What is Grace?
What are grace and mercy? What is the difference? These two words get mixed up all the time and are misused.
“Grace”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word “Grace” in Greek is charis (5485), which means Grace, favor, kindness, blessing
HELPS Word-studies: 5485 xáris (another feminine noun from xar- “favor, disposed to, inclined, favorable towards, leaning towards to share benefit") – properly, grace, is preeminently used of the Lord's favor – freely extended to give Himself away to people (because He is "always leaning toward them”).
5485 /xáris ("grace")answers directly to the Hebrew (OT) term /Kaná ("grace, extension-toward"). Both refer to God freely extending Himself (His favor, grace), reaching (inclining) to people because He is disposed to bless (be near) them.
“Mercy”: Lexicon in Biblehub: The word for “Mercy” in Greek is eleeó (1656), which means mercy, compassion, pity
HELPS Word-studies: 1656 éleos (translating OT 2617 /kataisxýnō, "covenant-loyalty, covenant-love" in the OT-LXX over 170 times) – properly, "mercy" as it is defined by loyalty to God's covenant.
The English definition of mercy means compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion or benevolence. - Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary
1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power; compassion or benevolence.
2. the disposition or discretionary power to be compassionate or forbearing.
3. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor.
4. something of good fortune; blessing
We see that grace is God's kindness, and mercy is given when someone deserves a consequence but doesn’t receive one.
So many times, these two words get used wrong or mixed up.
In Titus 2:11–12, we see what grace does.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
Titus 2:11–12 NASB® 1995
These scriptures show us that grace, which is God's kindness, appeared to bring salvation to all men. How? By instructing people to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age.
Grace IS NOT given so we can continue to practice sin and do whatever we want.
References:
“Scripture quotations taken from the NASB® 1995 - New American Standard Bible®, Copyright © 1960, 1971, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. All rights reserved. www.Lockman.org”
HELPS Word-studies taken from The Discovery Bible, available at discoverybible.com, copyright © 2021, HELPS Ministries Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Lexicon: Biblehub.com
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005,1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
"mercy." Random House Kernerman Webster’s College Dictionary. 2010. 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. 29 Apr. 2025 https://www.thefreedictionary.com/mercy