Daily Bread - Oct 20 2006

John 1:17 - "For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ."

The definition of grace goes beyond the idea of God's favor and mercy; it extends into every dimension of salvation. It is grace that has brought salvation, it is grace that has brought faith, it is grace that has brought righteousness, it is grace that has brought the empowerment of the Holy Spirit. Grace in fact, can be said to be the divine power that empowers us with the ability to do everything that God has called and purposed us to do.

Paul relates a similar message in Galatians 3:21 when he said, "if there had been a law that could have given life then righteousness would have been by the law." The law was weak because it depended upon the ability of man to fulfill it. Even as Abraham could not bring forth the promise of God after his own innate ability, neither could the law impart to man the supernatural ability of the Spirit to become children of God (Romans 8; Galatians 4).

What grace and truth has brought to man is not only in contrast to the law - they define what Jesus produced for all mankind through His redeeming power.

The grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ is revealed by the life changing power that is imparted into a person making them a new creature. Because grace and truth has brought a change of heart grace and truth results in justification. The law could never justify, it could only condemn, because it was powerless to change the heart of man.

Blessings,

Pastor Mark Spitsbergen
www.abidingplace.org