“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (John 1:17)
Grace and Truth come together, but Law is something different altogether. We need to try to define Grace for a minute. I have noticed the tendency to want to limit or balance Grace (as if Grace can be limited or balanced) – maybe because we have a slightly skewed view of what Grace actually means. So we should know what it stands for:
[‘Grace’ = the free and unmerited favor of God, as manifested in the salvation of sinners and the bestowal of blessings]
Grace is the FREE gift of God, not based on anything WE have done (a gift is a gift after all), but based on what Jesus has done FOR us. Not to be confused with mercy, as ‘mercy’ means to NOT get what we deserve (i.e. punishment for our sins), ‘Grace’ means to GET what we don’t deserve (i.e. despite our sins). And we get what we don’t deserve, because Jesus got what we did deserve.
This is the New Covenant Jesus initiated with us in His blood. They are two distinct and separate Covenants – the old and the new. The old has gone, and the new has come. Jesus was very clear about the hopelessness of trying to fill the old into the new (wineskins), or sowing the new onto the old (clothing). They don’t mix, and can’t overlap.
“Grace and Truth”. John didn’t say, “Grace and Law”. He clearly differentiates between the two. The Greek word for Truth used in this verse is ‘aletheia’. ‘nomos’ is typically the Greek word used for Law in the New Testament. The two are very different, and this is significant in order to get what Jesus brought. A simple definition of truth:
[Truth = that which is true or in accordance with fact or reality]
Truth is simply an accurate description of reality. Truth doesn’t change, and never goes away (like the law). When we know the truth about something or someone, we can better understand how to think and act. When we become followers of Jesus, Grace sets us free from sin (and the law that binds us to that sin), and Truth helps us stay on course within our newfound identity under Grace.
We can misunderstand what is meant by “truth” here. We substitute “truth” with “law” in our minds, thinking that in Jesus we somehow have both Grace and Law together – that we need the law to balance or limit Grace. That Grace simply is too liberating and too good to be able to stand alone. That Grace somehow must be issued a handicap in order to keep us from excess. Read the verse again – Jesus did not come to bring more law to mix in with Grace, He came to fulfill the law and then to set it aside for something far better.
Have you ever had a watered-down fountain soda in a fast-food restaurant, expecting it to taste the same as real bottled soda? It looks similar, and tastes similar, but doesn’t hit the spot. Even with endless free refills, it just can’t compare. The fact that you know the real deal means you can’t happily settle for the diluted type anymore.
Watered-down Grace is no Grace at all. Grace mixed with law really just ends up being more law. We can’t afford to balance or limit Grace anymore. It is a gift package deal that covers it all. Jesus didn’t go all the way to the cross to give us a half measure. We cannot add or subtract, but must have it undiluted and un-tampered with.
