Mercy is God not giving us what we deserve, while grace is God giving us what we don’t deserve. Scripture tells us, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9). It is not earned by good works or moral achievement but is freely given through the atoning sacrifice of Jesus Christ on the cross. This divine grace offers forgiveness, redemption, and reconciliation with God, transforming hearts and minds from spiritual death to eternal life.
Our Part
Christians are compelled to extend the same grace to others as a reflection of their redeemed nature. Jesus instructed His followers, “Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you” (Ephesians 4:32). This imitation of grace is not intended to excuse sin or compromise truth, but to demonstrate Christ-like compassion toward fallen humanity. When Christians exhibit grace, they acknowledge that they, too, were once enemies of God who received mercy.
Extending grace requires patience with human frailty, forgiveness toward offenders, and kindness toward the undeserving. It means rejecting vengefulness and bitterness while standing firm in biblical truth. The Apostle Peter exhorts believers, “Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins” (1 Peter 4:8). This practice stands as a powerful testimony to God’s transformative power. Through grace-filled living, Christians become conduits of God’s love to a broken world, fulfilling the second greatest commandment to love their neighbors as themselves.
The ability to show grace stems from abiding in Christ and from understanding the depths of the forgiveness we have received. As we grasp the truth that “while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8), we find the strength to extend the same unconditional love to others. It is both a discipline and a fruit of the Spirit, distinguishing genuine faith from religious performance and marking us as true disciples of Jesus Christ.
Before you ask, the practice of extending grace also includes your spouse and other family members. Happy 2026!
You might also like these articles...
Safe Sex!
Society is confused with what safe sex really is. Sex is a subject Apostolics tend to think about more than discuss. I teach a class in my marriage seminar entitled “Fun.” It deals explicitly with the topic of sex in marriage. Interestingly enough, it is the most favorite session taught. I get more positive feedback…
Perfect Love
Perfect Love What is perfect love? It seems reasonable for the beloved disciple to be the only one to write about perfect love (1 John 4:18). I have been curious about this descriptive term for much of my life. Perfect love is not where a relationship starts. As a teenager, I remember my mother brushing…
Reactive Or Receptive?
Do you find yourself being more reactive or receptive? Most people are familiar with the amygdala. Or, at least, what the amygdala manages, which is the fight, flight or freeze sensory part of the brain. I understand most folks do not go through the day with this question being a top-of-mind priority. But, since you…