Question: "What is the difference between mercy and grace?"

问：怜悯（怜恤）与恩典（恩惠）之间的区别是什么？

Answer: Mercy and grace are often confused. While the terms have similar meanings, grace and mercy are not the same. To summarize the difference: mercy is God not punishing us as our sins deserve, and grace is God blessing us despite the fact that we do not deserve it. Mercy is deliverance from judgment. Grace is extending kindness to the unworthy.

答：怜悯和恩典很容易混淆。虽然这两个词有类似的意思，但它们并不相同。一句话总结这两个词的区别就是：我们因为自身的罪该受惩罚，而神却没有惩罚我们，这是怜悯；我们按着自身并不配得神的祝福，但神却愿意祝福我们，这是恩典。怜悯将我们从审判中救拔出来，而恩典是向不配的人施以善意。

According to the Bible, we have all sinned (Ecclesiastes 7:20; Romans 3:23; 1 John 1:8). As a result of that sin, we all deserve death (Romans 6:23) and eternal judgment in the lake of fire (Revelation 20:12-15). With that in mind, every day we live is an act of God's mercy. If God gave us all what we deserve, we would all be, right now, condemned for eternity. In Psalm 51:1-2, David cries out, "Have mercy on me, O God, according to your unfailing love; according to your great compassion blot out my transgressions. Wash away all my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin." A plea to God for mercy is asking Him to withhold the judgment we deserve and instead grant to us the forgiveness we in no way have earned.

根据圣经，我们每个人都犯了罪（传道书7:20; 罗马书3:23; 约翰一书1:8）。罪的结果是我们每个人都应该承受死亡（罗马书6:23）和火湖中永远的审判（启示录20:12-15）。知道了这一点，我们就会看到我们每天还能够存活实际上是神的怜悯。如果神照着我们所配得的对待我们，那么我们应该是立刻受到永恒的惩罚。在诗篇51:1-2节，大卫说，“神啊，求你按你的慈爱怜恤我，按你丰盛的慈悲涂抹我的过犯。求你将我的罪孽洗除净尽，并洁除我的罪。”向神求怜悯就是求祂涂抹我们所应得的审判，并赐给我们自己无论如何也无法获得的宽恕。

We deserve nothing from God. God does not owe us anything. Anything good that we experience is a result of the grace of God (Ephesians 2:5). Grace is simply defined as unmerited favor. God favors, or gives us good things that we do not deserve and could never earn. Rescued from judgment by God's mercy, grace is anything and everything we receive beyond that mercy (Romans 3:24). Common grace refers to the sovereign grace which God bestows on all of mankind regardless of their spiritual standing before Him, while saving grace is that special dispensation of grace whereby God sovereignly bestows unmerited divine assistance upon His elect for their regeneration and sanctification.

我们也不配得从神而来的任何东西。神并没有欠我们任何东西。我们在这世上所经历的一切美善都来自神的恩典（以弗所书2:5）。恩典可以简单地理解为不配得的好处。神喜悦我们，赐给我们好东西，这些原是我们不配得也无法赚取的。因着神的怜悯，我们从审判之下被救拔出来，而恩典则是那些超越怜悯之外的一切（罗马书3:24）。普遍恩典是指神赋予全人类的至高无上的恩典，而不论他们在神面前的属灵地位如何。救恩则是神的至高无上的恩典，藉此赐与祂的选民，使他们可以重生和成圣。

Mercy and grace are best illustrated in the salvation that is available through Jesus Christ. We deserve judgment, but if we receive Jesus Christ as Savior, we receive mercy from God and we are delivered from judgment. Instead of judgment, we receive by grace salvation, forgiveness of sins, abundant life (John 10:10), and an eternity in Heaven, the most wonderful place imaginable (Revelation 21-22). Because of the mercy and grace of God, our response should be to fall on our knees in worship and thanksgiving. Hebrews 4:16 declares, "Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need."

怜悯和恩典是对我们借着耶稣基督所得救恩最好的阐释。我们应当受审判，但如果我们接受耶稣基督为救主，我们就会得到神的怜悯，从审判中得救。取而代之的是，我们得到了恩典的救赎、罪的赦免、丰富的生命（约翰福音10:10），以及在天国的永恒，一个可以想象的最美好的地方（启示录21-22）。因着神的怜悯和恩典，我们的反应应该是跪下来敬拜和感恩。希伯来书4:16宣告说：“所以我们只管坦然无惧地来到施恩的宝座前，为要得怜恤，蒙恩惠，作随时的帮助。”