Hebrews 4:16
So let us step boldly to the throne of grace, where we can find mercy and grace to help when we need it most.
How are grace and mercy different?
Grace and mercy are used almost interchangeably in our world. I wanted to know how they are different. Paul (of the Bible) often used various forms of the phrase in his writing. He knew his Hebrew and Greek as well as Aramaic.
I checked in the dictionaries and found these.
The definition of grace is: unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification; a virtue coming from God; a state of sanctification enjoyed through divine assistance
The definition of mercy is: compassion or forbearance shown especially to an offender or to one subject to one’s power; lenient or compassionate treatment; a blessing that is an act of divine favor or compassion; a fortunate circumstance; compassionate treatment of those in distress; works of mercy among the poor; at the mercy of; wholly in the power of, with no way to protect oneself against.
But this didn’t satisfy me. I wanted to know how the rabbis and ministers taught about mercy and grace.
The Hebrew for merciful means compassionate or full of compassion. It means to bend or stoop in kindness to an inferior. And the Greek for grace, charis, means kindness, favor, a gift or blessing brought to man by Jesus Christ, or kindness which bestows upon one what he has not deserved.
God’s mercy doesn’t give us what we deserve. Jesus took our punishment for us. Through grace, God gives us what we don’t deserve: the rewards earned by Jesus and His righteousness.
From the messianic view, I found this:
In the Tanakh, two Hebrew words essentially express grace: Chen and Chesed. In Greek, these words have been translated as Charis and Eleos. In the Brit Chadashah, Charis is often translated as grace and Eleos as mercy. Both Charis and Eleos are used to translate Chesed.
The Hebrew word Chen, meaning to bend or stoop, figuratively means favor, grace, charm, acceptance, and elegance. Chen often conveys God’s grace despite sin and rebellion. Examples of God’s grace for His people include those mentioned above, as well as His freeing them from bondage in Egypt though they were a rebellious people, and God knew this. He also gave them Chen (favor/ grace) in the sight of the Egyptians who turned their jewels over to them.
The difference between Chen and Chesed is that Chesed is essentially a covenant word, and Chen is not.
God gives us grace
Ephesians 2:8-9 For it’s by God’s grace that you have been saved. You receive it through faith. It was not our plan or our effort. It is God’s gift, pure and simple. You didn’t earn it, not one of us did, so don’t go around bragging that you must have done something amazing.
Nehemiah 9:31 It was because of Your great mercy that they were not completely annihilated or forsaken. You are a grace-filled and mercy-laden God;
Psalm 5:7 Yet I, by Your loving grace, am welcomed into Your house; I will turn my face toward Your holy place and fall on my knees in reverence before You.
Psalm 6:2 Show me grace, Eternal God. I am completely undone. Bring me back together, Eternal One. Mend my shattered bones.
Psalm 17:7 Put Your marvelous love on display for all to see. Liberator of those who long for shelter beside You, set them safely away from their enemies, ever welcomed by grace.
Psalm 23:5 You spread out a table before me, provisions in the midst of attack from my enemies; You care for all my needs, anointing my head with soothing, fragrant oil, filling my cup again and again with Your grace.
Psalm 30:7 By Your grace, Eternal, I thought I was as strong as a mountain; But when You left my side and hid away, I crumbled in fear.
Psalm 31:9 Show me Your grace, Eternal One, for I am in a tight spot. My eyes are aching with grief; my body and soul are withering with miseries.
Psalm 86:15 But Lord, You are a God full of compassion, generous in grace, slow to anger, and boundless in loyal love and truth.
Through God’s grace, we enjoy the benefits of His blessings. Because of Jesus’ death and resurrection, we can come boldly and confidently into His presence.
How can I show grace?
Because of God’s grace in my life, how can I show grace to others? How can I live in God’s grace? Through celebration and joy because of God. Allowing God to guide my activities and thoughts bringing success to my life. I love God’s name and share His peace and rest with others. God’s grace lends me an elegant confidence. I escew arrogance or anything that puts me above others. Even those in authority are my friends because I speak with grace.
Psalm 70:4 But let those who pursue You celebrate and have joy because of You. And let the song of those who love Your saving grace never cease: “God is great!”
Psalm 90:17 And then let the beauty and grace of the Lord—our God—rest upon us and bring success to all we do; yes, bring success to all we do!
