Full of Grace and Truth

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14

The Word became flesh. This is the Christmas story. The Gospel.

As we take time to celebrate and enjoy the blessings of this time of year, let’s not forget to reflect upon and remember what Christmas means: that the God of the universe “became flesh” in order to reconcile us to Himself.

Reconciliation–with each other and with God–is always a matter of grace and truth.

Never one without the other. It is not a “balance” of the two, not “moderation” or a “middle ground.” No, like Jesus, our goal should always be all truth and all grace (Jn 1:14, 17).

Grace, apart from truth, cannot be true grace. If it lacks accuracy, then is it truly grace? Or a distorted and misleading “grace”? People who emphasize grace, and lessen truth, are, as a result, lacking both truth and “the true grace of God” (due to an inaccurate understanding of grace). In reality, they are presenting a false grace, as their emphasis on grace is actually hindering true grace, reconciliation, and restoration.

On the other hand, those who emphasize “truth,” while lacking in grace, fall short of an accurate understanding of Jesus–who is “the truth”–and how we are to relate to Him and others (i.e., the New Covenant). This, too, lacks “true grace” and, therefore, is not true.

Emphasizing truth without grace also hinders grace, reconciliation, and restoration.