THE LIVING WORD TRANSCRIPT<br><br>

PROGRAM AIR DATE: 1-28-18<br><br>



LESSON TITLE: “FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH”<br><br>



WELCOME<br><br>

      TODAY WE ARE BLESSED WITH A WONDERFUL GIFT FROM GOD, THE BIBLE. THIS BOOK IS GOD'S LIVING WORD. IN ITS PAGES, WE ARE TOLD “FOR THE WORD OF GOD IS LIVING AND POWERFUL AND SHARPER THAN ANY TWO-EDGED SWORD.” IT IS IN THIS BOOK OF BOOKS THAT WE FIND THE ANSWERS TO ALL OF MAN'S QUESTIONS AND NEEDS. THIS MORNING YOUR AREA CHURCHES OF CHRIST WELCOME YOU TO A PROGRAM COMMITTED TO THAT PERFECT LAW OF LIBERTY AS WE PRESENT THE LIVING WORD. NOW HERE IS YOUR HOST, RAY SULLINS.<br><br>

      WELCOME TO THE LIVING WORD PROGRAM ON THIS WONDROUS LORD’S DAY MORNING. IT IS ALWAYS AN HONOR AND PRIVILEGE TO HAVE YOU WITH US. WE ARE THANKFUL YOU HAVE CHOSEN TO BE WITH US AS WE COMMIT THIS TIME TO THE THINGS OF GOD. MAY WE EACH PARTICIPATE AND DO OUR PART TO MAKE THIS TIME ACCEPTABLE BEFORE HIM AND ACCORDING TO HIS WORD. NOW LET’S BEGIN BY TALKING TO GOD THROUGH PRAYER! <br><br>

      PRAYER: OUR GOD AND FATHER IN HEAVEN, WE THANK YOU FOR THIS DAY AND EACH AND EVERY DAY OF LIFE. THE GREAT BLESSINGS OF LIFE. FATHER, WE KNOW THAT WE ONLY HAVE WHAT WE HAVE BECAUSE OF YOU AND WE THANK YOU FOR ALL OF OUR PHYSICAL BLESSINGS AND ALL OF OUR SPIRITUAL BLESSINGS. FATHER, WE'RE MOST THANKFUL FOR THE GREAT GIFT OF YOUR SON JESUS AND WHAT THAT SACRIFICE MEANS TO US AS WELL AS HIS RESURRECTION THAT IT MIGHT HELP JUSTIFY US BEFORE YOU BECAUSE OF YOUR GREAT LOVE AND MERCY AND GRACE. AND FATHER, MAY WE LIVE EACH AND EVERY DAY IN SUCH A WAY AS TO ATTAIN THESE WONDROUS BLESSINGS. AND FATHER, HELP US THIS DAY TO DO ALL THE THINGS THAT WE DO IN SPIRIT AND TRUTH AS WE GIVE YOU OUR VERY BEST AS WE OBEY WHAT YOU HAVE GIVEN US IN YOUR WORD THE BIBLE. IN JESUS NAME WE PRAY, AMEN. <br><br>

      THIS MORNING WE WANT TO BEGIN OUR SONGS OF PRAISE BY SINGING A SONG WHICH STRESSES THE GREAT JOY WE HAVE AS CHRISTIANS IN OUR WALK WITH CHRIST. SO, AT THIS TIME, WON’T YOU JOIN IN WITH THE CONGREGATION AS WE SING TOGETHER, “WHEN I SURVEY THE WONDROUS CROSS.”<br><br>



DEVOTIONAL THOUGHTS<br><br>

      HAVE YOU EVER PLAYED THAT GAME BEFORE WHERE YOU SIT IN A GROUP AND AT ONE END SOMEONE WHISPERS SOMETHING IN THE EAR OF THE PERSON NEXT TO THEM. THEN THAT PERSON HAS TO WHISPER WHAT THEY HEARD TO THE NEXT PERSON IN LINE. WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU GET TO THE END? YOU GUESTED IT, SOME CRAZY SENTENCE COME OUT THAT ISN’T REMOTELY SIMILAR TO WHAT YOU STARTED WITH.  <br><br>