Proverbs 3:34 God treats the arrogant as they treat others, mocking the mockers, scorning the scornful, but He pours out His grace on the humble.
Proverbs 4:9 She will provide the finishing touch to your character—grace; she will give you an elegant confidence.
Proverbs 22:11 Those who love a pure heart and speak with grace will find that the king is their friend.
Isaiah 30:18 Meanwhile, the Eternal One yearns to give you grace and boundless compassion; that’s why He waits. For the Eternal is a God of justice. Those inclined toward Him, waiting for His help, will find happiness.
Isaiah 52:12 Go in confidence and grace—no rushing, no frantic escape. There’s no need to be anxious—the Eternal One goes before and behind you. The God of Israel paves the way with assurance and strength. He watches your back.
Acts 6:8 Stephen continually overflowed with extraordinary grace and power, and he was able to perform a number of miraculous signs and wonders in public view.
Acts 4:33 The apostles with great power gave their eyewitness reports of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. Everyone was surrounded by an extraordinary grace.
Romans 12:3 Because of the grace allotted to me, I can respectfully tell you not to think of yourselves as being more important than you are; devote your minds to sound judgment since God has assigned to each of us a measure of faith.
How can I show mercy?
I can show mercy by doing what is good and right in the world. By teaching my children to do the same, I extend mercies from generation to generation. I show mercy and justice to others and offer them my forgiveness. I sing of God’s strength in my life because He is my shelter. He defends me.
Genesis 18:19 I have chosen him for a reason, namely that he will carefully instruct his children and his household to keep themselves strong in relationship to Me and to walk in My ways by doing what is good and right in the world and by showing mercy and justice to all others. I know he will uphold his end of the covenant, so that he can ensure My promises to him will be fulfilled and upheld as well.
Psalm 51:1 Look on me with a heart of mercy, O God, according to Your generous love. According to Your great compassion, wipe out every consequence of my shameful crimes.
Psalm 59:10 My God is one step ahead of me with His mercy; He will show me the victory I desire over my enemies.
Psalm 59:16 But me? I will sing of Your strength. I will awake with the sun to sing of Your loving mercy Because in my most troubled hour, You defended me. You were my shelter.
Proverbs 3:3 Stay focused; do not lose sight of mercy and truth; engrave them on a pendant, and hang it around your neck; meditate on them so they are written upon your heart.
Proverbs 28:13 Whoever tries to hide his sins will not succeed, but the one who confesses his sins and leaves them behind will find mercy.
Romans 9:24 These vessels of mercy include all of us. God has invited Jews and non-Jews, insiders and outsiders; it makes no difference.
Philippians 2:1-3 If you find any comfort from being in the Anointed, if His love brings you some encouragement, if you experience true companionship with the Spirit, if His tenderness and mercy fill your heart; then, brothers and sisters, here is one thing that would complete my joy—come together as one in mind and spirit and purpose, sharing in the same love. Don’t let selfishness and prideful agendas take over. Embrace true humility, and lift your heads to extend love to others.
He gives grace and mercy.
God is full of grace and mercy. He does not give us what we deserve and He does give us blessings we do not deserve. I hope that I can be a person who receives His grace and mercy, but also one who extends grace and mercy to others. .
Psalm 145:8 The Eternal is gracious. He shows mercy to His people. For Him anger does not come easily, but faithful love does—and it is rich and abundant.
Matthew 9:13 I am not here to attend to people who are already right with God; I am here to attend to sinners. In the book of the prophet Hosea, we read, “It is not sacrifice I want, but mercy.” Go and meditate on that for a while—maybe you’ll come to understand it.
1 Timothy 1:2 to you, Timothy, my true son in the faith. May the grace, mercy, and peace that come only from God the Father and our Lord Jesus the Anointed mark your life.
2 John 1:3 May grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Jesus the Anointed, the Father’s own Son, surround you and be with you always in truth and love.
Psalm 116:5 The Eternal is full of grace and naturally just; our God is compassionate and merciful.
Ephesians 1:6 Ultimately God is the one worthy of praise for showing us His grace; He is merciful and marvelous, freely giving us these gifts in His Beloved.
My Prayer
Lord, shine through me to offer Your grace and mercy to others. Help me to accept with boldness Your help when I need it most. Show me how to be bold and confident in You.
Hebrews 4:16
So let us step boldly to the throne of grace, where we can find mercy and grace to help when we need it most.
