Journeying With John - It’s a Trip (JWJ-06)
The Glory of Grace and Truth
John 1:14-18
How many of you know what I mean when I refer to a watershed truth? A watershed truth is a truth that, when correctly understood, has a profound implication for other truths as well. It is like tossing a pebble into a pond - the ripples seem to touch everything around them - and go on and on and on. That is exactly what the truth we are going to look at this morning does - it is profound, sheds light on other things less easily understood, simplifies things that are more complicated than they need to be - and just makes profound but simple sense.
This truth is not new to any of us this morning - you know it, I am sure, have read it many time, perhaps even quoted it from time to time. But as I have poured over these verses this week I found myself renewed and refreshed by it. You see, when you understand this truth correctly this morning it brings both freedom and power into your life.
Please open your Bibles with me to the Gospel written by our new favorite disciple, John, and the first chapter. I am reading from verses 14-18.
Our series title is “Journeying with John, It’s a Trip!” and this morning the title of my message is “The Glory of Grace and Truth.” I hope this morning to so excite your heart about grace and truth that you never see these two in the same light again.
John 1:14-18 - Read - Pray!
A little more than 2000 years ago God stepped onto our earth, pitched His tent and set up camp right in the middle of us all. That is what the word ‘dwelled’ can mean - to set a tent. In other words, the Word became flesh and pitched His tent among us. And when He did that it was the most profound revelation of God man would ever know on this earth.
There are four things I want to invite you to see with me this morning from this passage that records by way of summary that profound reality.
1. The Divine Duality
John 1:14
Would you stop with me for a moment to look at those two profound realities that we see in Jesus Christ, that we are told He was full of, grace and truth. It is important that we understand what the Bible says about these two.
Unlimited Grace
Grace is that profound aspect of God’s nature that chooses to save man and love man despite the fact that man is fallen and unlovely. It is not simply that God walked up to us in our lostness and gave us something we need. We were at enmity with God - we were defiant and rebellious. When God pitched His tent on this earth some 2000 years ago - the only time He would ever do that - we killed him. We crucified the Son of God! But here is the amazing unlimited grace truth - still God loves us, still grace forgives us, still grace did the unimaginable and unthinkable - it reached down and saved the very ones that were trying to kill it.
There is no sin that is so bad that grace cannot cover it.
There is no sin that is so ugly, horrendous or depraved that grace cannot forgive it. The most sickening of sinners, when they come to Jesus, will find that there is enough grace to cover them.
No matter how long a sin is committed, no matter how often a sin is committed, when you come to Jesus you discover that grace is grace enough - no matter what the sin is.
And in Jesus Christ we see this very unlimited grace of God to us in all of its fullness. We beheld Him full of grace. Jesus was full of grace because Jesus was full of God.
People do not find it hard to believe they are saved by grace. That is easy - man all over recognizes the corruption in His heart that he is unable to resolve. The greater challenge is to accept that he is saved by grace alone. Yet that is what the Word says:-
Titus 3:6, “Not by works of righteousness which we have done, but according to His mercy He saved us.”
Eph. 2:8-9, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works lest any man should boast.”
Precious friend, it is because of grace that you and I are saved. John Newton, the slave trader that ran into God and was forgiven, converted and reformed penned those amazing words after he had understood something to the depravity of his heart and the corruption of his ways - he wrote, “Amazing grace, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me.”
When you and I see ourselves as we are, and understand that God still loves us, we cannot but understand it is by grace and grace alone.
But in Christ we do not simply see grace - for He did not only come to show us God’s unlimited grace but also God’s absolute truth.
Absolute Truth
The world likes and accepts that fact that God is a God of unlimited grace. They at least tacitly recognize their need of His grace. What they struggle with is the fact that He is also the God of absolute truth.
They want unlimited grace and then relative truth. You see my friend, the reason people do not like the truth is it contains the law. And the law is the standard by which mankind collectively and individually is condemned.
But my friend, one of the greatest gifts of God in Christ is absolute truth. He said, “I am the way, the truth and the life.” [John 14:6]
And the beauty of truth is that is destroys the lies of the devil.
When you believe a lie, it results in bondage and bondage results in death. Jesus said, “You will know the truth and the truth will set you free.” [John 8:32] He once prayed, “Father, sanctify them by the truth, Thy word is truth.” [John 17:17]
That is why Jesus did not simply come to give us unlimited grace, and not did He simply bring us absolute truth. He was filled with grace and truth.
Grace first, then truth. You do not come to a sinner with truth - you come with grace.
John 1:16 says that “from His fullness we have received grace upon grace.” It could have said, “truth upon truth” but it did not. Why. Because the starting point is grace. Now that is not all we get - we go from grace to truth - but before we go from grace to truth we go from grace to grace. It is not that truth is not important. As a matter of fact, our passage is the last time you are going to hear about grace in this gospel - and we will hear the word ‘truth’ or ‘truly’ another 75 times in the gospel of John alone.
But grace is where you start. How many of you are glad that when it came to you, God started with grace? Without grace we may never have what it takes to hear, understand or be changed by the truth.
The Divine Duality
But notice secondly with me if you will:-
2. A Damaging Solo
What I want us to understand here is that when it comes to grace and truth, you cannot have one without the other.
Truth without grace is legalism, and grace without truth is license.
