Grace and Truth Work Together

Introduction

Welcome to My Thoughts and the second of our six-week Grace series. This week, we will learn how grace and truth can work together. God sees grace and truth as the same. Grab your Bible and turn to the Gospel of John 1:17, “For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

Grace and Truth are Synonymous

Notice in our verse, truth is on the same side as God’s unmerited favor, and both grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. I did a study of this verse in its original Greek. I found out that “grace and truth” are actually referred to as a single unit, followed by the singular verb translated as “came.” In other words, in God’s eyes, grace and truth are synonymous. Therefore, unmerited favor is truth, and the truth is unmerited favor.

Sometimes, people tell me things like, “Well, it’s good that you preach grace, but we also have to tell people about the truth.” It makes it seem as though grace and truth are two different things when, in fact, they are one and the same. You cannot separate truth from grace and grace from the truth as they are both embodied in the person of Jesus Christ.

Jesus is Grace and Truth

Jesus Christ has the fullness of grace and truth. Grace is God’s favor and kindness given to those who do not deserve it and no one can earn it. If God dealt with us only according to truth, none of us would survive; but He deals with us on the basis of grace and truth.

Jesus Christ, in His life, death, and resurrection, met all the demands of the Law; now God is free to share the fullness of grace with those who trust Christ. Grace without truth would be deceitful, and truth without grace would be condemning.

Moses Gave the Law

We see a contrast with the old covenant of law that was given through Moses. We see God is very precise in dealing with the two covenants and does not mix them together. Grace is grace and law is the law. Grace came from Jesus whereas the law was given through Moses. Jesus didn’t come to give us more laws. He came to give us His unmerited favor, which is His truth!

John did not suggest there was no grace under the Law of Moses because there was. Each sacrifice was an expression of the grace of God. The Law also revealed God’s truth. In Jesus Christ, grace and truth reach their fullness; and this fullness is available to us. Ephesians 2:8 tells us that “we are saved by grace,” but in 1 Corinthians 15:10, we also live by grace and depend on God’s grace in all that we do. We can receive one grace after another, for “He gives more grace” in James 4:6. Again in John 1:17, he hinted that a whole new order had come in, replacing the Mosaic system.

Conclusion

Remember, it is one thing to give, but it is another thing to come. You see, I could send a CD or DVD of the My Thoughts segments to you instead of coming to you in person. But if I come to you, it’s personal. The law was given by Moses, but grace came from Jesus Christ. Grace and truth came together through the person and ministry of Jesus. Grace is not a doctrine or teaching, it is a person, Amen!

I am Dale Van De Bogart and I approve of this message!

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