Truth and Grace

Linda Lamon
 
 
 
14 And 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.

15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. John 1:14-17
 

There is only one God. There is only one body. There is only one Spirit. There is only one Truth and only one source of Grace. The divisions that are prevalent these days amongst those that call themselves Christians have no foundation in the word of God. The Word, the Logos, existed from before all creation. The Word is something said, including the thoughts and intent of the speaker. Before any of the physical universe existed, The Word existed. God’s thoughts and intents and His Words are eternal. Jesus spoke the Words of God into the world and He told us that those words are Spirit and Life. Language is what we use to communicate ideas, feelings, facts and form the basis of all relationships. Without language, a common language at that, we are unable to form relationships that matter. The study of language or linguistics is perhaps one of the most noble professions amongst men. Words form conceptions and misconceptions. Words can save us or condemn us. Jesus Christ brought grace and truth to us. Jesus was the full expression of God’s thoughts and intentions towards Mankind. Jesus was full of Grace and Truth.

Grace is translated from the Greek word Charis which means graciousness of manner or act. In other words kindness, mercy and compassion bestowed towards the object of the Grace. Grace according to the American Heritage Dictionary in its theological meaning has three parts. a.) Divine love and protection bestowed freely upon mankind. b.) The state of being protected or sanctified by the favor of God. c.) an excellence or power granted by God, an unmerited gift from God. I assert that Grace towards us is always based upon God’s character of Charis, His mercy and compassion towards us, rather than the result of any act or attitude upon our part. Jesus came to earth full of this Charis, this kindness and compassion and mercy towards us. He is the fullest expression of God’s unbounding love for His creatures. Jesus showed the fullness of God’s Grace, His mercy towards us is both unmerited and unearned. All relationships to the Father are based upon Grace.

Truth is defined as conformity to knowledge, fact, actuality or logic or reality; actuality. It is in the basis of actuality and reality that Jesus is Truth. He defined Himself as the Way, the Truth and the Life. I wish to examine this passage carefully. The first thing to understand is the context that the sentence is spoken . Jesus is about to be arrested and crucified and will depart from the earth and return to the Father. The disciples are full of sorrow and grief and in their humanity are unable to understand the glory that has been given to Jesus to do the Father’s will and redeem His lost children. They are distraught and confused and Jesus attempts to comfort them and encourage them not to lose faith.
 

1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. John 14:1-6
This is very close to being my favorite passage of scripture because it holds so much of the gospel in a few short sentences. One it asserts the deity and unity of Jesus and the Father and the Holy Spirit. They are three yet one. (The part about the Holy Spirit is further on in the chapter but it is there!). Second it tells us the reason that Jesus left, which is to prepare a place for us. Third it asserts the means or path to the Father. If we know Jesus we know the Father and if we know the Father we know Jesus. When Jesus said I am the way, the truth and the life and no man cometh unto the Father but by me he was saying this: I am the true and only means for you to gain access to the Father-God Almighty and eternal life. Very simple and very plain. This access to the Father was lost in the Garden of Eden when Adam and Eve disobeyed God and were driven from the Father’s presence. The substitutionary sacrifices of lambs and bulls by the High Priest allowed us to see the need for a Redeemer. For those sacrifices had to be made over and over, every year and did not remove the stain of sin from mankind, it was faith in the mercy and grace of God that brought salvation to those who looked forward to their redemption. Jesus Christ, by His obedience to the death of the cross, once and for all, as a substitute for our sins has given all that receive Him as Lord and Savior access to the very throne of God. The Spirit of God lifts Jesus up to all men through His church and draws all men unto God. Many will not heed the call nor allow themselves to be drawn to the Father but that is the entire plan and purpose of God in His body, the true church.

It is dangerous ground to ever forget the Grace and Truth of God. Jesus told the Samaritan woman at the well that a time was coming, in fact was already there, when men would worship God in Spirit and Truth. The way to God is through the person of Jesus Christ. Only by being born again and baptized into union by the Spirit of the Living God does a person come to the true Creator and Father-God. We become His children because we become one with His only begotten son, Jesus Christ. If we are not one in Christ we are not His. Jesus brought Grace and Truth to the earth. A marvelous thing God has done for us. That while we were still in our sins, still unbelieving and uncaring, He became flesh, dwelt among us and even after seeing how we are and actually living among us He chose to die for us so that we might have eternal life. Now the Father raised Him from the dead and has taken Him into Heaven until all His enemies are made His footstool.

