In John 1:14 we are told that Jesus was full of grace and truth.  Let us Biblically determine the connection between these two very important characteristics which filled the heart of the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace is defined as “unearned favor.”  Truth is the Word of God (Jn. 17:17).  The Apostle Paul describes grace in Romans 3:24-25 as Christ’s act of JUSTIFICATION (vs 24) for all men, for ALL HAVE SINNED (past tense) AND COME SHORT OF GOD’S GLORY.  TO SIN IS TO FALL SHORT OF WHAT CHRIST COMMANDS OF THOSE WHO CALL HIM THEIR SAVIOR.  TO BE OUR SAVIOR IN THE NEXT LIFE HE MUST BE OUR LORD (MASTER) IN THIS LIFE.  HE COMMANDS THAT WE EXHIBIT THE FATHER’S GLORY BEFORE THE WORLD EXACTLY HE DID.

In 1 John 2:6 the apostle this Truth while writing under the power of the Holy Spirit: “He who claims to belong to (be “in”) Christ must WALK (LIVE ONE’S LIFE) EVEN AS HE WALKED.”  Jesus Himself confirmed this in Revelation 3:21, noting that (only) those who overcome Satan’s temptations to sin EVEN AS HE OVERCAME those same temptations would join Him on His throne.  Jesus, Who was tempted as are all men, was “yet without sin.”  To be a son of God in this life we must “walk even as He walked.”  He asks us through the Prophet Amos: “Can two walk together unless they agree? (3:3).  God’s race empowers us to walk as Christ walked in two ways: by the eradication of our past sins (“justification”) and by empowering us to resist future sins.  Having lived as did Jesus throughout our post-justification life, we will thereby qualify for REDEMPTION (salvation) that is found only “IN CHRIST JESUS” (vs 24).

Contrary to universal church opinion, one cannot sin and be “IN CHRIST JESUS” in that He and the Father “ARE ONE” (Jn. 10:39) in character, will, etc..  John tells us that “GOD IS LIGHT AND IN HIM (GOD) IS NO DARKNESS (SIN) AT ALL” (1 Jn. 1:5).  In 1 John 1:1-7 we are told that the man Jesus is in God’s light (vs 7).  In order to be in God’s light we must walk as did Jesus Who, as long as He was in the world, was “THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” (Jn. 8:12).  He told His disciples, “YOU ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD” (Mat. 5:14).  If we are His disciples, WE ARE THE LIGHT OF THE WORLD.  There is no darkness in light.  There is only one true light (1 Jn. 2;8), which is Jesus Christ the man and His true saints who also put forth God’s light.  GOD’S LIGHT SHINES ON EARTH AS HIS SAINTS OBEY HIS WORD WHICH CAUSES THEM TO MANIFEST HIS GLORY.  All of which is made possible by God’s grace which empowers man to obey His Truth.  THIS BIBLICAL TRUTH MAKES THE GRACE-TRUTH CONNECTION POSSIBLE.

By obeying His Word His saints reveal their sanctification–being set aside for holy use (Jn. 17:17).  It is sanctification that prompts Satan to attack God’s people using his church and his false prophets.  As I have reported on recently, two of his workmen have recently been advertising their “smooth things, deceits and lies” (Isa. 30:10) as THE WAY TO GET TO HEAVEN.  According to these two men it takes only 10 and 11 seconds respectively to reserve your non-refundable ticked to haven.  As one of them tells us, “You’re just a prayer away from heaven.”  If this is true, where is the “walk of Christ?” we all must walk?  Jesus didn’t pray himself into the Messiahship.  He earned it through His walk–His obedience to the Father.  Are we better than the Savior of the world?  We become Abraham’s children not by following in his praysteps, but rather his footsteps–by walking as he walked in strict obedience to God’s commands(Rom. 4:12).

Let us pick up with 1 John 1:6: “If we say we have fellowship (a one-to-one relationship) with Christ and walk in darkness (continue to sin), we lie and do (walk) not the Truth (Word–Jn. 17:17).  But if we WALK in the light (obey the Word) AS HE (CHRIST) IS IN THE LIGHT (STILL OBEYING GOD’S WORD), THEN AND ONLY THEN DOES HIS BLOOD CLEANSE US OF ALL PAST SINS.  We all have sin in our past for “ALL HAVE SINNED AND COME SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD.”  In order to remain in God’s grace and  in Christ’s  love following justification WE MUST OBEY HIS COMMANDMENTS.  Read John 14:15,23; John 15:10 and Matthew 19:17 carefully and prayerfully.

