7025 - Grace Gift - John 1:16-17

Our study in the Gospel of John has brought us to John 1, verses 16 and 17. This is what they say:

“From the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

These truths pertain to our Lord Jesus Christ. Doesn’t it impress you when it declares that from the fullness of his grace we have received one blessing after another.

Such an abundance of grace which is available in Christ’s reservoir of supply is beyond our comprehension. Just think, from His fullness Christ Jesus is able to supply every need of every child of God all at the same time. There is no shortage of grace within Him.

Furthermore, the tense of action is in the past – we have already received one blessing after another. If we have already received such lavish blessings why should we ever be tempted to hold back from praying for any needed help in our life.

Hebrews (13:9) emphasizes that it is a good thing for the hearts of believers to be strengthened by the grace bestowed by God. What a beautiful insight from God – one of the purposes for God’s lavish blessings is that our spiritual being may be built up and made strong as we are made aware of God’s gracious work in our life. That is one of the building blocks in shaping the temple of God within each of us.

1 John (3:1) says: “How great is the love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!...” This is one evidence of His grace. Mere human beings are blessed by being elevated to the level of His begotten sons and daughters. We are looked upon as a child of God. We are even called by His name.

Just think, unbelievers are not so blessed. This title “children of God” is reserved for those who have placed their trust and faith in Jesus Christ.

Scripture says (Heb. 2:11) that Jesus is not ashamed to call us brothers. How about that for a blessing?

We are told a person who believes in Jesus Christ has already been awarded eternal life (Jn. 5:24). He instantly exited from the realm of death and entered into life. It is also true that no one can snatch them out of the hand of God (Jn. 10:28). What wonderful grace!

We notice several blessings wrapped up in that transaction, because this same grace experience has brought us rescue from the dominion of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of the Son. It also brought us redemption and forgiveness from sins (Col. 1:13-14), and cleansing from the contamination of sin (1 John 1:7).

This same event gives us a firm and a secure hope of the future – like an anchor to keep our soul from slipping or sliding (Heb. 6:19), when deceivers and false teachers seek to lead us astray. We know that we will be confronted by the lies and deceptive philosophy of evil people (Co. 2:8), but we need to keep the anchor tight.

Friend, we cannot even list all those grace blessings that are placed upon us. Romans (5:2) tells us that we have gained access into this abundant grace by our faith in Jesus.

We are also told that God’s grace is sufficient for our every need, for his power is made perfect in weakness. It’s when we realize this principle and cry out to Him that God’s power becomes real in our life (2 Cor. 12:9).

Verse 17 contrasts this abundant grace which we have investigated, and under which we live and rejoice today, along side of the former covenant of law. The Law was passed to Israel through Moses by God. The requirement of the Law could not take away sin, but it was designed to lead the people to the coming Messiah so they could be justified by faith (Gal. 3:24; Rom 3:20; Heb. 9:13).

May your faith be exercised under grace and not law.