MERCY AND GRACE

MERCY has to do with our failures and shortcomings, with our missing the mark or more plainly with our sin and the covering and cleansing of our sin.

We are forgiven because of the Mercy of God.

GRACE has to do with our living fruitful, faithful abundant lives in God.

It is because of the Mercy of God that the Grace of God is available to us. The Mercy of God is there "if" we sin the Grace of God is there so we don't have to.

1Jo 2:1 My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: 2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world. (KJV)

Just notice that the scripture says "if" not "when", that's a huge difference when you think about it. If I say "when I sin" I am setting myself up for failure, however if I say "if I sin" I at least give myself the opportunity not to. I may sin, but I don't have to ... neither do you.

Thank God for His mercy and his grace.

SELAH