The sin-repent cycle practiced by the Institutional Church is Satan in origin.  If we operate in that mode we are like the sow that, having been cleaned up then returns to her mire.  We are like the dog that, having gotten rid of his problem then returns to his vomit (2 Pet. 2:22).  God tells us through the Apostle Paul that if we continue to sin after being justified our sins are not forgiven.  Rather, we “treasure up” (accumulate) our sins until the day of judgement, all the while BELIEVING THAT EACH SIN HAD BEEN FORGIVEN UPON REPENTENCE (Rom. 2:5).  Such repentance is false in that the sinner has no intention of remaining sinless.

God’s grace plays no part in the life of those who practice what He condemns–sin.  Calling themselves “sinners saved by grace,” they are in fact COUNTERFEIT CHRISTIANS WHO BELONG TO A COUNTERFEIT CHURCH AND WORSHIP A COUNTERFEIT GOD AND PROCLAIM A COUNTERFERFEIT SAVIOR WHO OFFERS A COUNTERFEIT SALVATION.  This is why Jesus warned such people that He would say to them on the Day of Judgment: “I never knew you; depart from Me you who practice iniquity (Lawlessness)–Mat. 7:23).  As I have stated before, I came up with this ditty that describes the mind-set of professing Christendom relative to grace and Truth: “Sin and grin, my friend, for in the end, you’ll still win.  Pie in the sky, sin till you die, for in the sweet bye and bye, you’ll still get to fly.”

Satan makes sure that this message is preached every sun god day throughout the world and on television and radio every day of the week.  His hucksters are spreading his lies on every available venue.  He knows his time is short and is trying to lure as many as possible into his church system before the Lord returns and shuts everything down.

What is written above is God’s TRUTH/WORD/LIGHT/GOSPEL/WAY.  Those who check out the references know this.  Contrary to popular opinion, God’s grace does not cover the sins of those who, having been justified (had all PAST sins forgiven), then continue to sin.  As He said in 2 Chronicles 7:14, it is ONLY AFTER THE SINNER “TURNS FROM HIS EVIL WAYS” (STOPS SINNING) THAT GOD (“THEN”) HEARS HIS PRAYER OF TRUE REPENTENCE AND FORGIVES HIS SINS.  As long as the churchite continues to sin he simply accumulates those sins until judgment, at which time Christ will bring them forth and judge him accordingly.  Again, God’s grace applies only if the convert gets sin out of his life and walks accordingly.  A short passage spoken by Jesus Himself makes this clear.

In John 15:13,14 He is talking to His disciples, saying to them: “Greater love has no man than this, that He lay down His life for His friends.  You (disciples) are My friends, IF YOU DO WHATSOEVER I COMMAND YOU TO DO.”  In verse 10 He said to them that they would remain in His love ONLY IF THEY OBEYED HIS COMMANDMENTS, and that only by obeying God’s commandments could He–Jesus– remain in God’s love.  In verses 22-24 He states that those who have the Words of God have no excuse.  He tells us that they who have the Word and do not obey it HATE BOTH HIM AND HIS FATHER.  He says the same thing in Luke 10:16.

To obey God’s Word is to show forth God’s glory (Rom. 3:23).  However, God’s people must not expect those outside of His family to recognize Hi’s glory in them.  The Institutional Church rejects them and accuse them of serving Satan.  This is nothing new.  Remember that Jesus, Who knew no sin, was accused of having a devil and was crucified by those He came to serve.  They rejected God’s glory that flowed forth from Him because it illuminated their darkness.  Stephen and the apostles were martyred for the same reason.

In summary, justification (forgiveness of PAST sins–Rom. 3:25) is free due to His grace.  It is only following justification that one is commanded to obey God’s Commandments (Word/Law).  Due to that same grace, the cleansed believer receives the Holy Spirit power necessary to refrain from sinning following justification.  This act is called “conversion.”  God’s grace enables one to believe and obey His Truth (Word) to the end of life which will result in salvation upon Christ’s return (Mat. 10:22).  Read Hope and Salvation.  Key word–Hope.  Matthew 10:22, Romans 5:21 and 6:22 make clear the fact that salvation is the END RESULT OF A LIFE LIVED IN RIGHTEOUSNESS AND HOLINESS.  Believing in Jesus is only the first step in the salvation process.  To reap the end result (salvation) He must be one’s Lord/Master Who demands and receives obedience.  Read the Process of Salvation.  Key word–Process.

Memory verse: 2 Timothy 2:15–“Study to show yourself approved of God.”  Notice that Paul is writing to Timothy, an established apostle of God.  Note that we must STUDY, not merely read, the Holy Scriptures.  Read Isaiah 28:9-13 where the Lord identifies the one to whom God can teach wisdom.  Let us obtain holy wisdom and reject the wisdom of this world.  L.J.