      WHEN I THINK OF THIS GAME I THINK OF HOW IMPORTANT WORDS ARE IN OUR LIFE. NOT ONLY WORDS, BUT ALSO HOW WE SAY THE WORDS AND HOW THEY ARE PERCEIVED.  AS CHRISTIANS, WE MUST REALIZE HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO SAY WHAT WE MEAN AND MEAN WHAT WE SAY. IT REALLY DOES MATTER, WHAT WE SAY AND HOW WE SAY IT.<br><br>

      LET’S GO TO THE BOOK OF COLOSSIANS AND READ VERSE 6, OF CHAPTER 4. THERE PAUL SAID, “LET YOUR SPEECH ALWAYS BE WITH GRACE, SEASONED WITH SALT, THAT YOU MAY KNOW HOW YOU OUGHT TO ANSWER EACH ONE.” THERE ARE SEVERAL POINTS MADE HERE WHICH I WOULD LIKE TO EXPOUND ON.  <br><br>

      FIRST, WE SEE THAT GRACE IS NECESSARY IN PROPER SPEECH. THIS WOULD MEAN THAT WE REALLY THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO SAY AND THAT WE SAY IT IN THE RIGHT WAY. IF WE EXTEND GRACE TO ANOTHER WE ARE STRIVING TO DO THAT WHICH IS FAVORABLE TOWARD THEM, WHETHER THEY DESERVE IT OR NOT. TREATING OTHERS AS WE WANTED TO BE TREATED.  <br><br>

      THE NEXT THING PAUL MENTIONS IS A SPEECH SEASONED WITH SALT.  IF YOU ARE LIKE ME, YOU LOVE SALT AND PROBABLY USE TOO MUCH. BUT WHY DO WE USE IT?  BECAUSE IT TASTES GOOD AND ENHANCES THE FLAVOR OF THE FOOD. WELL, PAUL TOLD THE COLOSSIANS THAT THEIR SPEECH SHOULD DO THE SAME THING. ENCOURAGE, ENHANCE AND BUILD UP. NOT HURT, HARM OR TEAR DOWN. NOTICE A SIMILAR STATEMENT MADE BY PAUL IN HIS LETTER TO THE EPHESIANS, “LET NO CORRUPT WORD PROCEED OUT OF YOUR MOUTH, BUT WHAT IS GOOD FOR NECESSARY EDIFICATION, THAT IT MAY IMPART GRACE TO THE HEARERS,” 4:29! AGAIN, OUR SPEECH MUST BE FOR GOOD AND DO GOOD! <br><br>

      FINALLY HE STATED THAT OUR SPEECH MUST BE WITH CONSIDERATION OF HOW TO ANSWER SOMEONE ELSE. AGAIN SHOWING THE NEED TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WE SAY OR WHAT WE ARE GOING TO SAY TO MAKE SURE IT IS GOING TO ACCOMPLISH THAT WHICH IS PLEASING TO GOD.  <br><br>

      ARE YOU USING A SPEECH THAT WILL HONOR AND GLORIFY GOD? DO THE THINGS YOU SAY ENCOURAGE AND HELP THOSE WHO HEAR THEM? MAY WE ALL STRIVE MORE TO SPEAK AS THE ORACLES OF GOD! <br><br>

      THIS MORNING, WE WILL CONTINUE WITH OUR SERIES ON JESUS WHICH IS CALLED, “IN THE BEGINNING WAS…!” OUR SPECIFIC TOPIC TODAY IS, “FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH.” SO, PLEASE CONTINUE WITH US THIS MORNING, AND AFTER OUR NEXT SONG, TOGETHER I WILL RETURN WITH THIS STUDY FROM GOD’S WORD. THE NAME OF OUR NEXT HYMN IS, “WHEN THE ROLL IS CALLED UP YONDER!”<br><br>

      