Are you not amazed? Are you not awed? Does this truth bore you? Does it seem like old news and redundant to you? If you are not full of joy and rejoicing at these thoughts, you have lost your first love. This is what our love is based upon. This is the rock of our Salvation. God so loved the world that He gave His only (uniquely) begotten Son that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish but have everlasting life. You say oh, but we must do this or we must do that or we must be careful to learn even more. This is the TRUTH, THEY WAY, THE LIFE! There is no other path. What are you going to add to this marvelous provision that will make you right with God or make you a better person?
 

3 We give thanks to God and the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, praying always for you,

4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
5 For the hope which is laid up for you in heaven, whereof ye heard before in the word of the truth of the gospel;
6 Which is come unto you, as it is in all the world; and bringeth forth fruit, as it doth also in you, since the day ye heard of it, and knew the grace of God in truth: Colossians 1:3-6
12 Giving thanks unto the Father, which hath made us meet to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in light:

13 Who hath delivered us from the power of darkness, and hath translated us into the kingdom of his dear Son:
14 In whom we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins:
15 Who is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of every creature:
16 For by him were all things created, that are in heaven, and that are in earth, visible and invisible, whether they be thrones, or dominions, or principalities, or powers: all things were created by him, and for him:
17 And he is before all things, and by him all things consist.
18 And he is the head of the body, the church: who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead; that in all things he might have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in him should all fulness dwell;
20 And, having made peace through the blood of his cross, by him to reconcile all things unto himself; by him, I say, whether they be things in earth, or things in heaven.
21 And you, that were sometime alienated and enemies in your mind by wicked works, yet now hath he reconciled
22 In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:
23 If ye continue in the faith grounded and settled, and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel, which ye have heard, and which was preached to every creature which is under heaven; whereof I Paul am made a minister; Colossians 1:12-23
Colossians 1:6 quoted above simply says that you must know the Grace of God in Truth. Grace and truth are hand in hand. There is no truth without grace or mercy. We are made just by the grace, unmerited and undeserved favor, of God. Nothing you or I can do will justify us in the eyes of the Father. Nor will any action or behavior improve upon His salvation and mercy. You see verse 22 above also says that we are reconciled by His death that we might be presented holy and unblameable and unreproveable in His sight. Then the author says if we continue in the faith grounded and settled and be not moved away from the hope of the gospel. There seem to be many gospels being preached these days. Gospels which seem to bear little or no resemblance to this simple gospel of Grace and Truth. Or gospels that add something to the hope of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Entire doctrines and denominations have arisen because men have strayed away from the plain and simple truth of Grace.

 
25 There is a way that seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. Proverbs 16:25
To the natural man the way of truth and life in Jesus Christ is foolishness. It doesn’t seem “right “ to him. It is too simple, too easy, why anyone can be saved by this gospel. Even murderers, or thieves or rapists or liars and cheats. Who will be turned away that simply believes that God will forgive their sins if they will put their complete faith and Trust in Jesus Christ? You must do what is right too you know. Well yes it is a good thing to live a good life but what will you define as good? How will you know the standards to live by? Who will teach you right from wrong? The world will give you a full list of moral and ethical principals to live by in fact many of them will be found right in the Bible! They will fill your mind and heart with a sense of self-righteousness so that you will never know the Truth, the Way or the Life that resides only in Jesus Christ. For you see the rules of righteousness in the Bible were not given so that man could be made right with God but to show to this stubborn, foolish race that they will never be able to live up to God’s standards. If a man counts on his own good actions or deeds to save him he is lost. The way to the Father does not lie there. Yet this way seems very right to a man. Man has been arguing with God about this since we were thrown out of the Garden of Eden.

Look at Cain. He brought from the fruits of his field a gift to the Lord but the Lord spurned it. It was undoubtedly Cain’s best. He labored hard and long at producing the fruits. He was a good worker, industrious and he wanted to give God his very best. Yet Cain ignored the message that included God’s plan. He wanted to give God what he thought was good. There is a need to understand this so that God will not seem arbitrary and unjust.
 

3 And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground an offering unto the LORD.

4 And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof. And the LORD had respect unto Abel and to his offering:
5 But unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell.
6 And the LORD said unto Cain, Why art thou wroth? and why is thy countenance fallen?
7 If thou doest well, shalt thou not be accepted? and if thou doest not well, sin lieth at the door. And unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him. Genesis 4:3-7
14 But the flesh of the bullock, and his skin, and his dung, shalt thou burn with fire without the camp: it is a sin offering. Exodus 29:14
In these passages a very interesting concept is introduced but it is difficult to see in English. The word for sin in Genesis 4:7 and “sin offering” in Exodus 29:14 are the same word in Hebrew. The word is chattath, which means an offense and it’s penalty or expiation. In other words sin and the sin offering are completely identified as one and the same. Jesus became our sin and our sin offering when He hung on the cross of Calvary. And when God told Cain that sin was “at the door” He was telling Cain that he could still bring the acceptable “sin offering” if he chose to do so as it was right outside his door. Cain decided to murder Abel rather than to follow the Lord’s ways. He took the life of his own brother out of hatred for God. Sin truly ruled over him.

