We the People, Part 4

In John 1, the Gospel introduces Jesus as embodying both grace and truth—eternally present, sovereign, and deeply involved in the world He created. Through His life and teachings, Jesus calls believers to embody this same balance, especially in divisive times, uniting grace with truth to reflect His light in a dark world.

Never Stop Singing
The Worship Initiative

My King Forever
Bethel Music

Greater Still
Brandon Lake

The more we mature, the more we take on the family resemblance.

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John 1:1-2
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.

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John 1:3
All things were made through him, and without him was not anything made that was made.

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Colossians 1:16
For by him all things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things were created through him and for him.

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John 1:4-5
In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

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John 1:6-8
There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness, to bear witness about that light, that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to bear witness about the light.

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John 1:9-11
The true light, which gives light to everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, yet the world did not know Him. He came to His own and His own people did not receive Him.

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John 1:12-13
But to all who did receive Him, who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God, who were born, not of blood nor of the will of the flesh nor of the will of man, but of God.

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John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen His glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.

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Randy Alcorn, The Grace and Truth Paradox
“Grace and truth found their perfect union in Christ, but the rest of us tend to gravitate towards one or the other…”

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Randy Alcorn, The Grace and Truth Paradox
“Truth without grace breeds self-righteousness and legalism. Grace without truth breeds deception and moral compromise.”

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Randy Alcorn, The Grace and Truth Paradox
“The key to true Christian spirituality is to integrate these two qualities into life, imitating the character of Christ.”

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How do we live grace and truth? Especially in our current political landscape?

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Live Like Jesus
1. We move towards and not away.
2. We continue the work of the church.
3. We don’t celebrate sin, but we don’t condemn people.
4. We look with compassion and not contempt.
5. We sacrifice for the sake of others… even for those who persecute us.

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Our grace must be full of truth and our truth must be full of grace if we are to be a church who resembles Christ to the rest of the world.

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