Jesus Christ: Full of Grace & Truth

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The Tension Between Grace and Truth

As believers, we often find ourselves longing for simplicity in our faith—black and white answers, clear instructions, and a roadmap that tells us exactly what to do. But the reality of walking with Jesus is that we live in tension—tension between what we understand and what we don’t, between grace and truth.

John 1:14 tells us, “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.”

Grace and truth—two aspects of Christ’s nature that seem to pull in opposite directions, yet they are perfectly balanced in Him. Truth establishes God’s standards, while grace makes a way for us to meet them through His power.

A Savior We Weren’t Ready For

When Jesus came to earth, the world wasn’t ready for Him. His own people, the Jews, had memorized Scripture, knew the law, and were waiting for the Messiah. And yet, when He stood before them, they didn’t recognize Him.

They had the truth—the Law of Moses—but they lacked the grace to fulfill it. And here came Jesus, full of both.

The law was given through Moses, but Jesus finished the picture. The law showed God’s righteous standard, but Jesus brought the mercy needed to bridge the gap. The people had spent generations trying to live up to the law, but they couldn’t. They needed a Savior.

The Law Could Not Save, But Grace Could

The Old Covenant, established through Moses, was built on strict adherence to the law. It was good—it revealed God’s holiness—but it couldn’t change hearts. The people could follow rules, but they remained spiritually dead.

When Jesus came, He didn’t abolish the law; He fulfilled it. He embodied grace and truth, showing the world that truth alone condemns, but grace redeems.

Consider the Ark of the Covenant in the Old Testament. Inside the Ark was the Law—the Ten Commandments. But what covered the Ark? The Mercy Seat. Even then, God was foreshadowing Jesus—the One who would cover the law with His grace.

Jesus Meets Us in Our Lowest Places

One of the most powerful illustrations of grace and truth in action is the story of the woman caught in adultery (John 8:1-11). The religious leaders brought her before Jesus, demanding that she be stoned, according to the law. They thought they had set the perfect trap—if Jesus upheld the law, He would be cruel. If He dismissed it, He would contradict God’s commands.

But Jesus, in His wisdom, stooped down to her level. While they stood in judgment, He knelt in mercy. And then He spoke the perfect balance of grace and truth: “Let him who is without sin cast the first stone.” One by one, her accusers walked away.

Then, Jesus turned to her and said, “Neither do I condemn you; go and sin no more.”

Grace—Neither do I condemn you.
Truth—Go and sin no more.

Jesus didn’t excuse her sin, but He also didn’t condemn her. He lifted her up and gave her a new path forward. That’s what He does for all of us.

The New Covenant: A Heart Changed from Within

Under the Old Covenant, righteousness was external—it was about keeping rules. But under the New Covenant, Jesus changes us from the inside out. Hebrews 8:10 says, “I will put My laws into their minds, and write them on their hearts.”

This is what makes Christianity different. Every other religion says, Change yourself, and then maybe God will accept you. But Jesus says, Come as you are, and I will transform you.

The law tells us what to do, but grace empowers us to do it.

Living in the Balance of Grace and Truth

So how do we, as believers, walk in both grace and truth?

Ask the Holy Spirit for Understanding – There are things about God that our human minds will struggle to grasp. But we can ask Him for wisdom and trust that He will reveal what we need in His time.
Don’t Just Know the Truth—Live It – It’s not enough to memorize Scripture; we must apply it. Truth without grace is harsh. Grace without truth is empty. We need both.
Extend Grace to Others – Just as Jesus meets us in our failures, we must offer grace to those around us. We can uphold God’s standards while still loving people through their struggles.
Run to Jesus, Not Away from Him – When we fall short (and we will), we don’t have to hide in shame. We have an Advocate—Jesus Christ, full of grace and truth, who stands ready to forgive and restore.

A Final Word

John, the disciple who walked closely with Jesus, described Him not just as the Savior of the world but as the One he personally loved. And that same Jesus invites us to know Him deeply—to experience both His truth and His grace in our daily lives.

If we try to live by truth alone, we will be burdened and broken. If we rely only on grace, we will be careless and untransformed. But in Jesus, we find the perfect harmony of both.

Let’s walk in the fullness of Christ—full of grace and truth.

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