Grace and Truth Through Jesus Christ (John 1:17)
This sermon delves into the profound difference between God's law and His grace, revealing how humanity, burdened by sin, finds hope and righteousness. It thoughtfully unpacks the significance of Jesus' sacrifice and resurrection as the ultimate demonstration of God's love.
This sermon emphasizes that God's love and grace, revealed through Jesus' death and resurrection, offer eternal life and righteousness as a free gift, contrasting with the demands of the law. It calls listeners to believe in Jesus and receive this gift, rather than striving through human effort.
Overview
The sermon begins by celebrating Resurrection Day, highlighting God's boundless love for humanity despite individual sins. The preacher emphasizes that God knows everything about us and loves us unconditionally, contrasting this with human relationships where we often try to present our best selves.
A central theme is the distinction between law and grace, using John 1:17 as a foundational verse. The law, given through Moses, exposes our sin and demands righteousness we cannot achieve, while grace, brought by Jesus, supplies that righteousness and forgiveness as a gift. This is illustrated by comparing Moses' first miracle (water to blood, bringing death) with Jesus' first miracle (water to wine, bringing celebration).
The preacher explains that sin led to death, which was never God's original plan, and that God hates sin because He loves us so much. The solution to sin and death came through Jesus at the cross, where He took all our judgment and rose again, signifying that our sins are put away and we are declared righteous. This concept is powerfully illustrated with an analogy of finding safety in a 'burned place' during a wildfire, symbolizing standing where Christ took the fire of judgment.
The sermon concludes with an invitation to believe in Jesus, emphasizing that righteousness and abundant life are gifts to be received, not earned. The healing of the leper by Jesus, where Jesus touched the unclean and made him clean, serves as a powerful metaphor for Jesus' grace being greater than all our sins, offering a relationship with a living Christ who brings life abundantly.
Key points
- Resurrection Day is a celebration of Jesus conquering death, demonstrating God's unconditional love for humanity.
- God knows all our sins and weaknesses, yet loves us fully, unlike human love which can be conditional.
- The law (given through Moses) exposes our sin and demands righteousness, but grace (through Jesus Christ) supplies the righteousness we cannot achieve.
- Sin brought death and suffering into the world, which was never God's original intention for humanity.
- At the cross, Jesus bore the judgment for our sins, and His bodily resurrection testifies that our sins are put away and we are declared righteous.
- Jesus' first miracle (water to wine) symbolizes grace bringing celebration, contrasting with Moses' first miracle (water to blood) symbolizing the law bringing death.
- Believing in Jesus is presented as receiving a gift of eternal life and righteousness, rather than trying to earn salvation through personal effort or good works.
In Joseph Prince's words
“God knows all about you and God loves you.”
Outline
- I. Introduction: God's Love and Resurrection Day
- A. Jesus rose from the dead, conquering death
- B. God loves you unconditionally, knowing everything about you
- II. Understanding Sin, Death, and God's Righteousness
- A. Sin entered through man's free choice, bringing death
- B. God hates sin because He loves humanity and its destructive effects
- C. God is righteous and cannot simply ignore sin; payment is required
- III. The Contrast Between Law and Grace (John 1:17)
- A. The law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ
- B. Law demands, grace supplies; law demands righteousness, grace offers it as a gift
- C. Examples of law vs. grace: water to blood (death) vs. water to wine (celebration)
- D. The law says 'do do', grace says 'done' (at the cross)
- E. Jesus fulfilled the law, bringing us to the end of ourselves to realize our need for a savior
- IV. Jesus' Work at the Cross and Resurrection
- A. Jesus became the Lamb of God to take away our sins
- B. The cross was the 'endgame' where all our sins were cancelled
- C. We stand in the 'burned place' where the fire of judgment has passed (analogy)
- D. Our sins were transferred to Jesus, and His righteousness is transferred to us
- V. Receiving Righteousness and Abundant Life
- A. Jesus' resurrection means we are acquitted and declared righteous (Romans 4:25)
- B. God imputes righteousness to those who believe, bringing blessings
- C. Jesus came to give life and have it more abundantly (John 10:10)
- D. The healing of the leper demonstrates Jesus' willingness and grace to make us clean
- VI. Invitation to Believe and Prayer
- A. A choice to believe in Jesus, not by reasoning or effort (John 3:16)
- B. Prayer of salvation to receive Jesus as Lord and Savior
- C. Dismissal with blessings and protection for the week
Scripture references
- John 1:17
- Romans 6:23
- Mark 8:36
- John 10:10
- Romans 4:25
- John 3:16
- Luke 23:34
- Matthew 27:46
- Mark 15:34
- John 19:30
- Luke 23:46
- Matthew 5
- Matthew 6
- Matthew 7
- Matthew 8:1-4
- Exodus
- John 2
- Psalm 23
- James 5:16
17 For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
36 For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul?
10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.
25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.
16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.
34 Then said Jesus, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do. And they parted his raiment, and cast lots.
46 And about the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani? that is to say, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
34 And at the ninth hour Jesus cried with a loud voice, saying, Eloi, Eloi, lama sabachthani? which is, being interpreted, My God, my God, why hast thou forsaken me?
30 When Jesus therefore had received the vinegar, he said, It is finished: and he bowed his head, and gave up the ghost.
46 And when Jesus had cried with a loud voice, he said, Father, into thy hands I commend my spirit: and having said thus, he gave up the ghost.
1 And seeing the multitudes, he went up into a mountain: and when he was set, his disciples came unto him:
2 And he opened his mouth, and taught them, saying,
1 Take heed that ye do not your alms before men, to be seen of them: otherwise ye have no reward of your Father which is in heaven.
2 Therefore when thou doest thine alms, do not sound a trumpet before thee, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory of men. Verily I say unto you, They have their reward.
1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.
2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.
1 When he was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed him.
2 And, behold, there came a leper and worshipped him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean.
3 And Jesus put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will; be thou clean. And immediately his leprosy was cleansed.
4 And Jesus saith unto him, See thou tell no man; but go thy way, shew thyself to the priest, and offer the gift that Moses commanded, for a testimony unto them.
1 And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there:
2 And both Jesus was called, and his disciples, to the marriage.
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he leadeth me beside the still waters.
16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.
Insights
God knows all about you, and still loves you completely.
Death is a foreign enemy, never God's original design for humanity.
God's grace supplies what the law endlessly demands from us.
Questions & answers
What is the central message of the sermon regarding God's love?
The sermon asserts that God loves humanity unconditionally, even knowing all our sins, weaknesses, and innermost thoughts. His love is described as the 'best kind of love' because it accepts us as we truly are, not based on a facade.
How does the sermon differentiate between 'law' and 'grace'?
The sermon explains that the law (given through Moses) demands righteousness from sinful people, which they cannot achieve. In contrast, grace (that came through Jesus Christ) supplies the righteousness as a free gift, allowing God to forgive sins righteously.
What is the significance of Jesus' bodily resurrection, according to the sermon?
Jesus' bodily resurrection is presented as God's declaration that our sins have been put away and we are made righteous. It signifies that God is satisfied with Jesus' sacrifice for our sins and that believers are acquitted.
What is the meaning behind the 'burned place' analogy?
The 'burned place' analogy illustrates that just as people found safety in an area where a wildfire had already burned, believers find safety and protection before God by standing where Jesus took the 'fire' of God's judgment for all their sins.
How does the story of Jesus healing the leper illustrate grace?
The leper's healing demonstrates that under the law, touching an unclean person made one unclean, but when Jesus touched the leper, the leper became clean. This reversal shows that Jesus' grace is greater than all our sins and can cleanse the unclean.
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