Scripture tells us that God – in Jesus – gives us “grace for grace.”
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace…” (John 1:16, NKJV)
Perhaps some religious people have offered you nothing but “guilt for guilt.” But God tells us that He wants you to have grace for grace! Please read further to understand what this means!
Recently, a prominent pastor/theologian from California passed away. I had great respect for many of the doctrinal orthodoxies that he upheld and the courageous, uncompromising stands that he took. But I always had somewhat of a problem with his teachings.
Based on the names of his ministries, he apparently intended to focus on God’s grace. The problem was that on any given occasion that I heard him speak, the availability of God’s excellent grace was hard to find in his message! Consequently, one would be hard pressed to conclude that God’s grace is “greater than all our sin” (Cf. Romans 5:20), as so beautifully expressed in the old hymn. He presented God as a rigid, exacting deity who left no room for our human weaknesses.
We Cannot Earn God’s Approval By Adhering to Some Teacher’s List of Rules
The New Testament was written in the Greek language. The original word charis, translated into English as “grace,” is defined as “unmerited favor.”
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” (John 1:16-17)
Today’s text teaches us that this excellent grace replaced the legalistic set of rules that came through Moses. Romans 6:23 states clearly that God’s grace is a free gift.
The Lord Jesus freely gives this gift to us when we make Him our personal Savior. We do this by first believing in our hearts. The next step is confessing with our mouths that God raised Him from the dead (Romans 10:9).
Of course, we cannot abuse God’s grace by continuing in behaviors, attitudes, and views that are clearly in opposition to God’s Word. By doing so, we insult that wonderful grace.
But among many “fundamentalists,” there seems to be an absence of understanding of the “AMAZING GRACE.” This also insults it (maybe even worse!) by mitigating the efficacy of Christ’s finished work on the cross.
Of course, we must “repent and believe the gospel” (Mark 1:15). But legalistic, shame-inducing teachers utterly cheapen – nay, negate – the work that Jesus did on the cross. Especially when aimed at those who have put their faith in Jesus! The end result is that we return to an unattainable, self-righteousness – the antithesis of grace.
What’s So Amazing About God’s Amazing Grace?
John 1:16 is one of the most beautiful and powerful verses in the New Testament. It declares the abundant and inexhaustible grace of our loving God.
Referring back to today’s text, “grace for grace” (Greek: χάριν ἀντὶ χάριτος) can also be translated, “grace in opposition to grace,” or “grace instead of grace.”
What does this mean? It means that even when we have been so disobedient that any of us humans would be inclined to cut off the supply of grace (unearned favor), instead of giving us grace, God gives us…MORE GRACE!
Let us praise and thank God for His excellent grace!