Mercy and Grace are essentially the same characteristic of our God. Mercy is withholding from us what we deserve – to die and stay dead. Grace is getting what we do not deserve – immortal abundant life after we die. Humanity has this "living hope" because Jesus “died for our sins” and “bore our sins”.
"Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures..." (1 Corinthians 15:3)
As son of a man, Jesus died like the rest of us, because of Adam’s sin…
“As in Adam all die…it is appointed unto men once to die” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27)
In so doing Jesus, the Son of God, identified Himself completely with humanity, even our death. Yet more importantly, He showed us that the same ALL who are "in Adam" will be made alive "in Christ".
"All we like sheep have gone astray...As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us… we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him… while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life… just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people… many died by the trespass of the one man…just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (of Jesus) resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous…where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; Romans 5:1-20)
Jesus said that He had come that we may have “abundant “ life. Not in our mortal body, but in our future immortal body…
"I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief (death) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it ABUNDANTLY. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:9-11)
Yes humanity has gone astray - but Jesus will find and save every one of us.
“As in Adam all die…it is appointed unto men once to die” (1 Corinthians 15:22; Hebrews 9:27)
In so doing Jesus, the Son of God, identified Himself completely with humanity, even our death. Yet more importantly, He showed us that the same ALL who are "in Adam" will be made alive "in Christ".
"All we like sheep have gone astray...As in Adam all die, even so in Christ shall all be made alive…we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand…God demonstrated His own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us… we have now been justified by His blood, how much more shall we be saved from God’s wrath through Him… while we were God’s enemies, we were reconciled to Him through the death of His Son, how much more, having been reconciled, shall we be saved through His life… just as sin entered the world through one man (Adam), and death through sin, and in this way death came to all people… many died by the trespass of the one man…just as one trespass resulted in condemnation for all people, so also one righteous act (of Jesus) resulted in justification and life for all people. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous…where sin increased, grace increased all the more, so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace might reign through righteousness to bring eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.” (Isaiah 53:6; 1 Corinthians 15:22-28; Romans 5:1-20)
Jesus said that He had come that we may have “abundant “ life. Not in our mortal body, but in our future immortal body…
"I am the door; if anyone enters through me, he will be saved, and will go in and out and find pasture. The thief (death) comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it ABUNDANTLY. I am the good shepherd; the good shepherd lays down His life for the sheep.” (John 10:9-11)
Yes humanity has gone astray - but Jesus will find and save every one of us.