God’s Love vs God’s Grace vs God’s Mercy

 

God’s Love vs God’s Grace vs God’s Mercy

1 John 4:8 — “God is love.”
John 3:16 — “For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son…”
Luke 1:78 — “Because of the merciful compassions of our God, by which the rising sun will visit us from on high.”
Eph. 2:4 — “But God, being rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us.” 

Aspect	God’s Love	God’s Grace	God’s Mercy
Meaning	God’s love is His eternal, intrinsic nature — the source of all His actions and redemption (1 John 4:8).	God’s grace is God Himself dispensed into man in Christ for man to enjoy God as life (John 1:16–17).	God’s mercy is God’s deep compassion and tender feeling toward man’s miserable, fallen condition (Luke 1:78; Eph. 2:4).
Origin	Because God is love, His love issues from His being, not from man’s works (John 3:16).	Because God desires to impart Himself into man to express His nature (Rom. 5:17).	Because fallen man is helpless and pitiful, God’s love moves as mercy toward him (Psa. 103:13–14).
Distinction	Love is the source and nature of God.	Grace is the outflow and practical expression of love.	Mercy is the moving of love toward man, leading him into grace.
Explanation	Love is unchanging and eternal — God’s inward affection and intention toward man (Jer. 31:3).	Grace is the concrete bestowal of love, making God Himself man’s supply (2 Cor. 12:9).	Mercy often precedes grace, preparing man to receive it (Heb. 4:16).
Purpose	To bring man into a relationship of mutual love and fellowship with God (John 15:9–10).	To enable man to live by God’s life and strength in daily living (Rom. 5:21).	To rescue man from misery and restore him into grace (Luke 15:20).
Examples	The Father loves the Son (John 3:35); God so loved the world (John 3:16); His love never separates from His elect (Rom. 8:39).	Paul testified, “By the grace of God I am what I am”  (1 Cor. 15:10).	Jesus was moved with compassion toward the sick, the crowds, and sinners (Matt. 9:36; Mark 1:41; Luke 7:13).
Application	Believers should abide in God’s love and respond with love  (John 15:9).	Believers should grow in grace and serve by grace  (Heb. 13:9).	Believers should learn God’s mercy — sympathizing and interceding for others  (Luke 6:36).
Interrelation	Love is the source.	Grace is the expression of love.	Mercy is the first touch of love reaching man and bringing him into grace.
Burden	To know that God’s love is unconditional, deep, and enduring (Eph. 3:18–19).	To realize that grace means gaining God Himself, not merely blessings (John 1:16).	To experience mercy, not despising sinners but interceding for them (Jude 22–23).
Prophetic Speaking	Declare that God’s love is the foundation of life and the building of the church  (Eph. 4:16).	Declare that grace is the reality of God’s dispensing, enabling us to live out Christ (Phil. 1:7).	Declare that mercy is the action of love, bringing healing and restoration (Matt. 5:7).
Related Verses	Rom. 8:38–39 — “Nothing…will be able to separate us from the love of God.” Jer. 31:3 — “I have loved you with an eternal love; therefore I have drawn you with lovingkindness.”	John 1:16–17 — “Of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and reality came through Jesus Christ.” Rom. 5:17 — “Those who receive the abundance of grace…will reign in life.” 2 Cor. 12:9 — “My grace is sufficient for you.”	Psa. 103:13–14 — “As a father has compassion on his children, so Jehovah has compassion on those who fear Him.” Matt. 9:36 — “He was moved with compassion for them, because they were harassed and cast away like sheep without a shepherd.”

 

Conclusion: 

God’s love is the beginning and foundation of all.

God’s grace is the fulfillment and outflow of love.

God’s mercy is the tender movement of love drawing man back to God.

 

*Please refer to the May 2025 International Elders and Responsible Brothers Training, General Topic: Matthew Chapters 5-7, Part 4: Blessed are the merciful, for they will be shown mercy and will receive mercy.