The exclusive source of grace and truth came to this Earth in the unique person of Jesus Christ. He indeed is the Way the Truth and the Life as declared in the Scriptures, “I AM THE WAY, THE TRUTH, AND THE LIFE; NO MAN COMETH TO THE FATHER, BUT BY ME” (John 14:6). However, the witness to this amazing grace has been committed to men who are sent by God. “There was a man sent from God whose name was John (John the Baptist) the same came for a witness; to bear witness of the light, that all men through him might believe. He was not the light but was sent to bear witness of the light” (John 1: 6-8). Jesus Christ is not only the way, the truth, and the life; He is also the light of the world. “I am the light of the world; he that follows me shall not walk in darkness but shall have the light of life” (John 8:12).
The focus here is that the witness was a man named John which means God is gracious. Man has graciously been given the high privilege of bearing witness of the light. It is not by accident that the name of the witness clearly harmonizes with the message. Also, it is meaningful that the one to whom was inspired to write this gospel, which records the bringing in of grace and truth, is also named John (John the Apostle). The amazing God appointed man (John the Baptist) “was a man sent from God” (John 1:6). This is a most critical position for the one who is to bear witness of God’s amazing grace. Since this God appointed man is bearing witness and is sent from God, he must be fully qualified to bear witness to His amazing grace. His purpose was to bear witness of the light, and the light alone. No other issues are involved. It is in no sense a witness of anything that is good in man or the accomplishments of man. This bright light of truth does not even expose the deeds of darkness. The light itself will easily overwhelm the darkness.
“But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanses us from ALL sin” (1 John 1:7).
“Now we know that whatsoever things the law says, it says to them who are under the law: that every mouth may be stopped, and all the world may become guilty before God” (Romans 3:19).
It is important to understand that the one who bears witness of the light must center his entire message in Him by whom came grace, truth, and the light. The messenger of the light must clearly declare who and what Jesus Christ is and what He has done. This message of the gospel permits no room for moral reform or a social betterment program. “He came to bear witness of the light, that all men through Him might believe in Him as the only Lord and Savior” (John 1:7). Herein is the first mention in John’s gospel of the word believe. This blessed and gracious word includes all that man must do in order to become partaker of God’s super surpassing grace and truth. It is used in various forms about a hundred times in this Gospel. Jesus said, “This is the work of God, that you believe on Him whom He has sent” (John 6:29). It was God’s work to cause men to believe on Him whom He had sent. The purpose of the writing of the Gospel was “that men might believe on Jesus Christ and that in believing they might have life” (John 20:31). If anything, more than believing is necessary to receive eternal life then it most assuredly would have been mentioned in this book. The book of John was especially written to show the only way to eternal life. “He (John the Baptist) was not that light but was sent to bear witness of that light” (John 3:8). He was a sure witness of the light, and the emphasis is most important. Under God’s amazing grace man is not the light of the world. Only the Word that was with God and was God is the light of the world during this amazing age of grace. Jesus spoke to the Jewish multitude and said,
“Ye are the light of the world. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Matt 5:14,16).
This statement indicated that this was a condition under the law and that the “good works” were the works of the law can hardly be questioned because in the next verse v.17, Jesus said that He had come to fulfill the law and the prophets. Under the law God observed the ineffective, imperfect, incomplete, and futile works of man. Under grace all may witness the perfection and effectiveness of the light, the Son of God, and it is definitely observed that man is not that light. Also, the best humanistic works under the social gospel, wherein the works of man are made to shine before men have provided no true and enduring light. There is also extensive legalism inter-mixed with grace wherein men are letting their own light shine instead of bearing witness of the true light. Legalism darkens the true light and makes man shine as though he were the light, and he is not!
The witness of John, that the word was made flesh, is an expression of grace that should be a pattern for all who witness of His amazing grace.
A portion of John’s message is recorded in Matthew. In this book his message was one of wrath and judgment and a call to bring forth “fruits for repentance” (Matt. 3:1-12). This is the message of the law. The message in the gospel of John is entirely different. “Of His fulness have we all received, and grace for grace” (John 1:16). In these verses there is NO CALL TO DO; it is the message concerning a gift of the fullness of the Word and grace upon grace. He was not only personally “full of grace and truth” but of that same “fullness have we all received,” not only of grace but “grace upon grace” (v.16). It is not true that grace according to its nature has to do only with the consequences of failure. This understanding of grace is not grace upon grace. God’s amazing grace does not pertain to the consequences of failure or more specifically of sin. It was by the grace of God that “Jesus tasted death for all men” (Heb. 2:9).
All sin is forgiven “according to the riches of His grace” (Eph. 1:7). If this amazing provision were all, then God’s work of grace would do no more for man than to restore him to that state of perfect humanity which was Adam’s before committing sin. Grace is God’s infinite provision in perfect love. It includes regeneration or the gift of eternal life which is infinitely more than a mere restoration of the life that was lost by Adam’s sin. The individual who is justified by God stands in His grace and has access to that super abounding grace by faith. “By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand and rejoice in hope of the glory of God” (Rom. 5:2). All that the believer is and possesses has been accomplished by grace. “But by the grace of God I am what I am; and His grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain” (1 Cor. 15:10). God’s grace is sufficient to meet every need. “My grace is sufficient for thee; for my strength is made perfect in weakness (2 Cor. 12:9).
