Sermon Text
John writes of Jesus: 'The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.' Full of grace and truth — not one without the other, but both in perfect, beautiful balance. This is the glory of Jesus Christ.
And then John adds a phrase that should stop us in our tracks: 'Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.' The Greek literally reads 'grace upon grace' — grace layered upon grace, wave after wave of unmerited favor washing over our lives. This is not a trickle; it is an ocean.
Think of every major moment in your spiritual life. The grace that drew you to Christ. The grace that forgave your sins. The grace that sustains you through suffering. The grace that picks you up when you stumble. The grace that empowers you to serve. The grace that will one day bring you safely home. It is all grace — one wave after another, from the inexhaustible fullness of Jesus Christ.
Grace transforms our identity: we are no longer defined by our failures but by God's love. Grace transforms our relationships: we can forgive because we have been forgiven. Grace transforms our calling: we serve not to earn God's approval but in response to the approval we already have in Christ.
If you are weary today, come to the fountain of grace. If you are burdened by guilt, receive the grace that cleanses. If you feel inadequate for the calling of God on your life, rest in the grace that empowers. His grace is sufficient. His grace is inexhaustible. His grace is for you.
Key Points
- Jesus came 'full of grace and truth' — both in perfect balance
- We receive 'grace upon grace' — wave after wave of unmerited favor
- Grace transforms our identity, relationships, and calling
- Grace is not a reward for performance but a gift from God's fullness
- God's grace is inexhaustible and sufficient for every need