An old chestnut says mercy is not getting what you deserve and grace is getting what you do not deserve.
When God withheld His wrath and did not punish the Old Testament saints for their sins, it was an act of mercy.
When God justifies New Testament saints, it is an act of both mercy and grace. The NT saints are not punished, thus they receive mercy, and they are justified, the penalty is paid in full by the blood of the Lamb, thus grace.
What is the difference between "forgiveness" by God, and "justification" by God?
First we need to focus upon a particular kind of "forgiveness;" that provided by the application of the blood of the Lamb, resulting in the washing of regeneration, also called the circumcision of Christ. On one hand, God can withhold punishment for sinful behavior, and on the other hand, God can justify the behavior with the payment of the blood of the Lamb. Under the Old Covenant, people were granted "forgiveness" but were NOT justified by the blood of the Lamb. When a person is "pardoned" they do not pay the penalty for their malfeasance, but when a person is "justified" the penalty has been paid in full.
Consider "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus," (Romans 3:24) Here we have been "justified" because of God's gracious gift by means of being transferred into Christ and undergoing the washing of regeneration.
Consider "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Romans 5:1). Here we have been "justified" on the basis of faith, and the result is we are in harmony with God, no longer separated as a consequence of sin. When and if God credits our faith in the name of Christ, He transfers us into Christ where we are washed with the blood of the Lamb, resulting in our justification.
Consider "Much more then, having now been justified in His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him." (Romans 5:9). Here we have been justified by the washing of regeneration in His blood, and the result is we will be saved from the consequence of any sinful act we may do, because once "in Him" we are ransomed from sin, past, present and future.
Finally consider Romans 3:25:
whom God displayed publicly as the means of reconciliation by His blood through faith to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the restraint of God He passed over punishment for the sins previously committed;
God's redemption plan would not only bestow mercy upon those OT saints, His plan would bestow the grace of justification by the blood of the Lamb.
When God withheld His wrath and did not punish the Old Testament saints for their sins, it was an act of mercy.
When God justifies New Testament saints, it is an act of both mercy and grace. The NT saints are not punished, thus they receive mercy, and they are justified, the penalty is paid in full by the blood of the Lamb, thus grace.
What is the difference between "forgiveness" by God, and "justification" by God?
First we need to focus upon a particular kind of "forgiveness;" that provided by the application of the blood of the Lamb, resulting in the washing of regeneration, also called the circumcision of Christ. On one hand, God can withhold punishment for sinful behavior, and on the other hand, God can justify the behavior with the payment of the blood of the Lamb. Under the Old Covenant, people were granted "forgiveness" but were NOT justified by the blood of the Lamb. When a person is "pardoned" they do not pay the penalty for their malfeasance, but when a person is "justified" the penalty has been paid in full.
Consider "being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus," (Romans 3:24) Here we have been "justified" because of God's gracious gift by means of being transferred into Christ and undergoing the washing of regeneration.
Consider "Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ," (Romans 5:1). Here we have been "justified" on the basis of faith, and the result is we are in harmony with God, no longer separated as a consequence of sin. When and if God credits our faith in the name of Christ, He transfers us into Christ where we are washed with the blood of the Lamb, resulting in our justification.
Consider "Much more then, having now been justified in His blood, we shall be saved from the wrath of God through Him." (Romans 5:9). Here we have been justified by the washing of regeneration in His blood, and the result is we will be saved from the consequence of any sinful act we may do, because once "in Him" we are ransomed from sin, past, present and future.
Finally consider Romans 3:25:
whom God displayed publicly as the means of reconciliation by His blood through faith to demonstrate His righteousness, because in the restraint of God He passed over punishment for the sins previously committed;
God's redemption plan would not only bestow mercy upon those OT saints, His plan would bestow the grace of justification by the blood of the Lamb.