For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
The law was given through Moses, while grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, a contrast between two givings. The order places the law given through Moses before the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ. It reflects the history of written revelation, with Moses beginning the long record as the historian of creation and the law and John bringing it to its close as the recorder of the sublime truths of the gospel.
Grace and truth came by Jesus because He brought heavenly truth in person, with the Word made flesh dwelling among people, full of grace and truth with the glory of the only-begotten of the Father. No one has seen God at any time, but the only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father declares Him, revealing God by taking humanity and living among people. Jesus is full of grace and truth, and from His fullness all who receive Him share abundantly, receiving grace upon grace. Through Him those who receive Him are given power to become sons and children of God, born not of blood nor of the will of flesh or of man but of God, and so share in the divine nature.
The abundant grace received from His fullness is the means by which believers are justified and kept free from sin. In Him mercy and truth have met together and righteousness and peace have kissed each other, with truth springing out of the earth and righteousness looking down from heaven, the Lord giving what is good with the land yielding its increase, and righteousness going before Him to set believers in the way of His steps. Grace and truth coming by Jesus means life and immortality are brought to light in the gospel, and in Christ through faith people are made partakers of the benefits and blessings of the Old and New Testaments. The law and the gospel are one, cemented together in one, and the great blessings and favors given by God call for a response from every creature He has made.
This grace satisfies those who hunger and thirst after righteousness with longing to become Christlike, assimilated to His image, keeping the way of the Lord and doing justice and judgment. That hunger of soul is satisfied when the heart is emptied of pride, vanity and selfishness, faith appropriates the promises of God, Christ supplies the vacuum and abides in the heart, and a new heart is given.
The law was given through Moses, while grace and truth came through Jesus Christ, a contrast between two givings. The order places the law given through Moses before the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ. It reflects the history of written revelation, with Moses beginning the long record as the historian of creation and the law and John bringing it to its close as the recorder of the sublime truths of the gospel.
Grace and truth came by Jesus because He brought heavenly truth in person, with the Word made flesh dwelling among people, full of grace and truth with the glory of the only-begotten of the Father. No one has seen God at any time, but the only-begotten Son in the bosom of the Father declares Him, revealing God by taking humanity and living among people. Jesus is full of grace and truth, and from His fullness all who receive Him share abundantly, receiving grace upon grace. Through Him those who receive Him are given power to become sons and children of God, born not of blood nor of the will of flesh or of man but of God, and so share in the divine nature.
The abundant grace received from His fullness is the means by which believers are justified and kept free from sin. In Him mercy and truth have met together and righteousness and peace have kissed each other, with truth springing out of the earth and righteousness looking down from heaven, the Lord giving what is good with the land yielding its increase, and righteousness going before Him to set believers in the way of His steps. Grace and truth coming by Jesus means life and immortality are brought to light in the gospel, and in Christ through faith people are made partakers of the benefits and blessings of the Old and New Testaments. The law and the gospel are one, cemented together in one, and the great blessings and favors given by God call for a response from every creature He has made.
This grace satisfies those who hunger and thirst after righteousness with longing to become Christlike, assimilated to His image, keeping the way of the Lord and doing justice and judgment. That hunger of soul is satisfied when the heart is emptied of pride, vanity and selfishness, faith appropriates the promises of God, Christ supplies the vacuum and abides in the heart, and a new heart is given.