God's Attributes
Goodness / Grace
Ephesians 2:8-10
8 For by grace you have been saved through faith,
and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 not of works, lest
anyone should boast. 10 For we are His workmanship, created in Christ
Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk
in them.
NKJV
God's Riches At Christ's Expense
Grace, mercy, longsuffering and God's benevolence all fall under the attribute of goodness. For they are all related. Goodness is God providing benevolence for His creation that is not deserved. This benevolence is provided through God's grace and mercy. God's goodness is an expression of both His love and righteousness. It is that aspect of God’s character that promotes the happiness of His creatures.
Psalm 25:7-8
7 Do not remember the sins of my youth, nor my transgressions; According to Your mercy remember me, For Your goodness’ sake, O Lord. 8 Good and upright is the Lord; Therefore He teaches sinners in the way. NKJVExodus 34:6
And the Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious, longsuffering, and abounding in goodness and truth," NKJVRomans 2:4
Or do you despise the riches of His goodness, forbearance, and longsuffering, not knowing that the goodness of God leads you to repentance? NKJV
Grace is the unmerited favor of God shown to man. Grace appears primarily in the person and work of Jesus Christ. Grace is based upon the need of sinful man to gain merit with God in a situation where man is too weak and without the ability to do so on his own. Grace refers to the gift of God to one who does not deserve such a gift.
Romans 6:23
For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord. NKJV1 Timothy 4:4
For every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be refused if it is received with thanksgiving; NKJV
Mercy is God's benevolent compassion toward this sinful creation who does not have the capacity to help himself. Mercy looks to man's condition and need.
Psalm 103:8
The Lord is merciful and gracious, Slow to anger, and abounding in mercy. NKJVRomans 3:10-20
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” 13 “Their throat is an open tomb; With their tongues they have practiced deceit”; “The poison of asps is under their lips”; 14 “Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.” 15 “Their feet are swift to shed blood; 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways; 17 And the way of peace they have not known.” 18 “There is no fear of God before their eyes.” 19 Now we know that whatever the law says, it says to those who are under the law, that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God. 20 Therefore by the deeds of the law no flesh will be justified in His sight, for by the law is the knowledge of sin. NKJVPsalm 136:1
Oh, give thanks to the Lord, for He is good! For His mercy endures forever. NKJVEphesians 2:4
But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us, NKJVJames 5:11
Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. NKJV
As the word implies in English, benevolence is the desire to do good for others, the disposition to promote kindness. Grace, and mercy are signs of God’s benevolent interest in His creation.
Matthew 6:26
Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? NKJV