I do not want you to think that this message is really a different message than the one that God has always given. The law was given by Moses to prove to men that they are incapable of becoming what God requires. They are unable to fulfill righteousness by doing good deeds, obeying the laws and fail continuously to meet God’s requirements. No one but Jesus Christ ever has. He who had no sin, no iniquity became sin for us and willingly gave up His life so that we might be forgiven and made right in God’s eyes.

The Truth has always been the same.
 

6 By mercy and truth iniquity is purged: and by the fear of the LORD men depart from evil. Proverbs 16:6
18 Who is a God like unto thee, that pardoneth iniquity, and passeth by the transgression of the remnant of his heritage? he retaineth not his anger for ever, because he delighteth in mercy.

19 He will turn again, he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities; and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Micah 7:18-19
You see, it has always been by Grace and Truth. Men however loved their own ways and decided that obeying the rules should be enough. Or any way if well intentioned should be enough. They added to the rules of God man ordained regulations and obscured the truth by seeking their own ways. The truth has always been that it is the Father’s mercy that saves us. It is and always has been the Father’s compassion and His mercy and Truth that subdue iniquity. It is and always has been by faith, fear of the Lord, that men have departed from evil and even that by the Grace of their God who pardons their iniquity and subdues them and casts their sins into the depths of the sea and “remembers them no more”. Who are you, Oh Man, to add to the Words of the Lord?

 
20 Therefore by the deeds of the law there shall no flesh be justified in his sight: for by the law is the knowledge of sin.

21 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;
22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:
23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God;
24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:
25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;
26 To declare, I say, at this time his righteousness: that he might be just, and the justifier of him which believeth in Jesus.
27 Where is boasting then? It is excluded. By what law? of works? Nay: but by the law of faith.
28 Therefore we conclude that a man is justified by faith without the deeds of the law. Romans 3:20-28
I love your Word, Oh Lord. I love Truth and Grace. The truth sets us free from the law of bondage and death which has it’s power in sin. Our sins are forgiven and our iniquities are subdued because we submit them to the blood of Jesus and trust, have faith, in God’s promise of Redemption, just as it has been since the beginning. God promised to save us, to redeem us. He has done so through His son Jesus Christ. There is no other name granted unto men whereby they might be saved and all other gospels that stray from this one are false. You cannot be made more righteous than Jesus has made you by the sacrifice He made on the cross. All your works and deeds mean nothing when it counts for righteousness. Yes I mean ALL. Our righteousness is in Him and Him alone. There may be rewards awaiting us in Heaven but they are not based upon our righteousness but upon His righteousness. Some may build upon this foundation of Truth with wood, hay and stubble and others by trusting in God will lay up eternal treasure in Heaven.

If the good things you do cannot save you, what makes you think they will improve upon your relationship once you have accepted God’s Grace? How will anything you do improve this perfect plan? How will anything you say or think or do bring you closer to God than what He has done? Be careful that you do not begin to count upon your actions now to make you an acceptable servant unto the Lord. If we must begin in Grace and Truth we must continue in Grace and Truth. Nothing else will suffice. Nothing else will please our Father.
 

1 I am the true vine, and my Father is the husbandman.

2 Every branch in me that beareth not fruit he taketh away: and every branch that beareth fruit, he purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit.
3 Now ye are clean through the word which I have spoken unto you.
4 Abide in me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, except it abide in the vine; no more can ye, except ye abide in me.
5 I am the vine, ye are the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
6 If a man abide not in me, he is cast forth as a branch, and is withered; and men gather them, and cast them into the fire, and they are burned.
7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.
8 Herein is my Father glorified, that ye bear much fruit; so shall ye be my disciples. John 15:1-7
Years and years have I read and re-read this and sought to truly understand what it means to “abide” in Christ. I am convinced that it means understanding that He is the source and He is the one that produces the good fruit. We have been appointed, chosen, by Him to bear much fruit but when we try to do this on our own we fail to “abide” in Him. Without Him we can do nothing. Very simple. We cannot save ourselves and we cannot do anything without Him. That means we cannot pray, fast or heal, or manifest any gifts without Him. We cannot teach, preach, prophesy, or work miracles without Him. We cannot minister without Him. We cannot sing, or play or witness or testify, without Him. Our giving and loving each other is not productive without Him. Except our works be His works they are “in the flesh” and apart from Him. We are not abiding in the Vine, in Him. He is the vine the source of our strength, gifts, power, abilities and prayers. We are nothing without Him. If we begin to count on anything else, our education, our training, our experience, our skills our jobs, our husbands, or wives, or children we are not abiding in Him. If we depend upon common sense, logic, rational thinking, other advisors or counselors, investments or our way of life we are not abiding in Him. Nothing we do in ourselves, for the best of intentions, will stand when we are standing before Him. Only the things done when we are totally and completely surrendered to Him will be of any value.

