Grace and Truth by Jesus Christ - John 1:17

John the apostle wrote how, “the Word was made flesh, and dwelt among us, (and we beheld his glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father,) full of grace and truth. John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spoke, He that comes after me is preferred before me: for he was before me. And of his fullness have all we received, and grace for grace”, and in chapter one and verse seventeen of his book, John shared how, “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ” where we read:

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The verse reads, “For the law was given by Moses, ...” John began with the words, “for the law” or “because, since and on account that the rule, precept, injunction and command” “was given by Moses” which means “was extended, presented, entrusted and committed through and by way of Moses whose name means drawing out and was the legislator of the Jewish people and in a certain sense the founder of the Jewish religion”. John shared how the “command and rule of God” was provided through “Moses” who was the founder of the Jewish religion.

The verse goes on to say, “... but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.” John continued with the words, “but grace” which means “however, nonetheless, notwithstanding and moreover that which affords joy, pleasure, delight, sweetness, charm and loveliness” “and truth” or “and what is true appertaining to God and the duties to man in moral and religious truth” “came by Jesus Christ” which means “arose, appeared and made entrance through and by way of Jesus whose name means Jehovah is Salvation and is the Son of God, the Savior of mankind and God incarnate the anointed One, the Messiah and the Son of God”. John shared how God's “grace and truth” came by means of “Jesus Christ” God's Son.

When we think through John's words in this verse, we see how he distinguished between the “giver of the law”, Moses, and the provider of “grace and truth” which was Jesus. Both are valid, and because people were unable to keep the “law of God”, God provided His Son Jesus to bring the “gift” of “grace” along with “truth” which was dependent upon Him. Paul the apostle wrote, “For by grace are you saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.” (See Ephesians 2:8-9) Only by God's “grace” is a person “saved” and “forgiven” of their sins, and only by His exceeding “grace” will anyone be provided everlasting life with Him.

Next time John shares how, “No man has seen God at any time; the only begotten Son … has declared him”, so read ahead, and we shall join together then.

Until tomorrow…there is more…

Look for the daily devotional book “Equipped for Battle – From Generation to Generation”, the marriage book “So, You Want to Be Married”, “One Year in the Sermon on the Mount” and the new poetry book "Random Mushrooms Volumes I and II" and the new novel "Elizabeth County" in all major bookstore sites, http://www.amazon.com ; http://www.barnesandnobles.com ; download to e-books, and find it locally at www.mrzlc.com/bookstore. All references are from "Strongs Concordance".