The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
It is always a balancing act…the balance between extending grace so much that it ignores truth and holding too tightly to truth that there is no room for grace.
Have you ever struggled with that balance?
Jesus came full of both…grace and truth…the perfect balance…and that should be our goal as we strive to be like Him…full of both grace and truth…
Sometimes we extend grace to the point that we enable people to continue making bad decisions. Other times we give up too quickly on someone because they crossed the legal lines.
Where’s the balance?
This passage of wisdom from Ecclesiastes has often helped shape my thoughts on this subject:
In this meaningless life of mine I have seen both of these:
a righteous man perishing in his righteousness,
and a wicked man living long in his wickedness.
Do not be overrighteous,
neither be overwise—
why destroy yourself?
Do not be overwicked,
and do not be a fool—
why die before your time?
It is good to grasp the one
and not let go of the other.
The man who fears God will avoid all extremes . Ecclesiastes 7:15-18 NIV
I don’t have it figured out…but reflecting on this passage helps keep my heart in check from ignoring either grace or truth.
Which of these two could you be holding on to too tightly?
Sorry, but I don't agree with the write-up on balancing grace with truth. Grace and truth are one and the same. The dividing line is law. We were not only saved by grace, but it is grace that enables us to live righteously. (See Titus 2:11-12 and Romans 6:14). What the author said is common, but common though it may be, it is theologically false.
I think we are saying the same thing. I wrote:”Jesus came full of both…grace and truth…the perfect balance…and that should be our goal as we strive to be like Him…full of both grace and truth…”I don't agree they are the same. They are certainly inseparable. The original language words in John 1:17 are certainly different.
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I've always tended to be very hard on myself, and that definitely spills over into how I relate to the people I'm supposed to be leading. I didn't get a lot of grace growing up, so it's still hard for me to give it. I'm trying to figure out what grace looks like because I really would like to wander toward that side of the spectrum – both for my benefit and for the benefit of those around me. (Just got Andy Stanley's "The Grace of God" this week. Hoping it helps broaden my view.)
I am looking forward to reading Andy's book on grace also. Thanks for your comment.
Randy Alcorn wrote a short but OUTSTANDING book on this very subject… it's a GREAT read!!
You are the second one to recommend this book to me. Perhaps I should read it.