Communicable Attributes

1024.919 - 1060.732 R.C. Sproul

In fact, in one sense, we would have to extend this, even though justice and mercy are not the same thing. Justice is linked to righteousness, and righteousness may at times include within it the idea of mercy and grace. The reason why we need to distinguish them is because justice is something that is obligatory to righteousness, but mercy and grace are always actions that God takes freely.