness”, “unfailing love”) expresses specifically the grace and mercy that underlie the covenant relationship. See also Exodus 34:6; Deuteronomy 7:9, Deuteronomy 7:12; Nehemiah 9:17; Psalm 6:4; Isaiah 55:3; Lamentations 3:22, Lamentations 3:32
The LORD appeared to us in the past, saying: “I have loved you with an everlasting love; therefore I have drawn you with loving devotion.
Salvation comes by grace
Titus 2:11 See also Mark 10:25–27 Jesus Christ's words to his disciples; Romans 5:15; Ephesians 1:5–6, Ephesians 2:8; 2 Timothy 1:9–10
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to everyone.
This is ultimately shown in the cross of Jesus Christ
Romans 3:24–25 See also Romans 5:8; Ephesians 1:7; Hebrews 2:9; 2 Peter 1:10–11
and are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus. God presented Him as an atoning sacrifice in His blood through faith, in order to demonstrate His righteousness, because in His forbearance He had passed over the sins committed beforehand.
God's grace and mercy are offered to sinners
Punishment is withheld
Ezra 9:13 See also 2 Kings 13:22–23; Ezekiel 20:15–17; Hosea 11:8; Joel 2:13
After all that has come upon us because of our evil deeds and our great guilt (though You, our God, have punished us less than our iniquities deserve and have given us such a remnant as this),
Sin is forgiven
Micah 7:18; 1 John 1:9 See also Psalm 32:5; Proverbs 28:13; Isaiah 55:7; Jeremiah 3:12, Jeremiah 33:8; Daniel 9:9
Who is a God like You, who pardons iniquity and passes over the transgression of the remnant of His inheritance — who does not retain His anger forever, because He delights in loving devotion?
If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.
Sinners' prayers are heard
Psalm 51:1; Luke 18:13–14 See also Psalm 6:2–3, Psalm 123:3; Habakkuk 3:2
For the choirmaster. A Psalm of David. When Nathan the prophet came to him after his adultery with Bathsheba. Have mercy on me, O God, according to Your loving devotion; according to Your great compassion, blot out my transgressions.
But the tax collector stood at a distance, unwilling even to lift up his eyes to heaven. Instead, he beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner!’ I tell you, this man, rather than the Pharisee, went home justified. For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”
The favour of God
Examples of those who found favour with God
Genesis 4:4 Abel; Genesis 6:8 Noah; Exodus 33:12 Moses; Judges 6:17–18 Gideon; 1 Samuel 2:26 Samuel; Ezra 7:27–28 Ezra; Luke 1:30 Mary; Luke 2:52 Jesus Christ; Acts 7:46 David
Examples of those who seek the favour of God
Exodus 32:11 Moses; 2 Kings 13:4 Jehoahaz; 2 Chronicles 33:12 Manasseh; Nehemiah 5:19, Nehemiah 13:31; Daniel 9:17 Daniel
Promises relating to the favour of God
Leviticus 26:9 It is given to the obedient (see Leviticus 26:3); Psalm 5:12 It is given to the righteous; Psalm 30:5 It lasts for a lifetime.
The OT predicts a future age of God's favour
Isaiah 49:8 See also Isaiah 60:10, Isaiah 61:2; Ezekiel 36:9
This is what the LORD says: “In the time of favor I will answer You, and in the day of salvation I will help You; I will keep You and appoint You to be a covenant for the people, to restore the land, to apportion its desolate inheritances,
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 See also Acts 11:23; Romans 6:14, Romans 12:1; Titus 2:11–12
What then shall we say? Shall we continue in sin so that grace may increase? Certainly not! How can we who died to sin live in it any longer?
Believers must humbly rely on God's grace and mercy
Galatians 2:21 See also Proverbs 3:34; James 4:6; Jonah 2:8; Romans 2:4; 2 Corinthians 6:1–2
I do not set aside the grace of God. For if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died for nothing.
God's grace strengthens believers for service
Ephesians 3:7–8 See also 1 Corinthians 3:10; 2 Corinthians 12:7–9; Galatians 1:15–16; Ephesians 4:7, Ephesians 4:11
I became a servant of this gospel by the gift of God’s grace, given me through the working of His power. Though I am less than the least of all the saints, this grace was given me: to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ,
Illustrations of God's grace and mercy
God shows grace to Noah, saving him from the flood and afterwards establishing a covenant with him: Genesis 6:8, Genesis 6:22, Genesis 9:9–11; Jonah 1:1–3, Jonah 1:17, Jonah 2:1–3, Jonah 3:1–10 God shows mercy in saving first Jonah and then (following their repentance) the people of Nineveh; Luke 15:11–32 The forgiving love of the prodigal's father illustrates the divine mercy of God.
Related themes
Dictionary of Bible Themes © 1999 Martin Manser, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0, via Bible Aquifer. Formatted for this site, with Scripture from the Berean Standard Bible.