Grace, Truth and Freedom

This morning I was reading through the first chapter of John, which is one very deep chapter. One statement, verse 17, realty grabbed my attention:

John 1:17 NIV
"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.". Another translation says grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. The Greek word translated either came or realized is 'Ginomai'

Definition
1. to become, i.e. to come into existence, begin to be, receive being
2. to become, i.e. to come to pass, happen a. of events
3. to arise, appear in history, come upon the stage a. of men appearing in public
4. to be made, finished a. of miracles, to be performed, wrought
5. to become, be made

So in other words, grace and truth really were birthed into our experience by Jesus. This doesn't mean that grace and truth didn't exist before Jesus, came tp earth, but rather is pointing back to Jesus' pre-existence and His superiority over the law. All truth is found in Jesus, for all things were made through Him. All grace is found in Jesus, for only He came and paid the price for all our sins, and took the punishment we all deserve upon Himself. This grace and truth that was revealed in Jesus surpassed the Law, and established a new revelation or dispensation. Paul writes much about this in his letter to the Romans.

Its important to remember that John was writing this many years after Jesus death, and there was a group of Jewish believers who were trying to force the law onto the Gentiles. Additionally, John is addressing several of the heretical ideas that were abounding early on, and was setting things straight. Jesus is the Son of God. Jesus existed in Heaven before the world was created. Jesus came to earth as a man. Jesus was the Son of God, and was uniquely able to reveal the Father to us. Jesus is the one and only savior.

Ultimately Jesus came to set us free. The grace and truth that He established, that came into being through Him, set us free from the requirements of the law. [31] To the Jews who had believed him, Jesus said, “If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. [32] Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” John 8:31-32 NIV

Amen Lord, we want to be set free and experience the fullness of Your grace and truth.