FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH
Friday – September 14, 2018, Tishrei 5, 5779
Greetings and welcome back to this wonderful Bible Study from the Book of John. The featured picture today is also from Mt. Batti in Camden Maine and you see me taking a picture. This site is a wonderful historic memorial of World War I but also very picturesque. As we move along in our Bible Study let us prepare to read our primary text aloud so as to put it not only in our eyes but in our mouth and ears. Faith comes by hearing and the ability of our spiritual ears to really hear comes from the Word of God.
John 1:12-16 (KJV)
12 But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:
13 Which were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.
14 And the Word was made 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.
15 John bare witness of him, and cried, saying, This was he of whom I spake, He that cometh after me is preferred before me: for he was before me.
16 And of his fulness have all we received, and grace for grace.
I will speak briefly concerning the term “only begotten of the Father” and the message it conveys. I spoke of this during the teaching from the Book of Hebrews. You may recall the following verses.
Hebrews 11:17 (KJV)
17 By faith Abraham, when he was tried, offered up Isaac: and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son,
Genesis 25:1-2 (KJV)
1 Then again Abraham took a wife, and her name was Keturah.
2 And she bare him Zimran, and Jokshan, and Medan, and Midian, and Ishbak, and Shuah.
We can clearly see that Isaac was not the only begotten son of Abraham for Abraham remarried and had six more children. The term “only begotten” means unique or one of a kind. Both Isaac and Jesus were sons of promise. Neither came by the will of man entirely but by the Word of God. Jesus became a son by the will and power of God and so do we. Isaac had a unique place in the plan of God and although Abraham had other children they never in any way superseded Isaac just as we never supersede Christ even though we are also begotten of God the Father. That we are sons of God is throughout the New Testament including what we have already studied in this very Book. Jesus was a very unique son in His mission which is not our mission. He came to pay the penalty of sin which we could never do. He also came to gain victory or destroy all the works of the devil which we could not do without Him but now in Him we too can be victorious over all the devices of the devil.
Now, let us turn our attention to the phrase “full of grace and truth”. The word “grace” is another word for Holy Spirit, denoting a particular function of Holy Spirit. This is commonly translated as unmerited favor as well. Certainly, we did not merit rescue but God is love, is obedient to His own Word, and was committed to having a family and so here we are. As we think on this let’s inject the idea into our thinking that favors, a favor done for us, does not just appear out of thin air but is done for us for our benefit by someone. In this case the One granting the favor is God the Father through Holy Spirit. Remember we are saved by Grace, that is not just an idea, but a person we takes our dead spirit and quickens (makes alive) it just as God did for Adam on the day of his creation in the Garden (Genesis 2:7 – breath of life).
Ephesians 2:5-8 (KJV)
5 Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;)
6 And hath raised us up together, and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus:
7 That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us through Christ Jesus.
8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Isn’t our God just wonderful!? At the point of salvation, when we declare Christ Jesus as our Lord, we are translated from darkness to light, and our dead spirit is made alive (quickened) to God. Jesus was full of Grace, full of the quickening Spirit thus the Christ part that commonly precedes the name Jesus.
1 Corinthians 15:45 (AMP)
45 Thus it is written, The first man Adam became a living being (an individual personality); the last Adam (Christ) became a life-giving Spirit [restoring the dead to life].
Lord willing, next week I will move into the discussion of “truth”. As a very brief preview know that “truth” is basically four things, The Word of God is Truth, Jesus is Truth, Holy Spirit is Truth, and last but far from least love is Truth.
PRAYERS AND QUESTIONS – please, anytime you have an issue that you want me, this ministry to pray for you, a person you love or a situation contact me. Accordingly, if you should have a question about the Bible, please do not hesitate to ask it.
Until our next publication, receive this Scripture (first person) for your life right now, receive it in the name of Jesus, confess it, and walk it out with thanksgiving. We are in Christ Jesus, whatever His position is, is our position!
Ephesians 1:19-23 (KJV)
19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,
20 Which he wrought in Christ, when he raised him from the dead, and set him at his own right hand in the heavenly places,
21 Far above all principality, and power, and might, and dominion, and every name that is named, not only in this world, but also in that which is to come:
22 And hath put all things under his feet, and gave him to be the head over all things to the church,
23 Which is his body, the fulness of him that filleth all in all.
By: Dr. David Wood, Author, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
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