Verse of the Day 5/11

Through the Bible - 2 Kings 5-6, John 4:43-54

 

Good morning,

For today's verse we'll return to John chapter 1.  In a chapter in which we seen in Christ, the Word became flesh, light overcoming darkness, salvation to those who will receive Him, and in the verse we see that we have received grace, grace upon grace.

 

John 1:16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.    NKJV

 

MacArthur writes, "This phrase "grace for grace" emphasizes the superabundance of grace that has been displayed by God toward mankind, especially believers."

 

The world offers (but doesn't promise) fame, fortune and happiness if you will follow it's ways.  It's all a deception.  God offers grace upon grace that will bring true freedom, joy, peace, hope and love.

 

I read a definition of grace by John Piper, in a nutshell it was "pardon with power".  When I read "grace for grace" I see that.  We have received grace that we may show it to others.  It's not a deception, it's the truth.

 

Grace Greater Than Our Sin

 

Marvelous grace of our loving Lord,
Grace that exceeds our sin and our guilt!
Yonder on Calvary's mount outpoured,
There where the blood of the Lamb was spilled.

 

Sin and despair, like the sea waves cold,
Threaten the soul with infinite loss;
Grace that is greater, yes, grace untold,
Points to the refuge, the mighty cross.

 

Dark is the stain that we cannot hide.
What can we do to wash it away?
Look! There is flowing a crimson tide,
Brighter than snow you may be today.

 

Marvelous, infinite, matchless grace,
Freely bestowed on all who believe!
You that are longing to see His face,
Will you this moment His grace receive?

 

"All true believers receive from Christ's fulness; the best and greatest saints cannot live without him, the meanest and weakest may live by him. This excludes proud boasting that we have nothing but 'we have received it,' and silenceth perplexing fears that we want nothing but 'we may receive it.'"    (from Barnes' Notes,)

Will you receive His grace this moment, right now, today?  Don't put it off.

 

In Christ,

Mike
mikevw@bellsouth.net

John 1:6-19

 

John's Witness: The True Light

 

6 There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 8 He was not that Light, but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 9 That was the true Light which gives light to every man coming into the world.

 

10 He was in the world, and the world was made through Him, and the world did not know Him. 11 He came to His own, and His own did not receive Him. 12 But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God, to those who believe in His name: 13 who were born, not of blood, nor of the will of the flesh, nor of the will of man, but of God.

 

The Word Becomes Flesh

 

14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 

15 John bore witness of Him and cried out, saying, "This was He of whom I said,'He who comes after me is preferred before me, for He was before me.'"

 

16 And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten Son, who is in the bosom of the Father, He has declared Him.

 

NKJV