It seems as if the retailers across our land begin the Christmas shopping season earlier and earlier every year. Retailers know and understand very well the connection between the Christmas spirit and the pocket books. For those of us who know Christ, we ought to welcome the early reminders of the Christmas season. It calls us to think about what took place 2,000 years ago when God became a man.

Perhaps the clearest verse in all of the Bible regarding the incarnation comes in John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth.” The “Word” was clearly identified in John 1:1 as God Himself.

When you attempt to understand what actually took place when God Himself walked among us, you will find such a task impossible. There are no words or explanations sufficient to give a full understanding of this incredible event. However, we can understand how Jesus conducted Himself as He walked among us. John describes Him as “full of grace and truth” (John 1:14). Of all the wonderful ways in which to describe Jesus, John boiled it down to two simple words: Grace and Truth.

Grace and Truth
When you place these two words side by side, you can often think that they are opposite ends of the spectrum. I have met many over the years who are full of grace, but devoid of truth. They have hearts that care for others, but they don’t have any truth to help them. Theological liberals often fall into this category. I have met even more over the years who are full of truth, but lacking in grace. They know the Bible very, very well. But, rather than using the Bible as a splint to help set the fractured wounds, they use it like a club and beat people over the head with their sin. In my own life, I have faced the tension between these extremes as well. I have clubbed people with the Bible when I should have extended grace to them. I have granted grace when I should have confronted them with the truth.

But Jesus didn’t face this tension. He was full of grace. And He was full of truth. He wasn’t half grace and half truth. Jesus was 100% grace and 100% truth. He never sacrificed truth as He showed grace. Nor did He ever demonstrate a lack of grace in communicating the whole truth. As you think of Jesus this Christmas season, I would challenge you to think of Him in John’s terms: full of grace and truth.

Full of Grace
By definition, grace is unmerited and undeserved. Because of this, grace will often surprise us. When Jesus told the story of the good Samaritan, it was shocking to His listeners that the Samaritan would be so gracious to the man who had been robbed and beaten (Luke 19:30-37). The story of the prodigal son finds its surprise in the gracious response of the father who lavished his repentant son with a feast! (Luke 15:11-32) This is why John Newton wrote about the amazing grace that saves wicked and sinful people, like you and me!

Many times in the Bible, Jesus put His grace on display. This was especially apparent when Jesus was in the midst of those who needed grace. When dining at the home of a Pharisee, a woman known as a “sinner,” came to Jesus, weeping and wetting His feet with her tears and wiping them off with the hair of her head. To this woman, Jesus said, “Your sins have been forgiven” (Luke 7:48). Jesus didn’t condemn the woman caught in the act of adultery. Rather, He protected her from her accusers and sent her on her way (John 8:11). Jesus had a reputation of being a “friend of sinners” (Matt. 11:19). He was a friend to them, because He extended His grace to them.

Full of Truth
In our day and age, truth is often minimized. There are many who believe that truth is relative, and say that what is true for you may not be true for another. This simply isn’t right. There are absolutes in the world, and they are established by God in His word. Jesus said, “Thy word is truth” (John 17:17).

Jesus, Himself, was “full of truth.” He was not merely an abstract philosopher, on the order of Plato or Socrates. Jesus identified Himself as the embodiment of truth. He said “I am the way, the truth, and the life” (John 14:6). He spoke the truth; He lived the truth; He was the truth. There was no falsehood in Jesus at all. His every action was motivated by the truth and demonstrated the truth. As a result, we are to believe and obey all of His words.

Full of Grace and Truth
When Jesus was born into this world, He was born to die. Nowhere does this perfect balance of grace and truth demonstrate itself than in the cross of Christ. Certainly, the Lord is gracious and forgiving. But, God cannot forgive us by simply overlooking a transgression, because the truth regarding sin is that every sin must be punished. This is what the entire sacrificial system ought to teach us. But, in the cross, God has found a way to be full of grace and truth. His sacrifice was sufficient to satisfy the justice of God. Rather than punishing sinners, Jesus took upon Himself the punishment of those who believe in Him. His sacrifice was a demonstration of pure grace. We deserved nothing of this. As you celebrate the birth of Christ this Christmas season, I urge you to reflect upon Jesus, who was full of grace and truth.

Living It Out
I can think of one great application for us all. This fall, we launched our Home Fellowship Groups. In these groups, we are studying the Doctrines of Grace, which can often be a source of much division among believers in Christ. I have known some who have embraced these doctrines and have become very proud of them (though in fact, they ought to be the most humbling of all doctrines). In their arrogance, they have become unloving toward those around them. But, the reality of this divisiveness shouldn’t frighten us away from striving to learn what Scripture says. Instead, the truth ought to lead us to live humble, loving and gracious lives. In these groups, I encourage you to examine, pursue, understand, and embrace the truth you discover in the Scriptures. See this study as an opportunity to fully embrace the truth while living with an attitude of grace.

May we live our lives full of grace and truth!