The Revelation of Grace

Can one believe in something if they cannot touch it and hold it?  Can something which is somewhat intangible and difficult to explain possibly be revealed?  These are questions that could possibly apply to the concept of “grace.”  Can a person touch or hold grace (assuming that is not someone’s name, of course)?  How does one reveal grace when it is so difficult to explain?

I would submit to you that “grace” has been touched.  Further, I would state that “grace” has been revealed in absolute perfection and glory. True Grace can only be seen in Jesus Christ.

Today, we’re going to see what the Holy Spirit inspired John to write regarding grace and how grace was revealed to this world.

Grace was reality. - 1.14

And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.

We remember that the Word is God.  Yet, now the concept of the Word being God takes on a whole new twist.  John states that the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us.

This statement would bring confusion to the brightest scholars and theologians there were at the time.  In fact, it still is an incredible mystery. Yet, this is one of the most powerful presentations of the reality that God took on humanity.  The One Who existed before time began, entered into the world of time.  The One Who had no limitation at all, took upon Himself a limited body.  The One Who was untouchable, now would be touching and be touched.  The One Who created all that there ever was, not including Himself, now experienced the process of entering into life on His own creation.  

The word for flesh simply refers to the fact that Jesus was fully human.  Yet, at no time, did Christ cease to be fully God. The One Who created time and space, while not being limited by time and space, entered into this world of limitations of time and space.

However, many refused to acknowledge that this was possible.  The Docetists and Gnostics stated that because matter is evil and spirit is good, Christ could not have been fully God and fully man. If a person were to believe that line of thinking, then Christ’s substitutionary death, as well as his resurrection would have absolutely no meaning. This thinking, however, is not taught in the Bible. It is simply man trying to put God into his own way of thinking.

But it didn’t stop there.  John states that the Word . . . Dwelt among us.  The word dwelt literally means to pitch a tent or to live in a tent.  Everything that was human, except the sin nature, was a part of who Jesus was. He experienced discomfort with temperature extremes, hunger, satisfaction, sorrow, agony, etc. This is further confirmed in Hebrews 2:17 “Therefore, He had to be made like His brethren in all things, so that He might become a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God, to make propitiation for the sins of the people.”

And three of His disciples also saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.  This does not imply that Jesus was created.  It does not show His beginnings, since we know that He did not have a beginning.  It means that He is the only of of His kind. 

Interestingly, of all the attributes of the Father, John points out the two that are in direct relation to salvation; they are grace and truth.  MacArthur states that Scripture teaches that salvation is wholly by believing God’s truth in the gospel, by which one receives His saving grace.  That is the crux of salvation that unless one believes the truth of the Biblical message, one cannot experience salvation.  Everything necessary for salvation is found only in Jesus Christ.

Now whenever something so amazing is revealed which is so hard to grasp or to believe, it may be helpful to bring in another witness.  Not that we really need it, but the next two verses give another perspective.

Grace was received. - 1.15-16

John testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.

Our author, John, is now quoting John the Baptist.  When we get to verse 19, next time, we’ll see even more of John the Baptist’s comments and testimony about Jesus.  Even though John the Baptist had a following that elevated him tremendously, John had completely understood his role and the fact that he was there to point everyone to Jesus.  

As we look at the verses more closely, there is almost a play on words.  It is almost like a riddle.  He who comes after me, is John commenting on the fact that Jesus was born six months after John was born.  Also, Jesus’ ministry did not begin until long after John’s ministry had been taking place.  Then John says that Jesus has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.  John was referring to the fact that Jesus was no ordinary human; He was God.  He existed before time began.  He was born 6 months after John the Baptist, yet He has always existed. He created all that there is.  Jesus, as the eternal Son of God, has always been.  

Then the author, John, goes on to include as witness all believers when he states, of His fullness we have all received.  We have all that we need through Jesus Christ.  We lack nothing.  Salvation and every spiritual blessing is ours because of Jesus Christ.  Even the play on words, grace upon grace, carries the idea that it will never end.  The well will never go dry.  Grace will continue throughout eternity.  

Yet, grace has been in operation from the beginning.  Grace was involved when Adam and Eve were not immediately destroyed.  Grace was involved when God rescued His children from Egypt.  Grace was involved when God did not destroy the entire people on the way to the promised land.  Grace was in action throughout the time of the Judges as the people went through that vicious cycle time after time after time.  Grace was involved when a remnant was spared when God’s people went into captivity.  Grace was involved when God brought His people back to the promised land. Now, John is going to show how incredible this grace is.

Grace was realized. - 1.17-18

For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time; the only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, He has explained Him.

Even the Law is full of grace and truth.  Within the Law, God showed His people His holy and righteous character.  However, the Law was not going to be seen as grace, because the people could not handle the truth. They continued to want to do their own thing.  God provided grace and mercy and forgiveness through Christ for those who broke the Law.  And all of humanity has broken the law at one point in time. My friends, please understand that the Law could not and cannot save anyone.  The Bible clearly states this in Acts, Romans, Galatians, Philippians, and Hebrews. What the Law was designed to do and able to do, was show God’s righteous standards and remind us that we were guilty and incapable of keeping God’s standards.  As a result of not being able to keep the Law, we would be deserving of eternal punishment.  The Law showed us how desperately we needed the grace of God’s forgiveness.  Paul stated this when he wrote in Galatians 3.24, the Law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, so that we may be justified by faith.

The realization of God’s grace was able to be realized only through Jesus Christ.  God’s grace was applied in the Old Testament to those who were repentant, knowing that God alone could provide that grace, though it would be later revealed through Jesus Christ.

Jesus presented the truth of God’s salvation plan and how it could be accomplished only through Jesus Christ.  This was realized in a way that had never before been understood.  How do we know that this realization could not have been any clearer before this?  No one has seen God at any time.  Now, John points out that Jesus Christ has revealed Him.  Paul describes Jesus in Colossians 1.15, the image of the invisible God.

John is very mindful, as the Spirit inspired him to write, that this Jesus, is the One who explains the Father.  He is the only begotten God.  I recognize some translations use the word Son.  However, the word is literally theos which is God.  One commentator stated that Jesus is the explanation of God.  

There is a fun fact where John states at the end of verse 18; He has explained Him.  The word for explained is where we get the English word exegesis.  This is the method or practice of interpreting the Bible.  It makes perfect sense that Jesus would be the only one Who would be qualified to explain, exegete, or interpret God to all of humanity.  

Reflections

What a wonderful word grace is.  It is not easily explained, nor is it easily understood.  It is not able to be purchased by us, nor is it for sale.  We cannot manufacture it, nor can we develop it from within ourselves.  

Grace is getting that which we do not deserve.  The Law tells us that we all deserve death, for we have fallen short of God’s holy, righteous standards.  Grace does for us what we could never do for ourselves.  

Grace was shown to us when God became man and dwelt among us.  Grace was shown when Jesus came to reveal God, full of grace and truth.  Jesus is truth.  Jesus is grace.  

The reality for the unsaved is very dark and ominous.  For the believer, grace is the reality.

Those who reject the reality of Jesus Christ being God and who refuse to accept what Jesus did on the cross as the only way for eternal life, will experience the reality of eternal punishment and separation from God.  For the believer, grace is the reality; living forever in the presence of our Lord and Savior.

Those who will not acknowledge the truths of God’s Word will not realize grace at all, but only torment and emptiness, here and forever.  For the one who accepts and receives the truth of God’s Word and believes in faith that what Jesus did was enough, will realize fully the reward that is ours.  All because of God’s Amazing Grace.