FULL FO GRACE AND TRUTH (36 OF 52)
Scripture: John 1:14-18, John 1:29-34
This content is part of a series.
Full fo Grace and Truth (36 of 52)
Series: Discipleship Part Two
Christopher B. Harbin
John 1:14-18, 29-34
Traditionally, we have hang-ups around sin and judgment. Throughout the centuries of Christian religious tradition, we have developed elaborate theologies surrounding sin and judgment that don't seem to take Jesus and Jesus' teaching seriously other than in regard to the passion narratives in the gospels. It seems we have a theology of the cross that is too often devoid of the character, identity, and teaching of the Jesus who willingly made his way to the cross. We somehow miss that Jesus' take on sin came from his attitude of grace and desire for reconciliation, not vengeance and wrath. Can we honestly consider ourselves followers of Jesus when our theology does not follow the character of his teaching?
John begins his gospel with a poetic narrative that deals with some of the overarching theology and doctrine we will find in the rest of his account. He tells us that Jesus is God and came from God with the purpose of revealing God's character and love for life. He tells us that in Jesus God gave us all the opportunity to become children of God. Then he tells us that in Jesus God took on human flesh to live among us in a way that we might see God's character in human form. He tells us that Jesus expressed the grace of God, revealing that grace in his day to day experiences with humanity all around him. In so doing, Jesus made God known to us.
Then John makes an interesting comment. ''For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.'' To that, he adds about Jesus, ''Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'' There is a lot to unpack in those two comments, but we must do that recognizing those comments are made from the understanding that Jesus is God and came expressly to communicate the truth and character of God.
The law John refers to is the Mosaic code. For Judaism, that was central to bein ...
Series: Discipleship Part Two
Christopher B. Harbin
John 1:14-18, 29-34
Traditionally, we have hang-ups around sin and judgment. Throughout the centuries of Christian religious tradition, we have developed elaborate theologies surrounding sin and judgment that don't seem to take Jesus and Jesus' teaching seriously other than in regard to the passion narratives in the gospels. It seems we have a theology of the cross that is too often devoid of the character, identity, and teaching of the Jesus who willingly made his way to the cross. We somehow miss that Jesus' take on sin came from his attitude of grace and desire for reconciliation, not vengeance and wrath. Can we honestly consider ourselves followers of Jesus when our theology does not follow the character of his teaching?
John begins his gospel with a poetic narrative that deals with some of the overarching theology and doctrine we will find in the rest of his account. He tells us that Jesus is God and came from God with the purpose of revealing God's character and love for life. He tells us that in Jesus God gave us all the opportunity to become children of God. Then he tells us that in Jesus God took on human flesh to live among us in a way that we might see God's character in human form. He tells us that Jesus expressed the grace of God, revealing that grace in his day to day experiences with humanity all around him. In so doing, Jesus made God known to us.
Then John makes an interesting comment. ''For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.'' To that, he adds about Jesus, ''Behold the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!'' There is a lot to unpack in those two comments, but we must do that recognizing those comments are made from the understanding that Jesus is God and came expressly to communicate the truth and character of God.
The law John refers to is the Mosaic code. For Judaism, that was central to bein ...
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