“And the Word became 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 1:14).

What a profound statement the apostle John makes when He records this marvelous description of Christ as being full of grace and full of truth. These two are not in competition or conflict with one another, but rather they complement and join together as the perfect pair.

How was Jesus “full of grace”? Consider how He left the perfect beauty and realm of heaven and came in the flesh to dwell upon the earth. Consider the mockery and ridicule He endured. Consider the Roman scourging he suffered. Consider the shame and curse of the crucifixion upon a tree. Consider how He willingly suffered and died an agonizing death in order to provide a means of salvation for all of humankind. Indeed, Jesus was FULL of grace.

Furthermore, Christ was “full of truth.” He declared “I am the truth” in John 14:6. He made known to Pilate, “For this purpose I was born and for this purpose I have come into the world - to bear witness to the truth. Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice” (John 18:37). He tells us in His beautiful prayer that God’s Word is truth (John 17:17). And that when a person knows the truth, they will be set free from their sins (John 8:31-36). It is the gospel of Christ (or New Testament of Christ) that reveals all truth to us.

Jesus brought the full measure of both grace and truth, and how incredibly blessed we are that He did. There continues to be no greater need for you, me, and everyone else in this world than the fullness of grace and truth that our Lord and Savior provides!

Whatever the Lord pleases He does, in heaven and in earth, in the seas and in all deep places”  (Psalm 135:6, NKJV).

“God is in control.” We hear that a lot, but what does that mean? Scripture helps us understand God’s control over the world. (1) God’s sovereign will prevails on earth (Psa. 135:6; Dan. 4:34-35). “He rules and works according to His eternal purpose even through events that seem to contradict or oppose His rule” (Holman, 1523). (2) God did not create the world and then walk away from it. The false theology that only nature’s laws operate in this world is called Deism. It rejects God’s interaction with His creation whether by revelation, miracles, or answering prayers (Eph. 3:3-5; Heb. 2:4; Matt. 7:7-11; Acts 14:17). (3) God does not control every event in your life. Free will means we choose between good and evil, and our choices have consequences (Deut. 30:19; Gal. 6:7-8). Conversely, fatalism says “events are fixed in advance so that human beings are powerless to change them” (Merriam-Webster). Calvinism’s predestination is false since God gave us free will (Josh. 24:15). (4) God’s plan for us is that we fear Him and keep His commandments (Eccl. 12:13). His will and purposes prevail in heaven and earth, and human redemption in Christ is the centerpiece (Rom. 8:28-30). God calls us through the gospel to believe and obey Him to be saved and walk with Him in life and eternity (Mark 16:15-16; 1 John 1:5-10; Matt. 7:21-23).    -Sword Tips #2240

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