Saved by God's grace, or God's mercy?

[5 point Gillinist]

I have a friend that I found out the other night recently converted to eastern orthodox. We were in a discussion about salvation he kept telling me that it is by God's mercy that we are saved. While the bible does speak of God's mercy in salvation Paul says that it is by grace, he does not state that mercy itself saves us. This seems like a back door to shoehorn in one's works into salvation (which of course EO does do). Mercy is not getting the punishment that we deserve while grace is being given what we have not merited. What are your guys' thoughts?

 

[Charlie24]

I have a friend that I found out the other night recently converted to eastern orthodox. We were in a discussion about salvation he kept telling me that it is by God's mercy that we are saved. While the bible does speak of God's mercy in salvation Paul says that it is by grace, he does not mention mercy. This seems like a back door to shoehorn in one's works into salvation (which of course EO does do). Mercy is not getting the punishment that we deserve while grace is being given what we have not merited. What are your guys' thoughts?

Paul used both words to express God's salvation. It seems that according to His Mercy He justifies us by His Grace.

Titus 3:5-7

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

 

[5 point Gillinist]

Paul used both words to express God's salvation. It seems that according to His Mercy He justifies us by His Grace.

Titus 3:5-7

"Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to his mercy he saved us, by the washing of regeneration, and renewing of the Holy Ghost;

6 Which he shed on us abundantly through Jesus Christ our Saviour;

7 That being justified by his grace, we should be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

I agree and reworded my original post. That said, to say that we are saved by God's mercy sounds like shoehorning in works - it is similar to the Mormon's "we are saved by God's grace after all we can do." Being as EO emphasizes works as part of justification. My friend kept saying mercy, but would not add grace, but he also said one couldn't come out of a worship service loving Christ and not give a homeless person a drink.

 

[Charlie24]

I agree and reworded my original post. That said, to say that we are saved by God's mercy sounds like shoehorning in works - it is similar to the Mormon's "we are saved by God's grace after all we can do." Being as EO emphasizes works as part of justification. My friend kept saying mercy, but would not add grace, but he also said one couldn't come out of a worship service loving Christ and not give a homeless person a drink.

I look at it as His mercy being the trigger, and His grace as the powder and lead.

Mercy and Grace work together and cannot be separated.

Drop either one and it's not complete.

 

[5 point Gillinist]

I look at it as His mercy being the trigger, and His grace as the powder and lead.

Mercy and Grace work together and cannot be separated.

Drop either one and it's not complete.

Excellent response.