      LESSON<br><br>

      RAY SULLINS<br><br>

      WE'RE SO GLAD THAT YOU'VE CONTINUED WITH US NOW THIS MORNING AS WE RETURN TO GOD'S WORD AND LOOK AT ANOTHER LESSON IN OUR SERIES IN RELATIONSHIP TO THE CHARACTERISTICS OF JESUS. PRIMARILY AS THEY ARE DONE IDENTIFIED FOR US IN THE BOOK OF JOHN THERE IN CHAPTER 1. AND TOGETHER YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THAT OVER THE LAST SEVERAL WEEKS WE'VE LOOKED AT JESUS AS THE WORD. THE CONCEPT OF HIM BEING GOD HIMSELF WITH GOD AND WAS GOD. WE'VE ALSO LOOKED AT THEIR IN THE SAME EARLY PART OF THE PASSAGE THAT HE ALSO WAS THE LIFE. THE IDEA THAT JESUS CERTAINLY BROUGHT LIFE AND ETERNAL LIFE THAT ALL MEN MIGHT HAVE THAT OPPORTUNITY NOT TO SOMEHOW LEAVE THIS WORLD WITHOUT A BENEFIT BUT TO HAVE A LIFE ETERNAL WITH GOD. AND THEN WE'VE ALSO LOOKED TO THE IDEA OF THE LIGHT THAT JESUS WAS AND CERTAIN HE IS DESCRIBED SEVERAL TIMES AS THE LIGHT AS ONE THAT SHINES OUT OF DARKNESS. HE IS MENTIONED THERE IN VERSE FOUR TO BE THE LIGHT OF MEN AND IF YOU NOTICE DOWN IN VERSES SEVEN THROUGH NINE HE IS AGAIN IDENTIFIED AS NOT JUST A LIGHT. BUT JOHN SAID HE WAS THE LIGHT THAT CAME. AND SO ALL THESE IDEAS HOPEFULLY ARE HELPING US TO UNDERSTAND WHO THIS JESUS IS. <br><br>

      OUR TOPIC THIS MORNING WILL ACTUALLY COME A LITTLE BIT FURTHER DOWN THERE AROUND VERSE 14 WHERE IT AGAINS RETURNS TO THE CONCEPT OF THE WORD AS CERTAINLY ALREADY HAVING IDENTIFIED THE WORD AS GOD AND WITH GOD EVEN IN THE VERY BEGINNING SHOWING THE DEITY OF JESUS. BUT THERE IN VERSE 14 IT SAYS THE WORD BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG US. SO THE FIRST THING THAT WE SEE IN VERSE 14 IS THAT IT IDENTIFIES THAT JESUS, ALTHOUGH BEING GOD AND BEING WITH GOD, BEING THE CREATOR OF ALL THINGS NOTHING WAS MADE THAT WAS MADE WITHOUT HIM. HE ACTUALLY BECAME FLESH AND DWELT AMONG MEN IN ORDER THAT HE MIGHT WHAT? COME AS A PERFECT SACRIFICE, ULTIMATELY DIE, THEN BE RESURRECTED AND RETURN TO HEAVEN THAT WE MIGHT HAVE WHAT? THE OPPORTUNITY OF SALVATION. AND CERTAINLY THAT'S WHAT THE OVERALL WORK OF JESUS WAS. TO SHED THAT BLOOD AS EVEN AS IDENTIFIED IN THE CONCEPT OF VERSES 12 AND 13 OF THE CHURCH OF GOD AND THE BLOOD THAT WAS ESSENTIAL AND NECESSARY THAT THIS NEW COVENANT COULD BE SEALED IN JESUS. BUT HE DWELT AMONG US AND WE BEHELD HIS GLORY, IT SAYS HERE, THE GLORY AS THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER. AND SO THE GLORY OF JESUS AS HE CAME IN THE FLESH TO THE WORLD WAS AS THE GLORY OF THE FATHER IN HEAVEN. NOT JUST A FATHER OR NOT JUST A GLORY. THE BIBLE USES GLORY IN A VERY GENERAL SENSE AND SOMETIMES EVEN IDENTIFIES THE FACT THAT THAT MEN CAN BE GLORIFIED OR THAT WE ARE GLORIFIED WITH GOD.  CERTAINLY NOT WHAT IS BEING INDICATED HERE. THE GLORY, WHEN YOU THINK OF GLORY IN THE SENSE OF WHAT GOD IS AND WHO GOD IS, OF HIS WONDER, OF HIS AMAZEMENT, OF HIS PERFECTION, IT SAYS JESUS IS THAT GLORY. HE IS THE GLORY AS THE GLORY OF THE FATHER. AND CERTAINLY THAT AGAIN IS A GREAT ENCOURAGEMENT TO US TO KNOW WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE IS NOT JUST ANY MAN OR NOT ANY CREATED BEING. WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT IS A PERSON OF THE GODHEAD WHO WAS WILLING TO LEAVE THE HEAVENLY THRONE THERE TO BECOME A MERE MAN AND YET STILL IN THE FLESH WAS WHAT? THE WORD. WAS GOD. WAS THE GLORY OF THE ONLY BEGOTTEN OF THE FATHER.<br><br> 

