Grace and Mercy During Easter

There are two words that get tossed around a lot in Christianity: mercy and grace. They are so popular we name our children after them.

But what is mercy? What is grace? What's the difference between them? And what do they have to do with Easter?

Mercy has two meanings. It can either mean God forgiving our sins and not punishing us, or feeling pity or compassion for someone and acting on it.

Grace is defined as unearned love and favor from God. It is a gift from God to us.

Both of these play a key role in Easter and our salvation. Because of God's grace He had mercy on us. He loved us, His creation, and wanted us to be with Him forever. However, Adam and Eve disobeyed Him in the Garden of Eden and sin became a part of life.

Sin separates us from God. Not only that, it destroys us, our families, and our lives. God knew that and didn't want us to be stuck in that awful, dark state forever. That's when His mercy stepped in and Jesus came to earth to pay for our sins.

From beginning to end salvation is a gift. "For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast." (Ephesians 2:8-9, NASB.) As a result of His mercy and grace, God provided a way for us to be with Him forever. Some choose to receive that gift, others don't. Those who don't are condemned to live apart from God in Hell. Those who do receive it find that salvation is truly a gift that keeps on giving. It includes payment for sin, the promise of eternal life, a mansion of our own in Heaven, and the Holy Spirit within us.

That sure beats anything you can put in an Easter basket.