FBC Sunrise Beach
Unveiling the Glory

      • 1 John 4:7–8CSB

  • Open The Eyes Of My Heart
  • Soon And Very Soon
  • Oh, How I Love Jesus
  • The Jesus Way

  • Bible Passage: John 1:14–18

    Summary: In this passage, John declares the significance of Jesus' incarnation, presenting Him as the unique revelation of God. John emphasizes how Jesus’ life reflected divine glory and He embodied both grace and truth, transforming our understanding of God’s nature and our relationship with Him through the lens of His love.
    Application: This sermon speaks to the struggles of believers who may feel distant from God or overwhelmed by the demands of life. It offers reassurance that through Jesus, individuals can experience God's grace and truth personally, encouraging them to reflect these qualities in their own lives and relationships.
    Teaching: The teaching focuses on the dual aspects of God as grace and truth revealed in Jesus. It shows how understanding both attributes is essential for a healthy, balanced Christian life and fellowship with others, urging listeners to embody these traits in their interactions.
    How this passage could point to Christ: John 1:14-18 positions Jesus as the fulfillment of the entire biblical narrative, showcasing His divine nature while also stressing the personal nature of His revelation. Throughout Scripture, Christ is the mediator who brings believers into a deeper relationship with God, affirming that He is the perfect representation of God’s will and character.
    Big Idea: The incarnation of Christ as grace and truth invites us to live authentically in His light, transforming how we engage with God and others by extending grace and embodying truth in all aspects of our lives.
    Recommended Study: As you prepare for this sermon, consider studying the Greek terms related to 'grace' (charis) and 'truth' (aletheia) in John 1:14 and how these concepts interrelate with Old Testament promises. You might also explore the implications of the phrase 'the only Son,' connecting this to the broader theme of sonship in Scripture, looking for insightful commentaries in your Logos library that tackle these themes within cultural contexts.
    John 1:14–18 ESV
    14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

    1. God's Grace Embodied

    John 1:14 ESV
    14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.
    John picks up in this next verse
    the Word became flesh
    What a powerful statement
    God is unveiling a true picture of grace here
    God has stooped to our level if you will
    He has come incarnate to earth
    This shows the love of God
    John’s summary here really picks up the pace
    The very heart of grace is the fact that God came down to our level
    Grace can be defined as unmerited favor of God towards man
    In Jesus coming in the flesh
    we see this unmerited favor
    or not deserved favor
    We did not deserve to live
    let alone have the opportunity for eternal life
    Yet God shows grace
    he allows us to interact with Him
    He came to dwell amongst us
    He came to encounter man at his worst
    But God did not come just to dwell with man
    He came to
    relate
    redeem
    and restore
    You see by coming to earth God shows the grace He has towards man in the sense that He could relate
    He then gave redemption and restoration

    2. Grace in Abundance

    John 1:15–16 ESV
    15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace.
    Next John the Baptist enters the scene again
    John’s testimony continues about the grace of Jesus
    John puts Jesus in His rightful place before everything
    He puts Him in front of everything
    he puts Him as in charge
    He is supreme
    This is huge because remember back in v. 8
    John had to differentiate John the Baptist from Jesus
    stating He was not the light
    In this next passage John is stating He is before me
    because He was before me
    This promise shows the supremacy of Jesus
    especially to the world before the ministry of Jesus
    in this we see that we are ultimately talking about God in the flesh
    John really wanted the point across in this Gospel
    Jesus was God in the Flesh
    and He was and is God
    In the next verse John goest o Grace upon Grace
    As if God’s grace wasn't already enough
    John wants to describe it even better
    it is grace upon grace
    something we truly and ultimately do not deserve
    but in our weakness
    in our transgression
    in our shortcomings
    GOD HAS GRACE
    This reminder coming through the Word became flesh
    this reminder of Grace can be so powerful
    recognizing that God gave us what we don’t deserve in salvation
    and he offers restoration
    In our lowest of lows God still has grace for us

    3. Grace Meets Truth

    John 1:17–18 ESV
    17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.
    Next John defines Grace and truth
    John starts with the law was given through Moses
    This is important
    The law told man about his shortcomings
    the law explained to man what a sinner was
    The showed how short of God’s glory we are
    God gave the law through Moses
    identifying the rules to follow according to God
    granting entry to the Kingdom of God
    We know in Galatians Paul speaks that these laws could not be perfectly followed which meant the law was condemning
    But faith was not
    Here we have John saying the law came through moses
    Grace and truth came through Jesus Christ
    Jesus brought the greatest thing for humanity into the world
    He brought reality
    he brought hope
    You see the law was about adherence to rule and regulations
    Jesus was about reception of a divine relationship
    The epitome of Jesus fulfilling of the law comes in two parts
    Grace
    Grace without truth is hollow
    Grace without truth does not show the need for Grace
    it shows no shortcoming
    In fact grace without truth has little to no meaning
    if there is not truth as to the reason for the grace we have nothing
    on the other hand
    Truth
    truth without grace is harsh
    Truth offered without grace is condemning
    similar to the law
    it shows shortcoming but doesn’t show a way out
    it doesn’t offer redemption
    But that is what makes this description of Jesus so great
    He is truth and Grace
    He is the best of both
    He shows us grace in offering redemption
    he also shows us truth in conviction and light of God’s glory
    You see Jesus reflection of this perfect union between Grace and truth
    sets an example for us as believers
    We are to illustrate a balance of grace and truth
    We are not to be harsh or hollow
    instead we are to be genuine and truthful
    truth can come across fairly direct
    1Corinthians 13 Paul says to rejoice in truth as He defines love
    but don’t share truth without offering grace
    don’t share grace without offering truth
    if we do so we leave out part of the great balance and identity we find in our Savior!
    Maybe here, you can illustrate the balance and interplay between grace and truth as manifested through Jesus Christ. The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus, signifying a shift from mere adherence to reception of divine relationship. Suggest that truth without grace can be harsh, while grace without truth can be hollow. Jesus embodies both perfectly, inviting us to strive for authenticity in reflecting Him. Urge your congregation to integrate these values into their relationships, reflecting the complete revelation of God in Christ.

      • John 1:14–18CSB

      • John 1:14CSB

      • John 1:15–16CSB

      • John 1:17–18CSB

  • I'll Live For Him
FBC Sunrise Beach
4 members • 1 follower