      AND THEN HE USES TWO OTHER WORDS THAT WILL REALLY BE OUR PRIMARY FOCUS TODAY AS HE GOES ON TO SAY FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. WHAT A BEAUTIFUL CONCEPT! AND THESE ARE THE IDEAS THAT WE WANT TO FOCUS ON NOW BECAUSE AS WE SEE THAT THE FATHER IS REALLY THE ESSENCE OF GLORY OR THE ONE WORTHY OF GLORY BECAUSE HE IS GOD AND GOD ALONE AND THAT JESUS IS THEREFORE AS THAT GLORY, THE GLORY OF THE FATHER. IT ALSO SAYS HERE THAT JESUS IS WHAT? FULL OF TRUTH. DO YOU SEE THE PATTERN HERE? GOD THE CREATOR IN THE BEGINNING, JESUS WAS WITH GOD, WAS GOD. LIGHT, JESUS CREATED LIGHT, HE BROUGHT LIFE EVEN ETERNAL LIFE. JESUS IS LIGHT. WHO IS LIGHT? GOD IS LIGHT (FIRST JOHN CHAPTER 4). JESUS IS THE LIGHT. WHO WHAT? CAME TO THE EARTH IN THE FLESH AS THAT WORD. THE FATHER IS THE GLORY. AND WHO IS JESUS? THE GLORY, THE VERY ESSENCE OF THE FATHER. AND NOW WE SEE THAT JESUS ALSO IS FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. WHY WOULD WE FIND THAT SO STRANGE? WHO IS GOD? WHAT IS ANOTHER CHARACTERISTIC OF GOD? SOMETHING THAT CLEARLY IDENTIFIES FOR US WHAT WE NEED TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT GOD? HE IS GRACE, NOT JUST A GRACE, NOT JUST A FAVOR, NOT JUST A TRUTH. HE IS THE GRACE THE TRUTH! AND SO AS WE LOOK AT WHAT HE SAYS HERE, HE SAYS THAT HE IS LIKE THE GLORY OF THE FATHER, HE IS ALSO THE GRACE, THE TRUTH. THE WORD HERE FULL IS SIGNIFICANT BECAUSE IT MEANS THE IDEA OF THAT GLASS THAT WE MIGHT PUT WATER IN AND WE KEEP FILLING IT AND FILLING IT AND IT IS ALL THE WAY UP TO THE BRIM. IN FACT, IT MIGHT EVEN BEGIN TO RUN OVER. FILLED UP COMPLETELY. ABOUNDING. COMPLETELY OCCUPIED. HOW MUCH GLORY DID JESUS HAVE? ALL BECAUSE HE WAS THE WORD. HE WAS GOD. NOT JUST WITH GOD BUT WAS GOD. HOW MUCH GRACE DID JESUS HAVE? HE WAS FULL OF COMPLETE GRACE. NOT JUST A GRACE BUT COMPLETE GRACE AS THE GRACE OF GOD AS GOD HAS GRACE. HOW MUCH TRUTH? FULL OF TRUTH! NOT JUST A PART OF IT BUT FULL OF THE TRUTH OF GOD AS GOD IS TRUTH. AS GOD IS GRACE AND GOD IS GLORIOUS JESUS IS, FOR HE IS THE FULLNESS OF THE GODHEAD. HE IS THAT VERY ESSENCE OF GOD THAT CAME WHAT? AND DWELT AMONG US IN ORDER THAT WE MIGHT HAVE THAT PERFECT SACRIFICE TO GIVE US THE HOPE TO OVERCOME THE SIN, THE DARKNESS, THE WICKEDNESS OF THIS LIFE. <br><br>

