This is our third look at John 1:17. “The Word became flesh and we beheld His glory, the glory of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” We looked first at the emphasis placed on God’s glory in the Bible. Last week, we emphasized that there cannot be divine glory without grace. This week, we emphasize there can be no glory without truth.
Grace Without Truth Can Lead to Lewdness
There was a major problem in a doctrine which threatened the early church. When men heard of grace, false teachers forgot that grace cannot exist without it being tied to truth. Jude 1:4 described them as “…ungodly men who turned the grace of our Lord into lewdness.” They really thought that moral purity did not matter, believing they could teach and practice immorality and still be saved. Tragically, that same problem exists in our world by Christians who fail to exercise restraint in their dress, their actions and their entertainment.
Grace Without Truth Can Lead to Disobedience
When the Word described the final judgment, He described an attitude of religious individuals who thought that as long as they were doing notable works in the name of Jesus, God’s grace would cover them. Jesus said, “Many will say to Me in that day, ‘Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Your name, cast out demons in Your name, and done many wonders in Your name?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness’” (Matt. 7:22-23). What a vivid description of the attitude of many leaders of denominations today. Ignoring what Jesus teaches about worship, the Lord’s supper, salvation, baptism and Bible authority, they feel justified thinking that God’s grace will cover these “small” matters. Jesus clearly says they will be lost.
Grace Without Truth Can Lead to Infidelity
The practice of ignoring truth and teaching that God’s grace will be given to all who serve the Lord in any way is the basis of the religious division which permeates religion in America. The night of Jesus’ betrayal, He prayed fervently that all who believed on Him might be one, just like He and the Father were one. What did He see as the result of all believers being dedicated to the one truth He had given to the apostles? “That the world may believe that You have sent Me” (John 17:21). Why are there so many unbelievers in our land? Read His prayer again—religious division among believers creates infidelity!
Grace and Truth Must Be in Us
When we are the light of the world, it will see our light and glorify the Father (Matt. 5:16). Jesus’ glory was full of grace and truth. Both of these must be in us!