INTRODUCTION  

1.   The mercy and grace of God are seen throughout the Scripture, from the fall of man to the return of Christ.

2.   Without the mercy and grace of God, all will perish.

I.    THE MEANING OF MERCY AND GRACE OF GOD

1.   The Mercy of God

By the mercy of God, we mean His goodness manifested towards those who are in misery or distress.

a.     Compassion, pity and loving kindness are other terms in the Scripture, all denote the mercy of God.

b.     Mercy is an eternal, essential attribute of God.  However, the exercise of mercy is optional.

God said to Moses, “For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion” (Rom 9:15).

c.     The source of the mercy of God.

The mercy of God comes from the goodness of God.

d.     The terms mentioned in the Bible are worth noting.

(1)    God is said to be “rich in mercy” (Eph 2:4a)

(2)    He “is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” (Jas 5:11b)

        (3)    He is said to be merciful toward Israel (Ps 102:13a)

Psalm 136 is an exhortation of the Israelites to thank God for His mercy.

(4)    His mercy is toward the Gentiles (Rom 11:30, 31), toward all that fear Him (Lk 1:50) and to those who seek His salvation (Isa 55:7).

e.     The distinction between general mercy and special mercy.

(1)    The general mercy of God is extended to the entire earth.

Psalm 145:9 “The LORD is good to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.”

Psalm 119:64a “The earth, O LORD, is full of thy mercy”

(2)    The special mercy of God is that pity and compassion which He extends to those who trust Him.

(a)      His special mercy is seen in the regeneration of the lost.

All who have been born again can testify that salvation has come to them because of the abundant mercy of God (Eph 2:1-5).

(b)      Paul testified of himself. 

He said, “Who was before a blasphemer, and a persecutor, and injurious: but I obtained mercy, because I did it ignorantly in unbelief” (1 Tim 1:13).

2.   The Grace of God

a.     The meaning of divine grace.

(1)      By the grace of God we mean that the moral attribute of God (love, mercy and justice) moved Him to assume full responsibility for the guilt and penalty of the undeserving sinners.

(2)      The exercise of grace, like that of mercy, is optional with God.

(a)      God may or may not show grace to save a guilty sinner.

(b)      Divine justice demands the sinner’s death. 

          But God’s grace intervenes, to assume the full penalty of justice, and to set the sinner free.

(c)      We see the grace of God in the incarnation of Christ (2 Cor 8:9; Phil 2:5-11).

(d)      Grace has only one direction.

Ephesians 2:8b says “it is the gift of God:”

b.     The manifestation of God’s grace

(1)      The Scriptures show that the grace of God is manifested toward the natural man – sinful man.

(a)    In delaying His punishment of sin (2 Pet 3:9).

(b)      The manifestation of God’s grace is seen in His provision of salvation, the Word of God, the convicting work of the Holy Spirit, and the preaching of the gospel (Jn 16:8-11; Tit 2:11).

(2)         The Scriptures also show that the grace of God is especially manifested towards the believers in Christ.

(a)    In their election (Eph 1:4-6)

(b)    In their salvation

Ephesians 1:7 “In whom we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of his grace;”

(c)    In their sanctification

Titus 2:11, 12 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;”

(d)      In their service

Hebrews 12:28b says, “let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear:”

(e)      In their weakness

          2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for thee”

(f)       In their final presentation at the coming of Christ.

          1 Peter 1:13 “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ;” 

II.         THE CONCEPT OF MERCY AND GRACE

            1.         The Jews in Jesus’ day

a.         The Jews in Jesus’ day were not inclined to show mercy.

b.         That attitude was condemned by Jesus.

(1)        In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus says “Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy” (Matt 5:43).

He said, “Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;” (Matt 5:44).

(2)           Many people today also have the same idea.

2.             The Romans

a.             A Roman philosopher called mercy “the disease of the soul.”

b.         During much of Roman history, a father had the right of deciding whether or not his newborn child would live or die.

c.         Roman citizens had the same power of life and death over the slaves.

d.         Husbands had the power over their wives.         

3.             The motive of self-concern has characterized men in general.

a.             Even today, we hear of such saying, “if you don’t care for yourself, no one else will.”

b.            Such popular proverbs are generally true.

III.        THE MANIFESTATION OF MERCY AND GRACE OF CHRIST

1.         The Lord Jesus Christ was the most merciful, when He was on earth.

a.         He reached out to heal the sick, restore the lame, gave sight to the blind, hearing to the deaf and even life to the dead.

b.         He reached out to the prostitutes, tax-collectors and publicans.

c.         He was merciful to everyone.

At the end of John 8, His opponents took stones to cast at him. (Jn 8:5a).

2.         The Lord Jesus taught His disciples to show mercy and forgiveness. (Matt 18:22-35).

a.         One day, Peter asked Jesus a question on forgiveness.

b.         Jesus answered not seven times, but “seventy times seven.” (Matt 18:22b).

c.         Then He gave a parable of the unforgiving servant (Matt 18:23-35).

d.         Jesus ended the parable by saying “So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses” (Matt 18:35).

(1)        The teaching of the parable is clear.

It gives a picture of God’s mercy and grace in relation to forgiving others.

(2)        Mercy to others is a mark of salvation.

(a)        Jesus says “Blessed are the merciful: for they shall obtain mercy” (Matt 5:7).

(b)        He taught His disciples to pray.

            “Forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors” (Matt 6:12).

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