      NOW, BEFORE WE GO ON AND REALLY BEGIN TO DEFINE THESE TERMS NOTICE THAT HE SAYS IT AGAIN. JOHN IN VERSE 15 SAYS, “JOHN BORE WITNESS OF HIM AND CRIED OUT, SAYING, ‘THIS IS HE WHOM I SAID, “HE WHO COMES AFTER ME IS PREFERABLE FOR ME, FOR HE WAS BEFORE ME.”’ AND HIS FULLNESS WE HAVE ALL RECEIVED, AND GRACE FOR GRACE.” AND THEN I HEAR VERSE 17, AND AS, “FOR THE LAW BEING GIVEN THROUGH MOSES, BUT GRACE AND TRUTH CAME THROUGH JESUS CHRIST.” NOW HE MENTIONS GRACE THREE MORE TIMES. THE IDEA HERE OF TRUTH ONE MORE TIME. AND WE SEE HERE NOW THAT JESUS, THE WORD, THE LIFE, THE LIGHT, JESUS THE GLORY, THE GRACE, THE TRUTH. THIS SAME JESUS HERE IS FULL OF ALL OF THESE GODLY CHARACTERISTICS. WHY? BECAUSE HE IS GOD. HE WAS GOD WHEN HE CAME IN THE FLESH AS THE WORD AND DWELT AMONG MEN. AND THEREFORE, HE DIDN'T LEAVE THOSE THINGS BEHIND. HE DIDN'T LEAVE THOSE CHARACTERISTICS BEHIND. HE WAS STILL GOD SO HE BROUGHT THESE WITH HIM. NO WONDER HE WAS STILL PERFECT! YOU KNOW, THE BIBLE TELLS US HOW MANY TIMES THAT JESUS WAS PERFECT. HEBREW WRITER SAYS THAT HE DID NOT SIN. ALTHOUGH HE WAS TEMPTED HE NEVER SINNED. YOU SEE THE IDEA? HE BROUGHT THOSE GODLY CHARACTERISTICS AND HE LIVED IN THOSE GODLY CHARACTERISTICS AS GOD IN THE FLESH THAT HE MIGHT DIE AS SUCH. FOR AGAIN, THE SAKE OF THE SINS OF THIS WORLD. <br><br>

      NOW THEN LET'S LOOK AT EACH OF THESE WORDS. WHAT IS THE CONCEPT THEN OF GRACE? GRACE IS A BEAUTIFUL IDEA THAT REALLY DESCRIBES THE CONCEPT OF THE FAVOR. THAT'S ANOTHER WAY WE COULD TRANSLATE THE CONCEPT OF GRACE, GOD'S FAVOR. AND ULTIMATELY AS WE THINK ABOUT FAVOR THERE'S ANOTHER TWIST TO GRACE AND THAT IS THE CONCEPT THAT IT IS FAVOR OFFERED EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T DESERVE IT. WE LOOKED AT EARLIER THE IDEA OF ONE'S WORDS. I MIGHT NEED TO CONTROL MY WORDS, SAY WHAT IS GOOD, EVEN IF SOMEBODY DOESN'T DESERVE IT I NEED TO STILL NEED TO HAVE WHAT? GRACE TO THE HERE, FAVOR TO THAT HERE. THEY MAY NOT DESERVE IT. THEY MAY HAVE TREATED ME BADLY. THEY MAY HAVE SAID UGLY THINGS TO ME BUT I STILL SHOULD SAY THINGS THAT WHAT? OFFER FAVOR TO THAT INDIVIDUAL, THAT ACTUALLY EDIFY, THAT IS THAT SEASONING OF SALT THAT MAKES ONE BETTER. WELL YOU SEE HERE, THAT IS THE CONCEPT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT HERE. THAT GRACE THAT IS REALLY NOT DESERVED. WHY IS IT NOT DESERVED? BECAUSE WE WERE CREATED AND PUT ON THIS EARTH AND WHAT HAVE WE ALL DONE? WE'VE ALL FALLEN SHORT OF THE GLORY OF GOD. WE'VE ALL SINNED AT TIMES AND EVEN THOUGH WE'VE BECOME CHRISTIANS DO WE NOT AT TIMES STILL LET GOD DOWN AND SINNED? CERTAINLY WE DO! AND SO WE'RE NOT PERFECT. AND BECAUSE WE'RE NOT PERFECT WHAT DO WE NEED? GRACE, FAVOR, EVEN THOUGH WE DON'T DESERVE IT. WE NEED FAVOR. JESUS WAS FULL OF THAT FAVOR. HE MIGHT HAVE THROWN HIS HANDS UP LIKE GOD AND SAID, ‘THESE PEOPLE ARE BUNCH OF SINNERS AND THEY'RE ALWAYS GONNA LET ME DOWN! I'M NOT DYING FOR THEM!’ HE COULD'VE SAID THAT I GUESS AS GOD. BUT WHAT DID HE OFFER US? GRACE. WE DIDN'T DESERVE IT AND YET WHILE WE WE’RE STILL SINNERS, IT SAYS IN ROMANS CHRIST DIED FOR US. HE WAS WILLING TO GIVE US HIS OWN LIFE, HIS OWN BODY, HIS OWN BLOOD THAT WE MIGHT OVERCOME THESE THINGS. <br><br>

