Grace and Mercy

Through Christ's sacrifice a just and legal transaction happens. Grace is where you are guilty but someone pays your fine for you. Mercy is where you are guilty but someone frees you from paying the penalty. God has done both in Christ. Plus it includes forgiveness (not just the debt) from the one whom the crime was committed against [God]. And in all of this he showed his love towards us that while we were his enemies he still came to die for us [in our place] so we could recieve the above, a restored fellowship with Him [which was severed in Eden] and eternal life.

Here is an illistration 

If you stood in court before a judge and you had 5 speeding tickets, the judge is just in declaring you a criminal and requiring you to fully pay that debt. He doesnt need to have compassion, mercy or grace towards you. The law is the law. The debt is the debt. The crime requires justice.

If the lady said she didnt know she had that many.  She then explains that her 17 yr old son just died 

But in the case of mercy, if the lady told the judge she just paid his $75 ticket and when she came outside she had a $100 fine on her car. She said I don't know how I am going to pay $500, and burst into genuine tears. 

The judge was moved and compassionate and said what a horrible thing you've been throug. I'm just going to dismiss this case. 

He would be just to simply state the facts and make her pay: "Lady I'm sorry to hear about your son, but you've got 5 parking tickets here, you can go around violating the law, you need to live responsible. I'm teaching you a lesson here today 'wham' $500.

But if he said "Lady I'm going to pay this fine in your place...and put some money in your bank account" - that is grace. 

*Does that make sense? 

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What about Faith?

Faith is simply trusting in God's promises.  

Footnotes:

Cr: Illustration, Living Waters Podcast 232