Grace and Mercy

The Slave Trade
John Newton

Reading about Grace, I was directed towards a lovely section from David Jeremiah's book, Captured by Grace. Using the Hymn Amazing Grace he traces the outlines of God's loving kindness towards the hymn's author, John Newton, and the Apostle Paul, the author of much of the New Testament. The following lines show how, as A.W. Tozer explains, in God mercy and grace are one; but as they reach us they are seen as two, related but not identical.As mercy is God’s goodness confronting human misery and guilt, so grace is His goodness directed toward human debt and demerit.


Grace and Mercy

Mercy withholds the knife from the heart of Isaac.
Grace provides a ram in the thicket.

Mercy runs to forgive the Prodigal Son.
Grace throws a party with every extravagance.

Mercy bandages the wounds of the man beaten by the robbers.
Grace covers the cost of his full recovery.

Mercy hears the cry of the thief on the cross.
Grace promises paradise that very day.

Mercy converts Paul on the road to Damascus.
Grace calls him to be an apostle.

Mercy saves John Newton from a life of rebellion and sin.
Grace makes him a pastor and author of a timeless hymn.

Mercy closes the door to hell.
Grace opens the door to heaven.

Mercy withholds what we have earned.
Grace provides blessing we have not earned.

Praise God for His AMAZING GRACE!