Full of Grace and Truth Pt. 2

Intro:

John 1:14 NIV

The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

A few this we learn or know from John here that are important for us to remember about who Jesus is

“The Word became flesh” means- becoming human

In His life then we :

Learn how God thinks- Philippians 2:5-11

Philippians 2:5–11 NIV

In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to death— even death on a cross! Therefore God exalted him to the highest place and gave him the name that is above every name, that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

See a model of what we are to become, he shows us how to live and gives us the power to live that way- 1 Peter 2:21

1 Peter 2:21 NIV

To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps.

Jesus becomes the perfect sacrifice for all sins and his death satisfied God’s requirement for the removal of sin- Colossians 1:15-23

Colossians 1:15–23 NIV

The Son is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn over all creation. For in him all things were created: things in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or powers or rulers or authorities; all things have been created through him and for him. He is before all things, and in him all things hold together. And he is the head of the body, the church; he is the beginning and the firstborn from among the dead, so that in everything he might have the supremacy. For God was pleased to have all his fullness dwell in him, and through him to reconcile to himself all things, whether things on earth or things in heaven, by making peace through his blood, shed on the cross. Once you were alienated from God and were enemies in your minds because of your evil behavior. But now he has reconciled you by Christ’s physical body through death to present you holy in his sight, without blemish and free from accusation—if you continue in your faith, established and firm, and do not move from the hope held out in the gospel. This is the gospel that you heard and that has been proclaimed to every creature under heaven, and of which I, Paul, have become a servant.

Full of Grace and Truth

Jesus- the Son of God- God in the flesh- the radiance, the glory of God; is described as being full of grace and truth

Here we are learning something about who God is- He is full of grace and truth

Likewise then we learn something about who we are to become

How is this possible? Is it possible?

We find this difficult to understand, grasp, live out so, instead of using AND we tend to turn this into an EITHER/OR

You are either full of grace or truth

But this is and an either/or this is an and

What is Grace?

Because we have recieved grace upon grace we have seen the glory of God

What is Truth?

John 18:37–38 NIV

“You are a king, then!” said Pilate. Jesus answered, “You say that I am a king. In fact, the reason I was born and came into the world is to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me.” “What is truth?” retorted Pilate. With this he went out again to the Jews gathered there and said, “I find no basis for a charge against him.

John 8:32 NIV

Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Grace and Truth Pt. 1

How does Jesus do it-

He leads with grace

He reveals truth

He withholds condemnation

Grace and Truth Pt. 2

What does this mean for Us?

Borrowing from John Piper

It means that in Jesus Christ we can see the glory of God.

And it means that the glory of God revealed in Jesus does not consume us in our sin.

That is, the glory of God in Christ is his gracious disposition to us without compromising his truthfulness. The glory of the Son of God is full of graciousness toward us sinners without compromising God’s truth.

That is Good News!

This is really good news. God could have chosen to become flesh as a judge and executioner. And all of us would be found guilty before him and be sentenced to everlasting punishment.

What does this mean for Us?

The glory of God was revealed in Christ through death because He is “full of grace and truth

God is true to himself because sin was punished

“The Word became flesh” so that the death of Jesus would be possible

Hebrews 2:14–15 NIV

Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he might break the power of him who holds the power of death—that is, the devil—and free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.

And God is gracious to us because Christ bor the punishment not us

Do you see the light?

Paul says it this way in 2 Corinthians 4:4

2 Corinthians 4:4 NIV

The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.

The “glory of Christ who is the image of God” is what John 1:14 calls “glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.”

The glory of John 1:14 and 2 Corinthians 4:4 is a glory that you see spiritually when you hear the gospel (Good News) story of Jesus

John Piper describes it this way “You don’t have to see him physically. You meet him in the Gospel of John and the other writings of the Bible. And when you meet him, through these inspired stories of his words and deeds, his glory shines through—the self-authenticating beauty of that matchless mixture of grace and truth.

That is what I am trying to communicate to us-especially last week- that in all the acts of Jesus we see something of the glory of God, revealed in the son

But the devil tries to keep us blind to that light. Why? Because that light leads to life- John 1:4

John 1:4 NIV

In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind.

When new spiritual life is given new light happens.

That light is not a physical light but a spiritual light.

Its the spiritual brightness of the glory of the Son of God and that glory is the glory of the Father

The reason that satan tries to keep us blind to that light is that I don’t think that we can “behold his glory” and not be changed.

Here is the transformation John 1:12-13

John 1:12–14 NIV

Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God—children born not of natural descent, nor of human decision or a husband’s will, but born of God. The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We become his children.

Thank God that the Word became flesh-

Thank God that his glory is full of grace and truth-

Thank God that its fullness shone most brightly at the cross