Grace v. Mercy – II John 1:3
Grace v. Mercy – II John 1:3
“Grace be with you, mercy, and peace, from God the Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Father, in truth and love” (II John 1:3 KJV).
What is the difference between Grace and Mercy?
Webster (1828) defines the word grace: “Appropriately, the free unmerited love and favor of God, the spring and source of all the benefits men receive from him.”
Webster (1828) defines the word mercy: “That benevolence, mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves; the disposition that tempers justice, and induces an injured person to forgive trespasses and injuries, and to forbear punishment, or inflict less than law or justice will warrant.”
Grace defined as “free unmerited love and favor from God.” When a person receives grace, they get something they do not deserve. Mercy defined as “mildness or tenderness of heart which disposes a person to overlook injuries, or to treat an offender better than he deserves.” When a person receives mercy, they do not get something they deserve.
At the Cross of Calvary is where Grace and Mercy come together. Jesus Christ died for all the sins of mankind (past, present, and future). Jesus Christ buried. Jesus Christ resurrected the third day. At the Cross of Calvary, Jesus Christ offers Grace and Mercy. “Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord” (I Timothy 1:2 KJV).
When a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation, they receive it by grace. The person does not deserve eternal life, nor can they ever earn eternal life; however, eternal life is what is freely received when a person believes Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection. “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life” (John 3:16 KJV).
When a person trusts in Christ alone for salvation, they receive mercy. The person deserves to go to Hell; however, they do not receive condemnation in Christ. They stepped from death to life because they believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God” (John 3:18 KJV). “Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth my word, and believeth on him that sent me, hath everlasting life, and shall not come into condemnation; but is passed from death unto life” (John 5:24 KJV).
Why not trust in Christ alone for salvation? Each person has been sent an invitation. “And the Spirit and the bride say, Come. And let him that heareth say, Come. And let him that is athirst come. And whosoever will, let him take the water of life freely” (Revelation 22:17 KJV). Salvation is by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, documented in the scriptures alone, so, God receives the glory alone. “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9 KJV). The work for salvation is DONE!
If a person is not saved, come to the Cross of Calvary (trust in Christ alone) and receive the gift of eternal life, which is by grace. If a person is not saved, come to the Cross of Calvary (trust in Christ alone) and receive not condemnation, which is mercy. “To Titus, mine own son after the common faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ our Saviour” (Titus 1:4 KJV).
If a person is saved, they have already received grace and mercy from God the Father and the LORD Jesus Christ, our Savior. After each believer receives grace and mercy at the Cross of Calvary, they receive peace. “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ” (Romans 5:1 KJV). The reason every believer has peace is that our Father wants every one of His children to know they have eternal life freely received in Christ alone. Eternal life can never be lost. “He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God” (I John 5:10-13 KJV).
I know whom I have believed, and I know He will deliver. “For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day” (II Timothy 1:12 KJV). Jesus Christ saves me from a Hell I deserve (mercy) to a Heaven I do not deserve (grace). Jesus Christ will deliver me home (Heaven), for I know whom I have believed. It is not me that keeps my salvation. It is Jesus Christ that keeps my salvation. Knowing that God, the Father, and Jesus Christ hold onto me and eternally keep me secure, gives me peace.
I thank my Father and Savior in Heaven, for they are truly the God of Grace, Mercy, and Peace. We should all say to the Father and Savior in Heaven: I love you; I thank you, and I am eternally grateful for your amazing gift of grace! “To Timothy, my dearly beloved son: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord” (II Timothy 1:2 KJV).
THE PLAN OF SALVATION - THE GOSPEL
The Gospel is Jesus Christ died on the Cross for our sins (past, present, and future), He was buried, and He resurrected the third day to show us the payment for sin is paid in full.
I Corinthians 15:1-4: Moreover, brethren, I declare unto you the gospel which I preached unto you, which also ye have received, and wherein ye stand; By which also ye are saved, if ye keep in memory what I preached unto you, unless ye have believed in vain. For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
God loves you. Lord Savior Jesus Christ was revealed in the flesh for one reason, and that is to save us from our sins. Jesus Christ does not come to condemn individuals. Jesus Christ comes to save us because we are all Hell doomed sinners without the Blood of Jesus Christ.
John 3:16-18: For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved. He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.
All individuals are sinners. The payment for sin is death.
Romans 3:23: For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
Romans 6:23: For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Christ died for your sin and resurrected for you.
I Corinthians 15:3-4: For I delivered unto you first of all that which I also received, how that Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that he was buried, and that he rose again the third day according to the scriptures:
II Corinthians 5:21: For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.
If you believe in Christ alone, you receive eternal life.
John 6:47: Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.
I John 5:13: These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God.
If you could earn salvation by the following: being baptized (infant or adult), going to communion, going to confession, partaking in confirmation, asking Jesus into your heart, giving money, doing good works, being a good person, follow the Ten Commandments, or any other ritual, sacrament, tradition or work? Why did the Ever Presence Jesus Christ (the God from Eternity Past, the God from Eternity Future) reveal Himself in the flesh and die on the Cross for sin and resurrect the third day?
Galatians 2:21: I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain.
If you could earn salvation by doing those things mentioned above, then Jesus Christ died in vain. However, Jesus Christ did not die in vain. Jesus Christ made a perfect sacrifice for sin. He is the Lamb of God, and only the Lamb of God can make a perfect sacrifice for sin. There is only one way to Heaven, and it is the belief in the Finished Redemptive Work of Jesus Christ.
Ephesians 2:8-9: For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.
Philippians 3:9: And be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith:
Galatians 2:16: Knowing that a man is not justified by the works of the law, but by the faith of Jesus Christ, even we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the law: for by the works of the law shall no flesh be justified.
Titus 3:5: Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;
The resurrection is proof God the Father accepted Jesus Christ’s death payment for sin -death payment of past, present, and future sin.
People DO NOT go to Hell because they are “bad.” People go to Hell because they believe NOT the Gospel of Jesus Christ. People trust NOT in Jesus Christ as their Savior. People believe NOT Jesus Christ died on the Cross for their sins, burial, and resurrection. People do NOT trust alone in the finished redemptive work of Jesus Christ.
II Thessalonians 1:8-9: In flaming fire taking vengeance on them that know not God, and that obey not the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ: Who shall be punished with everlasting destruction from the presence of the Lord, and from the glory of his power;
Know that God is gracious to you, and He has already died for all your sins (past, present, and future), He was buried showing all the world He died for your sins, and He resurrected showing all the world that Jesus Christ fulfilled what the Father asked Him to do: IT IS FINISHED!
I pray you to believe in Jesus Christ right now for salvation -believe Jesus Christ died on the Cross for your sin, burial, and resurrection. Trust alone in Jesus Christ as your Savior. Remember, that once you are saved, you are forever saved. You can never lose your salvation. It is the Trinity that holds onto you and seals you. You do not hold onto your salvation.
John 10:28-30: And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one.
Ephesians 1:13-14: In whom ye also trusted, after that ye heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation: in whom also after that ye believed, ye were sealed with that holy Spirit of promise, Which is the earnest of our inheritance until the redemption of the purchased possession, unto the praise of his glory.
If you know someone who is not saved, forward this message to them and share the greatest gift that one could ever receive.
REFERENCE:
Webster, Noah. (1828). American Dictionary of the English Language. San Francisco, CA: Foundation for American Christian Education.
Lance Edminster
The Good News Voice
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Once Saved, Always Saved - “And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. I and my Father are one” (John 10:28-30 KJV).