December 14, 2014 – Pastor Tim – “Truth & Grace”
A few weeks ago we talked about the truth, the Word of God being an important part of our daily lives. A couple of weeks ago we talked about wanting more grace in our lives. That everything we have ever wanted in life comes by God’s grace. This week I want to talk about balance between Truth and Grace.
Balance: We cannot be so rigid with the truth that we do not have grace. —We cannot be so loose with grace that there is not all of His truth in us. We cannot sacrifice truth for grace, but, we cannot abandon grace to demonstrate truth.
God’s truth has measured me… God’s grace has kept me. God’s truth has found me wanting… God’s grace has empowered me. Both must be a work in all the fullness of God.
In John 17:14-17, Jesus prayed for us, I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not pray that You should take them out of the world, but that You should keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 17 Sanctify them by Your truth. Your word is truth.
We can have a complete transformed through the Word of God. It can be easier to view God primarily as a disciplinarian. To see Him as a father with a harsh code of ethics. When we are performance-oriented it’s much easier if you give me a list of do’s and don’ts. I understand that morality is important in Christianity; however, there is a great deal of difference between morality and legalism.
It is important that God not be misrepresented. He is a balanced God, not an extremist. God doesn’t have to punish us to heal us. The glory of God is manifested only when there is a balance between grace and truth. Religion doesn’t transform. Legalism does not transform. Truth and Grace transform.
Jesus has already prayed for you…
John 17:9-11, “I pray for them. I do not pray for the world but for those whom You have given Me, for they are Yours. 10 And all Mine are Yours, and Yours are Mine, and I am glorified in them. 11 Now I am no longer in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to You. Holy Father, keep through Your name those whom You have given Me, that they may be one as We are.
Believe the Word of God and become one with Him. Jesus our Lord was a great emancipator of the oppressed. It does not matter whether someone has been oppressed socially, sexually or racially; our Lord is an eliminator of distinctions.
That is to say, God is no respecter of persons. He tears down barriers that would promote prejudice and separation in the Body of Christ.
Ephesians 2:14 and 19, For He Himself is our peace, who has made both one, and has broken down the middle wall of separation, … 19 Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God.
Yet, it is important also to note that while there is no distinction in the manner in which we receive any of those groups, there should be an appreciation for the uniqueness of the groups’ individuality. There is a racial, and social uniqueness that we should not only accept, but also appreciate.
This is where balance of “Truth and Grace” are so important. We cannot allow our cultural preference of how we worship to dictate our application of God’s truth and grace. It is cultural injustice to teach other cultures or races that the only way to worship God is the way another culture or race does. It is important to note, sin is still sin and sin can never become the excepted culture of the Church. But each culture should have the freedom to worship with the freedom of God’s Spirit.
John 4:23-24, But the hour is coming, and now is, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth; for the Father is seeking such to worship Him. 24 God is Spirit, and those who worship Him must worship in spirit and truth.”
Let each one of us ask God to keep us balanced in His “Truth and Grace”.
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