      WHEN WE LOOK INTO THE BIBLE, GRACE IS SOMETHING THAT WE SEE THROUGHOUT THE OLD AND NEW TESTAMENTS. IN FACT, IF WE GO BACK EVEN TO LOOK AT GENESIS YOU MIGHT REMEMBER THERE IN CHAPTER 6 AND VERSE EIGHT THAT IT SAYS THAT NOAH FOUND GRACE IN THE EYES OF THE LORD. WAS NOAH PERFECT? WELL, IN HIS GENERATION IT GOES ON TO SAY HE WAS COMPLETE IN HIS GENERATION AND THAT HE WAS A MAN WHO WALKED WITH GOD AND WHO DID MANY THINGS RIGHT. NO MAN HAS EVER BEEN PERFECT BUT JESUS. AND SO IN THE FACT THAT NOAH WAS NOT PERFECT HE STILL FOUND FAVOR. HE MAY NOT HAVE ALWAYS DESERVED IT BUT HE FOUND FAVOR. MANKIND MAY NOT DESERVE IT BUT GOD SPARED NOAH THAT AGAIN MAN MIGHT HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO TURN BACK TO HIM AND TO KNOW HIM AND TO HAVE AGAIN THE BLESSINGS OF ETERNAL LIFE. WE GO TO THE NEW TESTAMENT AND WE SEE THE IDEA OF GRACE, SPECIFICALLY IN CONNECTION TO SALVATION. IN FACT, PAUL THERE TO THE EPHESIAN CHURCH SAYS THIS IN CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE EIGHT, “FOR BY GRACE YOU HAVE BEEN SAVED THROUGH FAITH.” HERE WE LEARN THAT GRACE IS CONNECTED DIRECTLY TO WHAT? SALVATION. GOD OFFERS FAVOR. I DON'T DESERVE IT. AND WHAT IS THAT FAVOR? SALVATION! HOW? THROUGH THE BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST! JESUS DIED BECAUSE OF YOUR SINS AND MY SINS. SO WHAT SHOULD I DO THROUGH FAITH? I SHOULD TRY TO HAVE FAITH BECAUSE OFFERS GRACE THAT WILL SAVE THROUGH OUR FAITH SO WHEN WE HAVE COMMITTED OURSELVES BY OBEDIENCE TO GOD WHAT DO WE HAVE? THE CONTINUOUS GRACE OF GOD. THE COVERING OF THAT FAVOR, ALTHOUGH UNDESERVED, THAT WE MIGHT SERVE HIM. I ALSO LOVE THE WAY THAT PAUL TOLD TITUS SIMILAR THINGS. IF YOU'LL NOTICE THERE IN TITUS CHAPTER 2 AND VERSE 11. THAT VERSE SAYS, “FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN.” SEE, GOD'S GRACE, WHAT HAS HAPPENED? IT HAS APPEARED TO WHO? TO ALL MEN. WHAT HAS GOD DONE? HE'S OFFERED FAVOR ALTHOUGH MAN MIGHT NOT DESERVE IT, HE'S OFFERED FAVOR SO THAT WHAT? THAT WE MIGHT BE SAVED. THAT WE MIGHT BE SAVED. HOW? THROUGH JESUS CHRIST THROUGH THE BLOOD THAT WAS SHED. NO WONDER PETER SAID IN SECOND PETER 3:18 THAT WE SHOULD GROW IN THE GRACE AND KNOWLEDGE IN THE FAVOR OF GOD. GOD OFFERS SUCH FAVOR IF WE RESPOND IN A LOVING WAY TO WHAT GOD HAS DONE GUESS WHAT HAPPENS FOR US? WE ALSO ARE RECIPIENTS OF THE GRACE, THE GRACE OF GOD. GOD HIMSELF IN THE FLESH, JESUS, THE GRACE HE OFFERED. THE SACRIFICE HE MADE, HIS RESURRECTION. AND NOW THE HOPE OF HEAVEN AND ETERNAL LIFE. <br><br>

