A free gift – grace
The supermarket owner stood facing the teenager who had been caught stealing from the store.
“I should call the police but this time I’m going to give you another chance.”
That is mercy.
“In fact I’m going to offer you a position here as part of the team. If you accept and endeavour to do your best, you will be treated the same as everyone else.”
That is grace.
Mercy and grace are not words we use a lot now. Mercy is not getting what you deserve. Grace is getting what you don’t deserve.
If you look at the “Our Beliefs” page you will find the last statement says: We recognise however that we are saved by God’s grace. This is His wonderful gift to each of us. [Ephesians 2 v 4-9]
Nothing we do will earn us grace. It is God’s gift. We can never sink so low that God’s grace cannot save us. It does not matter who we are or where we are from. We just have to accept His gift.
Peter fairly exploded with his good news: "It's God's own truth, nothing could be plainer: God plays no favorites!
It makes no difference who you are or where you're from—if you want God and are ready to do as he says, the door is open. (Act 10:34.35 from The Message).