"Ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall
make you free." (John 8: 32)
Grace and truth are connected as one whole in the New Testament, and both are united in Christ:
"The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
Instead of fighting with the lies and frustrations we face with people who want to fight with us, our goal should be to know more about Jesus, to see Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 14-15)
Instead of looking for points of division and conflict, we seek unity, but not in ourselves. We do not seek consensus based on what we believe, but rather who we believe in.
I used to get upset with preachers because of the people they were hanging out with, or the statements would make. I was so quick to reject people because they held views which were not in line with the Bible.
Today, I realize that I can rest in the truth of God's grace, and anything which is not of the truth diminishes God's goodness and in some way augments what we must do.
Maturity is based on unity in Christ, not conformity to any cause in order to avoid conflict:
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4: 1-5)
In the next part of Ephesians Four, Paul takes about growing in to the Head, which is Christ. It is all about Jesus, and seeing all that He is.
"4That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4: 14-16)
Grace and truth are met in Christ. We cannot understand grace without seeing the truth, and we know the truth when we see Jesus:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
and also
"Herein is love perfected among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Instead of looking for points of disagreement, we must seek to see more of Jesus. He is real, He is alive, and He is looking for as many ways to reach out and let us allow Him to care for us.
Anything which diminishes the grace of God, and expounds what we must do, we must reject. We are not called to trust in ourselves, but to walk in His Spirit. We are not called to understand ourselves, but receive more of Himself in our daily walk.
Grace and truth are connected as one whole in the New Testament, and both are united in Christ:
"The law was given through Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ." (John 1: 17)
Instead of fighting with the lies and frustrations we face with people who want to fight with us, our goal should be to know more about Jesus, to see Him who has been from the beginning (1 John 2: 14-15)
Instead of looking for points of division and conflict, we seek unity, but not in ourselves. We do not seek consensus based on what we believe, but rather who we believe in.
I used to get upset with preachers because of the people they were hanging out with, or the statements would make. I was so quick to reject people because they held views which were not in line with the Bible.
Today, I realize that I can rest in the truth of God's grace, and anything which is not of the truth diminishes God's goodness and in some way augments what we must do.
Maturity is based on unity in Christ, not conformity to any cause in order to avoid conflict:
"I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called, 2With all lowliness and meekness, with longsuffering, forbearing one another in love; 3Endeavouring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. 4There is one body, and one Spirit, even as ye are called in one hope of your calling; 5One Lord, one faith, one baptism, 6One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in you all." (Ephesians 4: 1-5)
In the next part of Ephesians Four, Paul takes about growing in to the Head, which is Christ. It is all about Jesus, and seeing all that He is.
"4That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into him in all things, which is the head, even Christ: 16From whom the whole body fitly joined together and compacted by that which every joint supplieth, according to the effectual working in the measure of every part, maketh increase of the body unto the edifying of itself in love." (Ephesians 4: 14-16)
Grace and truth are met in Christ. We cannot understand grace without seeing the truth, and we know the truth when we see Jesus:
"Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me." (John 14: 6)
and also
"Herein is love perfected among us, that we may have boldness in the day of judgment, because as He is, so are we in this world." (1 John 4: 17)
Instead of looking for points of disagreement, we must seek to see more of Jesus. He is real, He is alive, and He is looking for as many ways to reach out and let us allow Him to care for us.
Anything which diminishes the grace of God, and expounds what we must do, we must reject. We are not called to trust in ourselves, but to walk in His Spirit. We are not called to understand ourselves, but receive more of Himself in our daily walk.
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