GRACE AND TRUTH / JOHN 1:17

START YOUR DAY RIGHT DAILY DEVOTION

(KJV) John 1:17

For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.

The Fullness of Grace and Truth: Living in the Reality of John 1:17

Have you ever tried to live up to a standard that felt completely out of reach?

Before Jesus came to earth to die for humanity’s sins—our offenses and rebellion against God—God’s people in the Old Testament maintained their relationship with Him based on the law given through the prophet Moses. The law laid out God’s perfect standard, but it also highlighted human weakness.

Yet, living for God and being “right” with Him was never simply a matter of checking off commands and regulations. Long before the law was written on stone tablets, true faith was the foundational requirement. We see this clearly in the lives of early believers like Enoch, Noah, and Abraham (Genesis 5:24; Genesis 7:1; Genesis 15:6). Their faith, combined with God’s beautiful promises of forgiveness (Exodus 34:6-7; Leviticus 5:17-18), provided clear evidence of God’s grace—His undeserved favor and love—even in Old Testament times.

But everything changed when Jesus stepped into history. As John 1:17 tells us:

“For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”

From Shadows to Substance

Through Christ, God’s grace and truth are now available to us in the fullest possible measure (Romans 5:17-21). Truth is no longer veiled or hidden behind prophetic signs and symbolic activities, like the old sacrificial systems.

Jesus Christ, who is the Word made flesh (John 1:1; John 1:14), has fully revealed God’s promises, principles, and purposes. Because of Him, we are invited to experience “one blessing after another” (John 1:16). This means God constantly and dynamically provides the benefits of His presence and power to those who respond to His grace and accept Christ’s forgiveness and leadership.

A Relationship, Not a Checklist

Spiritual salvation does not come from our own imperfect, exhausting efforts to keep the law. Instead, it is a gift managed by the Holy Spirit—the Spirit of Truth (John 14:17; 16:2).

The Holy Spirit does what rules could never do:

He reveals God’s ultimate truth to our hearts.
He enters the lives of those who receive Christ.
He renews our spirit and re-creates us in Christ’s very image.

This beautiful transformation means we are no longer trying to please a distant judge through legalism. We can genuinely respond to God, enjoy a vibrant, personal relationship with Him, and naturally start to reflect His love and character to the world around us.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,

Thank You for the incredible gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ. Thank You that while the law showed us Your perfect standard, Jesus brought us the grace and truth we needed to actually be reconciled to You. We confess that we cannot save ourselves through our own imperfect efforts, and we lean entirely on Your undeserved favor.

Holy Spirit, fill us afresh today. Renew our spirits, guide us into all truth, and shape us into the image of Jesus. Let us live daily in the fullness of Your presence, experiencing one blessing after another, so that we might reflect Your profound love and character to a world in need of Your grace.

In Jesus’ beautiful name we pray, Amen.

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Blessings, Margarita & Stace