Grace and Truth
Scripture Reading — John 1:1-5, 14
“I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
—John 14:6
Self-deception and denial are powerful forces. We like to avoid painful news, but that can be tragic if we ignore a life-threatening diagnosis. Pretending not to have a problem does not change the situation. This is especially true as we stand before God.
We live in a world of relativism. “What is truth?” “Are there any absolutes?” The Bible answers with a resounding yes! Jesus declared, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”
Jesus came to earth as the Word of God, revealing truth. And throughout his ministry he spoke truth into life situations. He challenged hypocrisy and exposed the sin of self-righteousness. His teachings held high the law of God, and warned of sin’s consequences.
But Jesus also came as the living Word of God, revealing grace. He came as the answer to sin. He revealed God’s mercy and forgiveness to all who would repent of their sin. He fulfilled the high standard of the law through his own perfect life and then gave his life as a ransom for ours. And now God grants us the righteousness of Christ.
In this Advent season, may we honestly face the truth in self-examination and find the grace of God through Jesus. And then, like Christ, may we live lives of grace and truth.
Lord, lead us in honest self-examination. Remove our excuses and rationalizations as we confess our sins. In your grace, forgive and empower us to live lives of grace and truth. In Jesus, Amen.
About the author — Calvin Aardsma
Calvin Aardsma has been a pastor for more than thirty years. He has served churches in Indiana, Oregon, and the Chicago area. Currently, he is a pastor of Bethel Christian Reformed Church in Lansing, Illinois. He also serves on the board of the Ugandan Orphanage Relief Fund. Cal and his wife, Sandy, have four children and five grandchildren.
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