What a profound truth we find in John 1:17—*"For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ."* This verse is not merely a historical statement but a divine revelation of how God has worked in human history to bring us into relationship with Him. Let us reflect deeply on this together, for it is foundational to our faith and our understanding of God’s redemptive plan.
The law given through Moses was holy, just, and good, as Scripture attests in Romans 7:12: *"Therefore the law indeed is holy, and the commandment holy, and just, and good."* The law served as a mirror, revealing the sinfulness of humanity and our inability to meet God’s perfect standards. It exposed our need for a Savior, for no one could fulfill its demands perfectly—except One. Galatians 3:24 tells us, *"The law has become our tutor to lead us to Christ, that we might be justified by faith."* The law was never meant to save us but to point us to the One who could.
But oh, the glory of what came through Jesus Christ! Grace and truth—two pillars of our redemption—were embodied in Him. Grace is God’s unmerited favor, His gift to us though we deserve only judgment. Ephesians 2:8-9 declares, *"For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, not of works, that no one would boast."* This grace is not a license to sin but the power to overcome it, for Titus 2:11-12 teaches us that *"the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world."*
And what of truth? Jesus Himself proclaimed in John 14:6, *"I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father, except through me."* Truth is not an abstract concept but a Person—Jesus Christ. He is the ultimate revelation of God’s character, His will, and His love. In Him, we see the Father perfectly, as Hebrews 1:3 tells us: *"The Son is the radiance of his glory and the exact representation of his nature."* Truth, therefore, is not just something we know; it is Someone we follow, Someone who sets us free (John 8:32).
Now, let us contrast these two ministries—Moses and Jesus—not to diminish the law, but to magnify the grace that fulfills it. The law demanded righteousness, but grace provides it through faith in Christ. Romans 8:3-4 says, *"For what the law couldn’t do, in that it was weak through the flesh, God did, sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful flesh and for sin, he condemned sin in the flesh; that the ordinance of the law might be fulfilled in us, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit."* The law could diagnose the disease of sin, but only Jesus could cure it. He did not abolish the law but fulfilled it (Matthew 5:17), taking its curse upon Himself so that we might receive its blessing.
Here is the heart of the matter: the law was given *through* Moses, but grace and truth came *through* Jesus Christ. One was a servant; the other is the Son. One was a shadow; the other is the substance. One pointed to our condemnation; the other secured our justification. As believers, we are no longer under the law’s condemnation but under grace (Romans 6:14). Yet this grace does not nullify the law’s moral standards; rather, it empowers us to live according to them by the Spirit’s work in us.
Let us pray together, giving thanks for this indescribable gift:
Heavenly Father, we bow before You in awe of Your wisdom and Your love. You gave the law through Moses, and in it, we saw our sin and our desperate need for a Savior. But praise Your holy name, for You did not leave us in our despair! You sent Your Son, Jesus Christ, in whom grace and truth were perfectly united. Through Him, we have received forgiveness, redemption, and the power to walk in newness of life.
Lord, we confess that we often take this grace for granted. We forget the high cost of our salvation—the precious blood of Jesus shed for us on the cross. Forgive us for our complacency, and renew in us a heart of gratitude and obedience. Help us to live as those who have been transformed by Your grace, walking in truth and reflecting Your love to a lost and broken world.
We pray for those who are still striving under the burden of the law, trying to earn what only You can give. Open their eyes to see Jesus, the Author and Perfecter of their faith. May they turn from their self-efforts and place their trust in Him alone. For those who have received Your grace but have grown cold, reignite in them a passion for You. Remind them that grace is not a one-time gift but a daily relationship with You, Lord Jesus.
Father, we also lift up those who distort Your grace, turning it into an excuse for sin. Convict them by Your Spirit and lead them to repentance. May they understand that true grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and live righteously (Titus 2:11-12). Let Your truth expose every lie and half-truth that seeks to undermine the purity of Your Gospel.
We thank You, Lord, that in Christ, we are no longer slaves to sin but slaves to righteousness (Romans 6:18). Empower us to walk in this freedom, to love as You have loved us, and to proclaim the good news of Your grace to all who will hear. May our lives be a testament to the truth that Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever (Hebrews 13:8).
We ask all these things in the name of Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior, who alone is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. Amen.
Beloved, let us hold fast to this truth: our standing before God is not based on our performance but on Christ’s finished work. The law was a tutor, but grace is our eternal inheritance. Walk in this grace, but never use it as an excuse to sin. Instead, let it compel you to holiness, for *"shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? May it never be! We who died to sin, how could we live in it any longer?"* (Romans 6:1-2). Let us live as those who have been bought with a price, glorifying God in our bodies and spirits, which are His (1 Corinthians 6:20).
If there is anyone reading this who has not yet received this grace, we urge you: turn to Jesus today. Confess your sins, believe in His death and resurrection, and you will be saved (Romans 10:9). There is no other name under heaven by which we must be saved (Acts 4:12). Do not delay—today is the day of salvation (2 Corinthians 6:2). And for those of us who know Him, let us never cease to marvel at the grace and truth that came through Jesus Christ. To Him be all glory, honor, and praise, now and forevermore!
Prayer Focus: God, Thank You for loving me. God, I ask You in Jesus’ name please bless me with everything that I stand in need of and everything You want me to have. 
