CD 1559 Full of Both: GRACE & TRUTH
As we enter the last days we see the great falling away being accelerated before our very eyes! In Jesus’s time the Pharisees had truth but no grace . But it seems today we have all grace but no truth! God’s Grace will meet us in our sin and show us the way of salvation. But without truth the lines of justification and sanctification become blurred and it's not just come as you are but stay as you are because of grace! It is important for grace and truth to work in tandem, like a needle and thread ladies or ring gear and pinion gear men.
*Text: John 1:1-3, 14 & 17 (KJV) In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 The same was in the beginning with God. 3 All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.14 And the Word was made flesh, and dwelt (tabernacle) among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. 17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came (Greek word ginomai = to cause to be - generate) by Jesus Christ.
Note that Jesus Christ the Lord Who is the Living Word is not 50% grace and %50 truth! Rather He is 100% full of grace and truth! The Law came through man - Moses but “grace and truth” was brought into existence by Jesus Christ!
Jesus taught us that He was the “TRUTH” (John 14:6)! When we have both “” we not only know we can walk but we know how to walk:
*Isaiah 30:21 “And thine ears shall hear a word behind thee, saying, This is the way, walk ye in it, when ye turn to the right hand, and when ye turn to the left.”
*Read John 8:1-12 (KJV) - key verse 11 - …And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. - " That's full of grace and truth.
Close with the same thought: *Read John 5:14-15 (KJV) Jesus didn’t condemn nor condone sin! (See *Revelation 21:7-8 - last one is “ALL LIARS”!)
Closing Illustration: Supreme Court Justices Antonin Scalia and the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg were friends. They couldn't be farther apart politically, yet they were congenial toward one another and genuinely cared for each other. It's reported that "against all odds, the pair had a warm, decades-long friendship despite disagreeing on everything from same-sex marriage to gun rights." When Judge Scalia was observed taking a bouquet of flowers to Ginsburg's office during her illness, someone challenged him for being so amiable to a person whose views he strongly opposed. Scalia responded, "There are some things more important than votes." That's full of grace and truth.
https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/11/15/about-six-in-ten-americans-say-legalization-of-same-sex-marriage-is-good-for-society/
