A summary of Sunday’s message of April 14, 2019 from Pastor Gus Brown:
Grace and truth. Both are needed to perform the work of salvation in your life. John speaks of these in his gospel.
There is so much of grace and truth that it can’t be covered in one message, but they are profound in the work of God and in the need for salvation.
They are never independent of each other. They travel together–inseparable and undividable.
John 1:14
And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
John 1:17
For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
The law merely showed us how we all have fallen short. Jesus is the remedy for our shortcomings through the law, and it is there for everyone.
Grace and truth are the two elements, if understood, that reveals God’s glory, and His truth is seen and experienced.
Many people have knowledge of truth, but some will not follow through with obedience. When you follow through with obedience, you will experience truth in its fullness, and see God’s ability and trustworthiness. We experience His truth in our obedience.
Some people may experience the favor of God and call it luck. It’s not luck. It is His favor that is to lead you to a greater understanding of His presence, and His grace.
His grace is His work in you. His truth is His word being activated in your life. You see one and experience the other.
His grace is His favor in your life, and His truth is what you are to believe and obey.
1 Corinthians 2:9-10
But, as it is written, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him”–these things God has revealed to us through the Spirit. For the Spirit searches everything, even the depths of God.
Full of grace and truth. All previous revelations of God by the prophets suffered from human imperfection; therefore, grace and truth didn’t come in its fullness. It was rendered in bits and pieces. A number of prophets revealed a little at a time until the presence of grace and truth through the presence of Jesus Christ.
Hebrews 1:1-2
Long ago, at many times and in many ways, God spoke to our fathers by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by his Son, whom he appointed the heir of all things, through whom also he created the world.
John 14:16-17
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
Knowing God’s truth gives you favor and humbles you to open your eyes and your heart to His wisdom and knowledge. He gives you what you need to search Him out and find Him rather than lean on your own understanding (Proverbs 3:5-6).
John 16:12-14
“I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now. When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all the truth, for he will not speak on his own authority, but whatever he hears he will speak, and he will declare to you the things that are to come. He will glorify me, for he will take what is mine and declare it to you.”
You cannot see the Holy Spirit, but you know the work of the Spirit in your life. You know that He is the Wonderful Counselor in your life. You also know how it is when the Spirit is missing from your life.
All of us should have the desire to learn more from Him. God’s grace and His favor is extended to us to provide what is necessary to continue to grow in His wisdom and knowledge.
2 Peter 1:20-21
…knowing this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture comes from someone’s own interpretation. For no prophecy was ever produced by the will of man, but men spoke from God as they were carried along by the Holy Spirit.
It is important to Jesus that you continue to gain understanding of Him and His Word.
How you use grace (favor) will cause it to increase or decrease in your life.
Galatians 5:4
You are severed from Christ, you who would be justified by the law; you have fallen away from grace.
Falling away from his grace will diminish your desire for His truth and knowledge.
It is something that you should never want to do.
His fullness of grace is even more grace, with more truth pouring into your life that you may be the person thoroughly equipped to do God’s work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17
All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.
We hold the key of how much grace and truth God will pour into our lives. We can have an impact as to how He will use us for His purpose.
God reveals Himself in all of this:
It is not by works.
Romans 11:6
But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace would no longer be grace.
It is all by God’s grace.
Ephesians 2:8-9
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.
Romans 6:14
For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.
Truth: when one is saved they receive “the Spirit of truth.” He will teach us all things.
John 14:16-17, 26
And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Helper, to be with you forever, even the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, for he dwells with you and will be in you.
But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, he will teach you all things and bring to your remembrance all that I have said to you.
How important is truth? There is freedom in truth.
John 8:31-32
So Jesus said to the Jews who had believed him, “If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”
John 4:23-24
“But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
The alternative is to hold onto darkness, which is untruth. People need to decide if Jesus’ words are truth or if they are a lie.
Jesus’ words are very clear. A lack of understanding indicates a desire to do something outside of obedience to Him.
John 8:38-47
I speak of what I have seen with my Father, and you do what you have heard from your father.”
They answered him, “Abraham is our father.” Jesus said to them, “If you were Abraham’s children, you would be doing the works Abraham did, but now you seek to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God. This is not what Abraham did. You are doing the works your father did.” They said to him, “We were not born of sexual immorality. We have one Father—even God.” Jesus said to them, “If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and I am here. I came not of my own accord, but he sent me. Why do you not understand what I say? It is because you cannot bear to hear my word. You are of your father the devil, and your will is to do your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, and does not stand in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks out of his own character, for he is a liar and the father of lies. But because I tell the truth, you do not believe me. Which one of you convicts me of sin? If I tell the truth, why do you not believe me? Whoever is of God hears the words of God. The reason why you do not hear them is that you are not of God.”
John 14:6
Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.
Jesus is truth. Either you believe it or not. Make your choice.
Romans 3:3-4
What if some were unfaithful? Does their faithlessness nullify the faithfulness of God? By no means! Let God be true though every one were a liar, as it is written, ” That you may be justified in your words, and prevail when you are judged.”
Following Jesus is a choice. All that He tells us to do is to believe in Him. He extends to us grace and truth in response.
Today is the day of salvation for those who believe.
2 Corinthians 6:2
For he says, “In a favorable time I listened to you, and in a day of salvation I have helped you.” Behold, now is the favorable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Akron Alliance Fellowship 