      THE SECOND PART OF OUR TEXT THERE AGAIN SAYS HE WAS FULL OF WHAT? GRACE AND TRUTH. AND THAT OTHERS THERE, VERSE 17 SAYS THE GRACE, THE TRUTH. NOT JUST ANY BUT THE. WHAT IS THIS TRUTH? ALL THAT WHICH IS RIGHT. THE BIBLE OFTEN TALKS ABOUT TRUTH. IT SPEAKS OF THE CONCEPT OF HOW WE AS CHRISTIANS CAN FIND FREEDOM IN TRUTH AND BY THE TRUTH. IN FACT, BACK THERE IN JOHN 8:32 JESUS SAID THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE US FREE. IN JOHN 14:6 JESUS SAID I'M THE WAY, THE TRUTH. BY THE WAY, ALL OF THESE AS WELL HAVE ARTICLES THAT INDICATE THIS IS A SPECIFIC TRUTH. THE TRUTH OF GOD. AND WHAT IS THAT TRUTH OF GOD? WELL, JOHN WELL DESCRIBES IT IN CHAPTER 17 AND 17 OF HIS BOOK WHEN HE QUOTES JESUS AND SAYS YOUR WORD IS TRUTH. EXACTLY LIKE THE PSALMIST SAID IN 119, THAT IS PSALM 119:142 WHEN HE MADE THE STATEMENT, “YOUR LAW IS TRUTH.” GOD'S LAWS, GOD'S WORDS. THAT IS WHAT IS TRUE. THE, NOT A TRUTH, THE TRUTH. THE TRUTH THAT DOES WHAT? THE TRUTH THAT MAKES FREEDOM, THE TRUTH THAT OFFERS SALVATION, THE TRUTH THAT GIVES HOPE. <br><br>

      I LOVE THE STORY BACK IN THE OLD TESTAMENT WHERE ABRAHAM SENT HIS SERVANT ELIEZER OUT TO FIND A WIFE FOR HIS SON AND THERE IN GENESIS CHAPTER 24 IT IS BEAUTIFUL AS HE RECOUNTS THE STORY OF WHAT HAD TAKEN PLACE. AND HE MENTIONS THERE WHAT GOD HAD DONE. HE SAYS GOD LED ME IN THE WAY OF TRUTH. HE SAYS HE LED ME IN THE RIGHT WAY, THE RIGHT THE WAY THAT WAS COMPLETE. THE WAY THAT WAS PERFECT. IF GOD ALONE CAN SAVE AND GOD GAVE THE PLAN THROUGH JESUS BY WHICH A MAN CAN BE SAVED. WHERE ELSE CAN WE FIND SALVATION? NOWHERE ELSE! SEE, WE'VE GOT TO HAVE GRACE AND TRUTH. WE'VE GOT TO TURN TO THE ONE WHO IS FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH. AND WE THEREFORE HAVE TO RESPOND TO THE GRACE AND THE TRUTH OF GOD. THAT'S THE ONLY PLACE AS WE SEE IN BOTH OF THESE CASES. THAT THE WILL AND THE WORD OF GOD IS THE LAW OF GOD THAT WE MIGHT HAVE ULTIMATELY SALVATION BY FAITH, BY OBEDIENCE, BY DOING THOSE THINGS THAT GOD ASKS. THAT WE SHOW GOD THAT WE LOVE HIM. DID JESUS NOT SAY, “IF YOU LOVE ME, KEEP MY COMMANDMENTS.” I'VE ALWAYS FOUND IT FASCINATING, TOO, THAT WITHIN THE ARMOR OF THE SOLDIER AS WE BEGIN TO WONDER WHAT IS IT THAT THE SOLDIER FIRST PUTS ON? HOW DOES HE EQUIP HIMSELF TO GO OUT INTO BATTLE TO NOT ONLY FIGHT BUT OFTEN ALSO TO DEFEND WHAT IS RIGHT? GUESS WHAT THE GIRDING OF THE WAIST IS THERE IN EPHESIANS CHAPTER 6? IT IS THAT BAND OF TRUTH. THE TRUTH ITSELF. IT IS THAT KNOWLEDGE OF GOD. THAT WORD OF GOD THAT IS OF THE VERY CORE OF OUR BEING THAT THEN AFFECTS AS THE OTHER PARTS OF ARMOR, RIGHTEOUSNESS, FAITH, SALVATION, THE HEAD AND ON AND ON WE COULD GO.<br><br> 

