Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ, God forgave you.
(Ephesians 4:32 NIV)
Do we really understand what God has done for us through His Son Jesus Christ? When it comes to forgiveness, God forgives us based on Christ’s finished work on the cross, not on anything that we’ve done or not done.
Grace means freely giving us what we don’t deserve. We don’t deserve forgiveness because we are sinners; even so, God credited Christ’s righteousness to us and forgave our sins—that is grace. Accept God’s forgiveness that He gives us without holding back.
Mercy means withholding what we do deserve. We deserve death for the punishment of our sins (see Romans 6:23). Instead, God poured out His wrath against sin on Jesus and withheld it from us—that is mercy. “But He was pierced for our transgressions; He was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on Him, and by His wounds, we are healed. (Isaiah 53:5). Forgiveness encompasses both grace and mercy. Since we have been the recipients of God’s grace and mercy, let’s quickly extend forgiveness to others. Be blessed, all!