Full of Grace and Truth, Like Jesus
by Randy Alcorn
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” - John 1:17
Below are some thoughts about grace and truth and our need for both, in an age where some are all truth and no grace and others are all grace and no truth. (In fact, grace without truth is NOT biblical grace, and truth without grace is NOT biblical truth.)
“Hate the sin, but love the sinner.” No one did either like Jesus.
Truth hates sin. Grace loves sinners. Those full of grace and truth—those full of Jesus—do both.
“‘Then neither do I condemn you,’ Jesus declared. ‘Go now and leave your life of sin’” (John 8:11, NIV).
Attempts to “soften” the gospel by minimizing truth keep people from Jesus. Attempts to “toughen” the gospel by minimizing grace keep people from Jesus. It’s not enough for us to offer grace or truth. We must offer both.
When we offend everybody, we’ve declared truth without grace. When we offend nobody, we’ve watered down truth in the name of grace. John 1:14 tells us Jesus came full of grace AND truth. Let’s not choose between them, but be characterized by both.
Some Scripture that pertains:
“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17).
If you’d like to read more, see The Grace and Truth Paradox
Originally appeared on Eternal Perspective Ministries. Used with permission.
Randy Alcorn (@randyalcorn) is the author of over fifty books and the founder and director of Eternal Perspective Ministries.
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