      YOU SEE HOW WONDERFUL? YOU SEE HOW BLESSED WE ARE? DO YOU SEE HOW MUCH GOD LOVES US? THAT HE NOT ONLY SENT HIS SON THAT JESUS LOVED US ENOUGH TO COME HIMSELF TO BECOME A MERE MAN? THE HEBREW WRITER SAYS THERE IN HEBREWS CHAPTER 1 TO EVEN ALLOW HIMSELF TO BE LOWER THAN THE ANGELS, HIS OWN CREATION. AND YET JESUS CAME AS A MAN, FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH, THAT HE MIGHT BRING US WHAT? GRACE AND TRUTH TO RESPOND TO. YOU SEE, THAT'S GREAT NEWS BECAUSE TODAY KNOWING WHO JESUS IS, KNOWING THAT HE IS THE WORD, THAT HE WAS WITH GOD, THAT HE WAS GOD. KNOWING THAT HE IS THE LIFE, THAT HE IS THE LIGHT. KNOWING THAT HE IS THE GLORY OF GOD, KNOWING THAT HE IS FULL OF THE GRACE, FULL OF THE TRUTH. KNOWING THAT IT IS THROUGH JESUS THAT SALVATION IS OFFERED AND THERE'S NO OTHER NAME BY WHICH A MAN CAN BE SAVED, ACTS CHAPTER FOUR VERSE 12, KNOWING THESE THINGS WHO DO YOU FOLLOW TODAY? DO YOU KNOW JESUS? DO YOU BELIEVE IN JESUS? HAVE YOU CONFESSED HIS NAME? HAVE YOU REPENTED OF YOUR SINS? HAVE YOU BEEN BURIED WITH CHRIST IN BAPTISM WASHING AWAY THOSE SINS THAT YOU AS WELL MIGHT BE FULL OF THAT GRACE AND TRUTH BEING THE CHILD OF GOD? YOU KNOW, IF YOU HAVE DONE THOSE THINGS PRAISE GOD! BUT IF NOT, WHY NOT MAKE TODAY THE DAY OF SALVATION? OBEYING GOD IN EACH AND EVERY WAY!<br><br>

      

      CLOSING COMMENTS<br><br>

      AGAIN, LET ME THANK YOU FOR CHOOSING TO BE WITH US THIS MORNING. I HOPE WE ALL HAVE BEEN ENCOURAGED THROUGH OUR TIME SPENT TOGETHER. PLEASE REMEMBER, YOU ARE INVITED TO JOIN US EVERY SUNDAY MORNING AT 7:30, AS WE COMMIT OURSELVES TO THIS SERVICE OF GOD. <br><br>

      NOW LET ME ASK IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ABOUT TODAY’S LESSON? MAYBE, YOU WOULD LIKE A FREE TRANSCRIPT OR A FREE CASSETTE TAPE OF THIS PROGRAM? POSSIBLY, WE COULD ASSIST YOU WITH FREE BIBLE MATERIALS OR FREE BIBLE CORRESPONDENCE COURSES? NO MATTER WHAT YOUR NEED IS, PLEASE CONTACT US AT THE FOLLOWING ADDRESS:  <br><br>

The Living Word

2540 N. Kansas Expressway 

Springfield, Mo.  65803<br><br>



Many of these materials are also available on our website:  

That address is: www.thelivingwordprogram.com

<br><br>

Or if you prefer, you may call us at:

(417) 869-2284<br><br>

      HOW WONDROUS IT IS TO KNOW THAT OUR SAVIOR IS FULL OF GRACE AND TRUTH! THERE IS NO OTHER GOD BUT OUR GOD! THE QUESTION IS, “HAVE YOU RESPONDED TO HIS GRACE AND TRUTH?” BRETHREN AND FRIENDS, MAY WAS ALL KEEP IN MIND THAT HEAVEN WILL TRULY BE WORTH IT ALL!<br><br>