The Age of Grace - john 1: 16-18

Christian Standard Bible (Chapter 1)

16 Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, 17 for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him.

BIG IDEA: THROUGH CHRIST, WE EXPERIENCE THE GIFT OF GOD’S GOODNESS.

AS WE EXAMINED THE GIFT OF GRACE ON SUNDAY, THERE WAS A SECTION THAT NEEDED A LITTLE MORE EXPLANATION, WHICH IS OUR SECTION FOUND IN VERSE 17: FOR THE LAW WAS GIVEN THROUGH MOSES; GRACE AND TRUTH CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.

WE PREVIOUSLY DISCUSSED THE GLORY THAT WAS OBSERVED UPON AND THROUGH CHRIST, AND HOW CHRIST WAS FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH - GRACE IN HIS GOODNESS / TRUTH IN HIS WORD AND CHARACTER.

REMEMBER, GOD CAME TO US! AND GRACE CAME TO US!

JESUS WAS SO FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH THAT JOHN DECLARES IN VERSE 16, WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED GRACE (UPON) GRACE FROM JESUS’ OVERFLOW - FULLNESS OF GRACE...

FRIENDS, JESUS FACILITATES GRACE IN HIS PRESENCE - HIS PURPOSE AND IN HIS POWER. GRACE...

THIS IS SO SIGNIFICANT TO NOTE, BECAUSE WHAT THE WORLD NEEDED WAS GRACE!

THE WORLD (SPECIFICALLY PEOPLE OF FAITH) HAD THE LAW. THAT SYSTEM THAT REVEALED OUR INADEQUACY. THAT SYSTEM THAT NO ONE COULD FULFILL IN THEIR OWN STRENGTH…THE LAW. THE RULES.

GIVEN BY GOD TO MOSES TO THE PEOPLE OF ISRAEL...

JESUS, IN COMING TO US, BRINGS A NEW SEASON OF GRACE...

THE LAW POINTS TO OUR NEED FOR A SAVIOR.

GRACE POINTS TO OUR SAVIOR JESUS!

NOW WHY IS THIS IMPORTANT:

DURING THIS SEASON (CHRISTMAS SEASON), WE CAN BECOME ABSENT-MINDED AS TO WHY WE CELEBRATE AND ALSO IN WHAT WE ARE TO CELEBRATE...

IT IS OUR NATURE TO SET GRACE ASIDE, AND CHOOSE THE DIFFICULT WAY...

SO RATHER THAN EMBRACE GRACE - GOD’S GIFT OF UNMERITED FAVOR AND GOODNESS.

WE CHOOSE STRUGGLE: SEEING THIS SEASON WITH LIMITED VISION - PERFORMING OUR WAY TO LIMITED HAPPINESS. STRUGGLING OUR WAY THROUGH BUYING AND SPENDING!

CHRIST COMING IS GRACE FULFILLING!

THAT IS CHRISTMAS...

THE ONE AND ONLY (OF THE FATHER) WHO REVEALED THE FATHER TO THE WORLD:

16 For God loved the world in this way: He gave his one and only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

JOY TO THE WORLD, THE LORD HAS COME...

EMBRACE THE GRACE: EXPERIENCE CONTINUALLY GOD’S GOODNESS REVEALED THROUGH THE WORD - JESUS CHRIST.

KEEPING OUR EYES FIXED UPON CHRIST!

SHARE THE GRACE: TELL FOLKS HOW CHRIST HAS TRANSFORMED YOUR LIFE THROUGH HIS COMING - DYING - AND BEING RESURRECTED! DON’T LET ANOTHER CHRISTMAS PASS WITH YOU NEVER TELLING A SOUL HOW JESUS GRACIOUSLY SAVED YOUR SOUL!