John 1:1-5, 9-18
The
for Grace
The LORD God took the man and placed him in the garden of Eden to work it and watch over it. And the LORD God commanded the man, ‘You are free to eat from any tree of the garden, but you must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, for on the day you eat from it, you will certainly die. —Genesis 2:15-17
“No! You will certainly not die,” the serpent said to the woman. “In fact, God knows that when you eat it your eyes will be opened and you will be like God, knowing good and evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food and delightful to look at, and that it was desirable for obtaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. —Genesis 3:4-6
This chapter is one the most tragic in all of the Bible. Adam and Eve disbelieved God’s good provision and chose to disobey His instruction for a life that is fulfilling and in close fellowship with Him.
Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all people, because all sinned. —Romans 5:12
However, in the midst of all the tragedy and curse in Genesis 3, there’s a glimmer of
The
of Grace
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.
The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.
He was in the world, and the world was created through him, and yet the world did not recognize him. He came to his own, and his own people did not receive him. But to all who did receive him, he gave them the right to be children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born, not of natural descent, or of the will of the flesh, or of the will of man, but of God.
The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We observed his glory, the glory as the one and only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. (John testified concerning him and exclaimed, “This was the one of whom I said, ‘The one coming after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’”) Indeed, we have all received grace upon grace from his fullness, for the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God. The one and only Son, who is himself God and is at the Father’s side—he has revealed him. —John 1:1-5, 9-18
As we have seen in Genesis 3 that sin entered the world due to deceit and rebellion, John 1 shows us that grace enters the world through
John tells us that Jesus (the Word), “was with God,” testifying to the distinction between God the Father and Jesus while emphasizing the intimate relationship between the Father and the Son and “the Word was God,” sharing the same character, quality, and essence of God. John’s Gospel leaves no room for confusion about the nature of Jesus.
For everything was created by him,
in heaven and on earth,
the visible and the invisible,
whether thrones or dominions
or rulers or authorities—
all things have been created through him and for him. —Colossians 1:16Long ago God spoke to our ancestors by the prophets at different times and in different ways. In these last days, he has spoken to us by his Son. God has appointed him heir of all things and made the universe, through him. The Son is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact expression of his nature, sustaining all things by his powerful word. —Hebrews 1:1-3
Creation is a foundational doctrine of our Christian faith. Virtually every other aspect of theology rests upon our understanding of God as the origin of all life and of the role Jesus Christ, the Word, in creation.
Our Lord and God, you are worthy to receive glory and honor and power, because you have created all things, and by your will they exist and were created. —Revelation 4:11
In verse 4, we find the first appearance of a key word—
Jesus Christ the Creator provides physical life; Jesus Christ the Redeemer provides spiritual life; and Jesus Christ the Savior provides eternal life.
Also in verse 4 John introduces another key word—
We would be staggering about in the darkness of our own opinions if Jesus had not brought the light of God’s revelation.
The people walking in darkness have seen a great light; a light has dawned on those living in the land of darkness. —Isaiah 9:2
I am the light of the world. Anyone who follows me will never walk in the darkness but will have the light of life. —John 8:12
Not only is Jesus referred to as light and life, but He came and dwelt among men.
The tabernacle was instituted by God as the place where he would dwell in the midst of the people of Israel. It was the forerunner of the temple; it was a tent that went before the children of Israel as they made their way to the promised land. Within the tabernacle was the most holy place, where God came to meet man. Just as God came to meet man in the tabernacle, he came to meet man in the person of Jesus. Worship for the Jews centered on the tabernacle and then the temple, but once Jesus came, he became the center of worship. Only through
Jesus is described as “full of grace and truth.” This alludes to two central attributes of the divine character used throughout the OT:
the Lord is a compassionate and gracious God, slow to anger and abounding in faithful love and truth. —Exodus 34:6
There is no other source of grace but in Christ, where we find an inexhaustible supply (vv. 16–17).The focus here is more than just that we receive grace from Christ; it’s that this grace is fuller or more complete than what God had provided before Christ. It’s an unending, continuous supply of grace given through Jesus.
Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, because it is written, Cursed is everyone who is hung on a tree. —Galatians 3:13
But the gift is not like the trespass. For if by the one man’s trespass the many died, how much more have the grace of God and the gift which comes through the grace of the one man Jesus Christ overflowed to the many. And the gift is not like the one man’s sin, because from one sin came the judgment, resulting in condemnation, but from many trespasses came the gift, resulting in justification. If by the one man’s trespass, death reigned through that one man, how much more will those who receive the overflow of grace and the gift of righteousness reign in life through the one man, Jesus Christ.
So then, as through one trespass there is condemnation for everyone, so also through one righteous act there is justification leading to life for everyone. For just as through one man’s disobedience the many were made sinners, so also through the one man’s obedience the many will be made righteous. The law came along to multiply the trespass. But where sin multiplied, grace multiplied even more so that, just as sin reigned in death, so also grace will reign through righteousness, resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. —Romans 5:15-21
Sin entered the world through Adam’s rebellion. Sin, when it comes to fruition, brings
Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has passed through the heavens—Jesus the Son of God—let us hold fast to our confession. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who has been tempted in every way as we are, yet without sin. Therefore, let us approach the throne of grace with boldness, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in time of need. —Hebrews 4:14-16
Through many dangers, toils and snares,
we have already come.
‘Twas Grace that brought us safe thus far,
and Grace will lead us home. —John Newton
Never forget the grace that flows freely from Jesus Christ. If God was willing to send his Son to be born as a man and to die as a criminal for you, do you think he’ll ever withhold his grace from you? If your faith is in Jesus Christ, then from him abundant, overflowing, amazing grace is being poured out. God’s grace is sufficient. Never lose sight. Never lose hope. His grace will lead you home.
Jesus is a better