Grace and mercy are two frequently used terms, not only in religious contexts, but they are often misunderstood in terms of their depth and significance.
Grace
Grace is commonly described as a blessing we don’t necessarily deserve. In Christianity, it is defined as God’s love bestowed upon humans despite their shortcomings and susceptibility to sin. It can also be characterized as the unexpected generosity we receive, perhaps due to asking for a favor or simply wishful thinking.
Mercy
Mercy is defined as fortitude or compassion shown to someone who has done something wrong. It includes forgiveness in terms of someone making a mistake and accepting the fault that was done, either by oneself or by another person. It is an act in which one demonstrates forbearance and kindness to someone. In the Christian faith, mercy is often described as offering compassion to someone you have authority over.
Key Takeaways
- Grace is often considered a blessing that we don’t necessarily deserve, and in a religious context, it is the fact that God gave humans many blessings without asking for anything in return.
- Mercy is defined as compassion shown to someone who has done something wrong and is more about not receiving the expected negative effect that someone has done, even though they know they fully deserve it.
- Both grace and mercy are needed for holistic existence and often go together, rooted in the long-standing history of Christianity and encouraged to be practiced daily.
