“The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth” (John 1:14).
Grace and truth together: Grace and truth are designed by God to work together. Relationship requires a structure. Grace provides us with mercy and forgiveness, taking us out of isolation and back into relationship with God and others. If we are “being transformed into His likeness” (see 2 Corinthians 3:18) then we are taking on the character and nature of God. Grace lays the foundation giving us the ability to give love and receive love. The truth of God’s Word sets us free through all knowledge, wisdom and understanding. Grace alone is license and truth by its self is legalism, and somewhere in the middle we can find freedom and liberty when the two are in balance, working together. By themselves, they are extremes. Together there is relationship and connection with knowledge and understanding.
Grace without truth: Sometimes we divide love from truth. This is a problem, as they were never intended to be split up. Our love must be honest, and our truth must be for the other person’s best. While grace provides love and acceptance, grace without truth is license. “You my brothers were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature” (Galatians 5:13). Grace has no limit; however grace without truth prevents us from growing because without truth, we do not feel the effects or consequences of our wrongdoing. Grace without truth does not prevent us from falling into the same old traps or patterns, making the same mistakes over and over again. Grace alone does not provide us with the direction and structure for which to grow.
Truth without grace: Truth by its self, campaigns against injustice but condemns the sin and the sinner because truth without grace is judgment. When love is separated from truth, people cannot grow. Truth by its self has no relational aspects and lacks love, joy, compassion, patience, kindness, gentleness, and understanding. Where there is no grace, the law restricts us; “I will only love you if you do what I say”. It silences us, brings anger, puts us under a curse, and holds us prisoner. “For God did not appoint us to suffer wrath but to receive salvation (grace) through our Lord Jesus Christ” (1Thessalonians 5:9). The law is legalism. The law is a restriction that makes us fail: “For whoever keeps the whole law and yet stumbles at just one point is guilty of breaking all of it” (James 2:10). The law increases sin: “The law was added so that the trespass might increase” (Romans 5:20). The law brings death: “The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law” (1 Corinthians 15:56). The law points us to Jesus because He offers us the plan of redemption, which is grace. But we are unable to live under the law; we need grace. Truth is the law, the commandments, and standards to live up to. No one can grow under the law without grace, because by itself, it alienates us from Christ: “You who are trying to be justified by the law have been alienated from Christ; you have fallen away from grace” (Galatians 5:4).
Learn to receive truth and to give truth graciously and humbly. How have you felt the effect from truth without grace?
Trust. A necessary element in the development of the human soul and spirit, mind and body. Infants fail to thrive with just truth being administered in the form of food and clothing and housing. The element of physical touch through eye contact, tactile senses and words of love spoken in any language, even to the deaf and blind, who have another sense to receive. As a crumpled piece of paper, with words and images, humans float through life, being distorted but existing. Taking the time to uncrumple someone is the greatest effort we can immulate as Christ so loved. Patience is necessary to allow the crumpled soul and spirit to stretch and relax in the trust of the new life giver. We stand as an icon of Christ Jesus, warm and safe. The eyes speak love, agape, the arms enfold the coccoon of safety and care. Thank you Phillip, blessing always in your life.
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