Full of Grace and Truth
John 1:14
Intro: Graciousness and truthfulness are seldom found together. A person is generally either over-gracious to the point of throwing truth away or zealous for truth to the point of being harsh and ungracious.
I. The Truth of Jesus
a. The importance of truth
i. Truth gives us meaning
1. Priorities
ii. Truth provides consistency
iii. Truth provides us with right and wrong
b. The illumination of truth
i. John 9:5 “As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world”
1. For some He lighted the path to God
2. Some ran from the light
ii. John 3:19-21 Jesus testified of the evil of the world
1. John 7:1-7
2. John 15:22 If I had not come and spoken unto them, they had not had sin: but now they have no cloke for their sin.
c. The impartiality of truth
i. Jesus taught us to rebuke even our brother when necessary (Luke 17:3 If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him)
ii. Exposed sin of the leaders of the church
1. Hypocrites
2. Children of Hell
3. Fools and blind guides
4. Whited sepulchers
5. Generation of vipers
II. The Grace of Jesus
a. The importance of grace
i. God’s grace is the source of all we have and are
ii. Without grace we would get what we deserve
iii. All of us need grace from God
b. The impartiality of grace
i. The saint who sins: Peter
ii. The social outcast: women at the well
iii. The poor: Luke 4:18 The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor…
iv. The rich: Zacchaeus
v. Luke 15:2 And the Pharisees and scribes murmured, saying, This man receiveth sinners, and eateth with them.
vi. Jesus DIED ON THE CROSS for His enemies
1. Jesus died for Peter (who had betrayed Him)
2. Jesus died for Paul (who tormented Christians)
3. Jesus died for you
4. Jesus died for me
a. Truth required death
b. Jesus graciously provided that death
III. The imitation of Christ
a. Jesus taught that we ought to love our enemies Luke 6:27-29 “But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you, Bless them that curse you, and pray for them which despitefully use you. And unto him that smiteth thee on the one cheek offer also the other; and him that taketh away thy cloke forbid not to take thy coat also.”
b. Jesus taught us to forgive repeatedly Luke 17:3 “If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him. And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.”
i. Illustration: Man who told apologetic brother “I forgive you, but God’s gonna get you”
c. Jesus did not condemn the woman taken in adultery
i. We ought to show grace to a sinner even though we may not be guilty of the same sin
ii. Illustration: Preacher who called homosexuals “fags” and mocked them
John Wesley once had for a fellow-passenger in a coach an officer who was intelligent and agreeable in conversation; but there was one serious drawback-his profanity. When they changed vehicles, Wesley took the officer aside, and after expressing the pleasure he had enjoyed in his company, said he had a great favor to ask him. The young officer replied, "I will take great pleasure in obliging you for I am sure you will not make an unreasonable request." "Then," said Wesley, "as we have to travel together some distance I beg that, if I should so forget myself and swear, you will kindly reprove me." The officer immediately saw the motive, felt the force of the request and smiling said, "None but Mr. Wesley could have conceived a reproof in such a manner." It worked like a charm.
