Grace and Truth

“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.

Religious people only want grace. But if they want grace without truth, what are they going to use grace for? Grace without truth is a terrible deception. And there is no salvation in deception. “And she will bring forth a Son and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:21. We are supposed to be saved from our sins. Grace is supposed to accomplish something in us. If we point out sins in religious people, they say, “Don’t judge!” They believe they are under grace and that everything will be just fine once they get to heaven. Millions of believers are deceived on this point!

“If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” 1 John 1:6. The truth must be practiced. Because of his burning love for people, John wrote to keep them from being deceived by the Antichrist. We read the same Bible, and we also believe that the Word must be practiced. We are being saved from our sins, but those who do not enter into the obedience of faith remain in their sins.

“Do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor homosexuals, nor sodomites, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners will inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you. But you were washed, but you were sanctified, but you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God.” 1 Cor. 6:9-11.

Among the Corinthians there were many people who had fallen very deeply. See what grace and power such people can receive if they want to come out of sin. “And God both raised up the Lord and will also raise us up by His power.” 1 Cor. 6:14. By grace they had been helped out of sin. Once we have acknowledged sin, grace has a work to do in us.

“For many deceivers have gone out into the world who do not confess Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is a de­ceiver and an antichrist.” 2 John 7.

“Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God . . . .” 1 John 4:1-2.

These deceiving spirits preach another Jesus. For Him to save us from our sins, He had to be manifested in the flesh. Satan had power because of sin. When Jesus died on Calvary, He was finished with sin. The intention is that we too, are fin­ished with sin. 1 Pet. 4:1. For this to happen, grace must do an immense work in us.

“And I thank Christ Jesus our Lord who has enabled me, because He counted me faithful, putting me into the ministry, although I was formerly a blasphemer, a persecutor, and an insolent man; but I obtained mercy because I did it ignorantly in unbelief.” 1 Tim. 1:12-13.

Paul’s deep love of the truth caused him to see himself as the greatest of all sinners. He bowed very deeply. That is why he received such an incomprehensibly great grace over his life. All boasting was excluded, because everything had hap­pened by faith. Paul did not accomplish anything in his own power.

“But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace toward me was not in vain; but I labored more abundantly than they all, yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” 1 Cor. 15:10.

If someone becomes great and mighty be­cause of the things he has accomplished, he comes under the law. And then it is easy for him to become critical and discon­tent. “Yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.” We must never depart from this heartfelt acknowledgement!

“Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” Phil. 4:8. This verse describes a person who is alive to God! He is dead to sin and alive to everything good! And what grace accomplished in Paul’s life can now be accomplished in you. Be humble and acknowledge your sin! That is help and true grace.

“For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin.” Heb. 4:15. He was a man, and as a man He had to bear His cross. He was so faithful that the Father was able to form Him and train Him, and He grew in wisdom and stature with God and with man.

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Heb. 4:16. Grace to help—most believers think of that as heal­ing and miracles, not grace to help in the time of temptation, before they fall into sin. If we seek help in the time of tempta­tion, then we receive help!

Paul became an extremely sensitive man of the Spirit, filled with a love that also told others the truth. He was able to help them out of their sins. How far that is from the under­standing of today where love is virtually synonymous with tol­erance, and where no sinner must be excluded.

We can have a tremendous power of grace over us if we are reconciled with our circumstances. God sent His Spirit to earth on Pentecost so that we could receive power. The Spirit is given according to the measure of humility. Apostles, shep­herds and teachers are no doubt those who have gone down the deepest and, as a result, have received the most grace from God. By that grace they can serve and build up the church. Paul was willing to boast of his weakness—when he became weak in himself, he became strong in God. Isn’t that also your experience in life?

The doctrine enables us to come to this life when we ac­knowledge the truth. When he who has the power of death is destroyed in our life, we have a glorious rapture awaiting us. If this hope is living for us, it is more valuable than anything. As long as we are hanging on the cross, there are sufferings. But when we have suffered to the end, we will be finished with sin. This development goes step by step. Then we come to a glorious liberty within, and we become increasingly happy and free in our spirit. All honor for such a life can only belong to God.