You do not think this is a serious concern. You are thinking well she likes to go on and on. I go on this way because the Word of God does not consider this a small problem. It is not acceptable to our Father for us to come any way but through Grace and Truth. I speak the truth with love and compassion because the Lord loves us and desires that we will all learn to depend upon Him alone. To give our hearts to Him alone and not to trust in any other thing.
 

20 I am crucified with Christ: neverthless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.

21 I do not frustrate the grace of God: for if righteousness come by the law, then Christ is dead in vain. Galatians 2:20-21
1 O foolish Galatians, who hath bewitched you, that ye should not obey the truth, before whose eyes Jesus Christ hath been evidently set forth, crucified among you?

2 This only would I learn of you, Received ye the Spirit by the works of the law, or by the hearing of faith?
3 Are ye so foolish? having begun in the Spirit, are ye now made perfect by the flesh?
4 Have ye suffered so many things in vain? if it be yet in vain. Galatians 3:1-4
9 But now, after that ye have known God, or rather are known of God, how turn ye again to the weak and beggarly elements, whereunto ye desire again to be in bondage?

10 Ye observe days, and months, and times, and years.
11 I am afraid of you, lest I have bestowed upon you labour in vain. Galatians 4:9-11
1 Stand fast therefore in the liberty wherewith Christ hath made us free, and be not entangled again with the yoke of bondage.

2 Behold, I Paul say unto you, that if ye be circumcised, Christ shall profit you nothing.
3 For I testify again to every man that is circumcised, that he is a debtor to do the whole law.
4 Christ is become of no effect unto you, whosoever of you are justified by the law; ye are fallen from grace.
5 For we through the Spirit wait for the hope of righteousness by faith.
6 For in Jesus Christ neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision; but faith which worketh by love. Galatians 5:1-6
It cannot be said much plainer than that. These excerpts from the book of Galatians are just highlights of the message Paul wrote to the church at Galatia. I write them to the body of Christ today. If you are counting on anything other than the hope of righteousness by faith you are fallen from grace. I find that phrase ironical. For many years ministers have preached that the backsliders are “fallen from grace”. They have lost their salvation because they have fallen prey to some “sin” in their lives. How foolish. We are not fallen from grace because of sin, we are fallen from grace if we do not have faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. Hypocrites all of them. The pot calling the kettle black! We are all sinners, we are all justified by grace and we cannot be saved or made righteous by any act or deeds of our own. It is the fear of the Lord, faith in God, that turns us from evil to produce the righteousness of God which is in us because we are clothed with Christ Jesus, not because we go to church, or teach Sunday school, or sing in the choir or tithe or pray or fast or any other so-called righteous acts on the planet. You can give all you have to the poor and if you have not love you are still nothing. You cannot produce Love in your life unless you abide in the vine, since love is a fruit of the Spirit.

So what is the point? Should we go to church? Go where the Lord directs you to go. Should we tithe? All you have belongs to God, give it to whomever He asks and as the word says lend to all that ask of you. Give cheerfully and with a loving heart. Should we pray? Yes and Yes and Yes, asking the Holy Spirit to direct our prayers. Should we sing and do all the other things we have talked about? As the Spirit directs for the Father, Son and the Holy Spirit are one and when you hear and obey the voice of the Lord you are obeying Jesus. His commands are simple. Love one another, not in just words but in deeds. Give to those who have less but don’t announce it to the world or anyone else. Just obey Him. If you love Him you will obey Him. This is His promise to us. He will never leave us, or forsake us. He is coming back to take us to the Father’s house to be with Him. He has sent His Holy Spirit to lead us into all Truth by His Grace.

May the Lord make His face to shine upon you and bless you in all that you do.

Shalom
 

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