Gifts are graciously provided, “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ; till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ” (Eph. 4:7-13). These are grace gifts given but then take notice. There is “the grace that is to be brought at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Pet. 1:13). This is the magnanimous provision of the “God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus” (1 Pet. 5:10). Through all of this super surpassing grace God not only redeems and justifies the believer but takes him through all the vicissitudes of his earthly life and finally conforms him to the image of His unique Son. This is truly grace upon grace. This is the grace and truth that came by Jesus Christ and is contrasted to the law of Moses. This amazing grace comes by means of the fullness of Christ and in no way comes from the effort of any needy human being. To bear a true witness of the light requires a clear understanding of this amazing message of grace and the appropriation of the unsurpassed provisions of God. In bringing this message of grace John was fully aware that he was nothing in and of himself. He was only “the voice of one crying in the wilderness” (John 1:23). He was only an instrument used by God. That is the true condition of man who is privileged to witnesses of His marvelous grace.
“But yield yourselves unto God, as those that are alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness unto God” (Romans 6:13b).
At a particular time, the Jews came to John and said that all men were coming to Jesus. John replied with two expressions that describe the true character that should be true of any true witness of God’s grace. “A man can receive nothing except it be given him from heaven” (John 3:27). This is the appropriate attitude under grace. John then said, “He must increase but I must decrease” (John 3:30). To the degree that men become nothing, to that same degree does Christ and the grace that came by Him become great. On a particular day John saw Jesus coming to him, and said, “Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world” (John 1:29).
The first five words of this message are the key to all legitimate Christian living. “Behold the Lamb of God!” But there is NOTHING TO DO here. The issue is to look away from self, from all self-efforts, and direct the attention entirely upon the Lamb of God. As THE LAMB HE IS THE SACRIFICE FOR SIN. There had been many sacrifices for sin previously. These sacrifices had been authorized by God and offered so that God could extend mercy to Israel under the law. But the once and for all sacrifice of the Lamb of God had a new and infinitely greater value than all the repeated sacrifices that related to the law. Those sacrifices were for an atonement for sin. Atonement means to cover. It is further stated “For the Law can never with those sacrifices which they offered make the comers thereunto perfect, for it is not possible that the blood of bulls and of goats should take away sins” (Heb.10:1,4). But the sacrifice which John pointed to takes away the sin of the world. This once and for all sacrifice was something entirely unknown under the law. The law was given to reveal sin; “for by the law is the knowledge of sin” (Rom. 3:20).
The sacrifices of the law only covered the sin revealed by the law so that God could have forbearance regarding it. Grace by means of the sacrificial once and for all offering of Jesus Christ takes away sin. He through whom came grace and truth took away the sin of the world that God might act on the wonderful principle of grace instead of law. When sin has been taken away there is no more need for the law to make sin known and to make it abound. “Moreover, the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound” (Rom. 5:20). There is also no remembrance again made of sins every year. “But in those sacrifices, there is a remembrance again made of sins every year” (Heb. 10:3).
There is an unfortunate use of the word atonement as it is used to apply to the finished work of Christ on the cross. This terminology applies to the law, and to apply God’s work of grace to the law tends to confuse law with grace. The Lamb of God did not atone for sin as did the annual sacrifices. God’s Lamb, (the Son of God), took away sin entirely. The first clear message of the witness to grace is not one of condemning sins but of proclaiming that sin is taken away by the Lamb of God. It is by Him alone; man can contribute nothing to it. This grace is of the fullness of Christ and upon this grace there is also grace for a daily life on Earth, and a grace that will be revealed at the appearing of the Lord Jesus Christ. It is so very sad that this beautiful message of grace is incessantly marred by mixing the old law and current legalism with the liberty and grace of our wonderful Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Let me pause to comment regarding what the meaning of the old law is or what is ineptly done through legalism.
Grace is all that God is free to do for man on the sole basis of the perfect and complete accomplishments of Jesus Christ on the cross. Legalism is man by means of man’s efforts that are performed to appropriate the favor of God. This is the failed and ineffectual efforts of man to gain God’s favor. Grace is the complete and victorious accomplishments of God on man’s behalf that are outside his best efforts. Should man be allowed to contribute to God’s so great salvation to any degree; to the degree he is allowed to contribute, to that same degree these efforts would serve to condemn him. The more anyone attempts to secure God’s gift of eternal life through self-efforts the deeper in debt he goes.
“The wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord” (Romans 6:23).
“For by grace are you saved by faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
“For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved” (Romans 10:13).
“Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou knowest not” (Jeremiah 33:3).
“Neither is He (God) worshipped with men’s hands, as though he needed anything, seeing he giveth to all life, and breath, and all things” (Acts 17:25).