Truth without grace condemns the sinner, and grace without truth condones the sin.
As I read the Bible, when you bring truth to the table without grace, somebody is getting stoned, whipped, hung or beaten.
We lean toward grace when we judge ourselves and toward truth when we judge others - the Bible calls that being judgmental. It is “The law” and it is cold, religious, angry, unattractive and impossible to live with. Truth without grace will send you to hell. . . and I have found that it is the easiest thing in the world for Christians to fall into.
But do you know what? Grace without truth is spineless philanthropism - and it will send you to hell just as quickly.
Why? Because without grace, the reality of your sin will kill you.
And without truth, the reality of your sin will kill you.
The correct mixture of grace and truth is a conflict every Christian must come to terms with . . . and it is found in Jesus Christ, it is found in the Spirit, it is found in God.
The Divine Duality
Damaging Solo
3. Full of Whom?
In our passage we read that Jesus is full of grace and truth.
Now watch this if you will - it excited me. The Holy Spirit is also called "the Spirit of grace" [Hebrews 10:29] and "the Spirit of truth" [John 14:17].
God is called “the God of grace” [1 Pet. 5:10] and “the God of truth” [Isa. 65:16]
I would suggest to you that grace and truth are the primary life-giving elements of God’s Spirit. They are the applied expression of His holiness.
What is God like? He is complete, absolute and perfect grace. He is complete, absolute and perfect truth. Unlimited Grace and Absolute Truth are the expressions of perfect love from a God who is perfectly holy.
When you are full of grace and full of truth, you are full of God. When you are full of God, you are full of grace and truth.
It should therefore not surprise us that because Colossians 1:19 tells us that it “was the Father’s good please for the fulness of God to dwell in Christ” that when He dwelt on the earth, He was full of grace and truth! Why? Because God was ful of grace and truth and God dwelt in Him fully. Don’t lose me - this is good stuff.
The phrase "full of grace and truth" means full of God. It is the sum total of divine revelation.
Hebrews 1[:1-3] tells us that “In many and various ways God spoke of old to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days He has spoken to us by a Son whom He appointed heir of all things through Whom also He made the universe. He is the radiance of God’s glory, and the exact representation of His being.” Well of course He is - He is full of grace and truth!
That is why Jesus said, “He who has seen me has seen the Father.” [John 14:9]
What is the Father like? Full of grace and truth!
What is the Spirit like? Full of grace and truth!
What is the Son like? Full of grace and truth!
You see my friend? When you are full of God, you are full of grace and truth, and when you are full of grace and truth you are full of God. There can be no grace or truth without God - it is the manifestation of His character - unlimited grace and absolute truth.
The Divine Duality
A Damaging Solo
Full of Whom
Would you not lastly with me please . . .
4. The Power Play
I want you to see the incredible power play between grace and truth in action. There are many instances.
Think of the woman caught in adultery. Do you remember whom our passage tells us the law was given through? Moses! Remember, “For the law was given through Moses.” [John 1:17]
“. . . they said to Him, ‘Teacher, this woman has been caught in adultery, in the very act. Now in the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women; what then do You say?’” [John 8:4-5]
What is going down here? They have the law but no grace. Remember what we said, ‘Anytime you have the truth but no grace, somebody is going to get stoned, whipped, hung or beaten.’
But always Jesus adds unlimited grace to absolute truth - and the result is a beautiful expression of holiness and love. He says, ‘You are right, she needs to be stoned - but all sin needs to be punished, so you are guiltless cast the first stone.’
My time is running out - so let me give you one more - probably the greatest example of unlimited grace and absolute truth - at the cross where my sins were paid in full.
I am so glad that my Savior was full of grace and truth - unlimited grace and absolute truth.
I owed a debt I could not pay - He paid a debt He did not owe. That blood cleansed me when I deserved damnation, secured my place in Heaven when I had earned a place in Hell. The devil stood next to me and pointed at my sin.
“He’s a liar and a thief and is prideful,” he cackled. Jesus said, “You are right.”
“He’s thinks more highly of himself and has lustful thoughts,” he sneered. Jesus said, “You are right.”
“He must be punished - beaten, and whipped, and he should die because of what he has done.” Jesus said, “You’re right.” And then He took my place. He bore my stripes. He paid my debt, He died my death so that I may go free.
Why? Because we saw His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father - full of grace and truth.
"Oh, the love that drew salvation plan. Oh, the grace that brought it down to man. Oh, the mighty gulf that God did span at Calvary."
Conclusion
Precious believer - as we wrap up this morning, when you became a child of God, God took up residence in you. That means you should be full of . . . grace and truth.
The Spirit, who is in Scripture called ‘the Spirit of grace’ and ‘the Spirit of truth’ inhabits you. That means you should be full of . . . grace and truth.
Jesus Christ, in whom the fulness of the godhead dwells in bodily form, we beheld Him full of grace and truth. He dwells in you. That means you should be full of . . . grace and truth.
As you go into this week - look for Jesus. If you will fine tune your mind to look for that incredible divine expression - grace and truth - you will see it every where - and in it you will see Jesus everywhere.
As you go - as one filled with God - go full of grace and truth - grace first - and then truth. Without grace first we are not qualified to speak of truth - unlimited grace - and absolute truth.
Will you pray with me please?
