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GraceSomeone described grace, as distinguished from mercy, this way:
Now, if you were pulled over for driving 90 mph in a 55 mph zone, and the officer said, "Congratulations, you're the one millionth driver that's been stopped for speeding in our state since we began issuing tickets. In celebration of this event, we are awarding you with this check for one million dollars!" That's grace. |
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It's not quite like that, because God's grace in this instance would also involve instilling within the driver a desire not to drive above the posted speed limits, and the enablement to do it. But the award of an incredible gift to a very unworthy and undeserving recipient is the nature of grace.  Grace presupposes sin, unworthiness, helplessness. If there were no sin, there would be no need for grace. If we never sensed our unworthiness, we would never recognize grace when it is extended to us. If we never sensed our helplessness, we would know the power of grace to lift and enable. Grace is God's consistent, loving response to our sin in ways that are always seeking our best interests and ultimate restoration to a relationship and union with God that will result in eternal life as God originally planned for us. Even though we have sinned, are unworthy of God's love and mercy, and
are helpless to transform ourselves into truly loving people who love God
and others and delight to do God's will, we have great hope because God
relates to us in grace.
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If you were pulled over for driving 90 mph in a
55 mph zone, and the officer said, "Tell you what...I've having a really
good day, so I'm going to let you off with a warning, just be careful and
drive within the posted limits from now on." That would be a great
gift, right? That's mercy.