Pride Month 2024: 100% Truth 100% Grace

Matthew 13:54: "Coming to his hometown, he began teaching the people in their synagogue, and they were amazed. 'Where did this man get this wisdom and these miraculous powers?' they asked."

"Wisdom, in this context [1 Corinthians], becomes an evaluation of realities in the light of God's grace and the cross of Christ. It is part of a response to grace. Dunn compares 2 Cor 1:12 in this context: 'not by human wisdom but by the grace of God.' But it is the articulate utterance of this wisdom. Hence, it relates to 'God's plan of salvation' and its articulation or communication. Schatzmann and Schrage confirm this point. First, Paul emphasizes 'the actual utterance of wisdom which becomes a shared experience because it results in the upbuilding of the body'; second, 'From 1 Cor. 1–3 it is almost certain that Paul identified the wisdom from God with God's saving deed in the crucified Christ, particularly in the proclamation of the saving event.' It relates primarily to 'the revelation of God in the cross.' 16"[1]

Grace and Truth

We aim to follow Jesus' example, stand for biblical truth without compromise, and show Christian grace without limit. Jesus was a sinless friend of sinners.

In the Gospel of John, we read, "Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." John 1:16–17. Many people see grace and truth in tension. They think that to increase one means to decrease the other or suggest they must be held in balance, but we should stand for 100% biblical truth and show 100% Christian grace as Jesus did when he came full of both grace and truth.

If you think truth and grace are in tension, what does that say about your view of biblical truth? It suggests that you think biblical truth is not gracious. And conversely, what does it say about your view of grace if you think it compromises or reduces truth?

Jesus is truth itself. Jesus affirmed, "I am the way and the truth and the life." John 14:6. Jesus never compromised truth. And at the same time, Jesus shows grace without limit to all people. In Romans, we read, "and all are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus." Romans 3:24. Randy Alcorn, in his book, The Grace and Truth Paradox, wrote: "The lamb of grace is the lion of truth. Sometimes, we see Him as one, sometimes the other. Always, He is both." Randy Alcorn.

Like Jesus, we must both stand for biblical truth and show Christian grace. Alcorn said it well: "Truth without grace breeds a self-righteous legalism that poisons the church and pushes the world away from Christ. Grace without truth breeds moral indifference and keeps people from seeing their need for Christ."

The core problem is that we are not enough like Jesus. We are not making enough progress toward sinning less, and we are not good enough friends of sinners. Let's stand for biblical truth without compromise and show Christian grace without limit like Jesus.

[1] Thiselton, Anthony C. The First Epistle to the Corinthians: A Commentary on the Greek Text. Grand Rapids, MI: W.B. Eerdmans, 2000. Print. New International Greek Testament Commentary.