The Fullness of God is in Jesus Christ #1374

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him. (John 1:16–18, NKJV)

Looking back to John 1:14, where the Word is announced as “the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth,” John returns to the abundant grace found in the only begotten Son of God. In Jesus Christ (not Moses), a never-ceasing source of grace has appeared and is available to the entire human race. “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age” (Titus 2:11-12). God’s grace offers salvation to everyone. God’s truth teaches us what to do to receive grace and to stand in it (Romans 5:1-2). Thus, grace and truth meet in Jesus. By God’s grace, Jesus tasted death for everyone (Hebrews 2:9). The gospel of His grace convicts us of our sin and its truth corrects us to obtain an eternal inheritance (Acts 20:24, 32). The Son of God is the only begotten (unique, one of a kind). We have not seen the invisible God (John 5:37; 6:46). But, the Son, who is eternal God, is qualified to do so (John 1:1). He shows us who God is and what God does. That is why He is the Word, and His Light brings life to the world (John 1:4-5, 9). Hear Him and live in His grace and truth.

Praise Christ for His Actions Toward Us #1328

5 and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood, 6 and has made us kings and priests to His God and Father, to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.” (Revelation 1:5–6, NKJV)

Majestic attributions are given Jesus Christ in verse 5 (faithful witness, firstborn from the dead, and ruler of kings). Then, John draws our attention to Christ’s actions toward us. First, Jesus “loved us” (v. 5). The full expression of His love is witnessed in His cruel death of suffering and sorrow, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God (1 Peter 3:18: John 15:13). Second, Jesus “washed us from our sins in His own blood” (v. 5). God does His work of redemption when the sinner is baptized into Christ’s death. It is in this action of faith that His saving blood cleanses sins (Romans 6:3; Acts 22:16; Colossians 2:12). (Only baptism puts sinners into the death of Jesus, Romans 6:3.) Third, Jesus “made us kings and priests to His God and Father” (v. 6). Every Christian is a priest who offers spiritual sacrifices of service and praise to God (1 Peter 2:5; Hebrews 13:15). Christians compose the church, Christ’s kingdom (a “royal priesthood” and a “holy nation,” 1 Peter 2:9). Christians share in the blessings of Christ’s kingdom now, while expecting entrance into the everlasting kingdom of the Lord (Colossians 1:13; 2 Peter 1:10-11). As so, we praise and honor Jesus Christ, “to Him be glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”