Not to be cute or trendy, this question is posed to help us better grasp the privileges and responsibilities of knowing and following the world\u2019s one true Lord and Savior. The answer to the question will come shortly.<\/p>\n
Because Jesus is a wonderful Savior, we enjoy the very best blessings and promises by trusting Him. These blessings and promises represent God\u2019s grace \u2014 His unearned favor realized in some measure now and reserved without measure for us in heavenly glory to be revealed in due time, all at Christ\u2019s expense.<\/p>\n
Because Jesus is a mighty Lord, we are called to the highest standards of faith, love, and life \u2014 obeying and following Him in sacrificial service to God and others. These standards represent God\u2019s truth in Christ. His Word and Spirit empower us to become what we would never be without Him.<\/p>\n
God\u2019s Word made flesh was full of these two marvelous attributes, according to John 1:14: God\u2019s grace and God\u2019s truth. So that we don\u2019t miss this thought, verse 17 repeats it: \u201cgrace and truth came through Jesus Christ.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jesus\u2019 grace and truth aren\u2019t confined to John\u2019s Gospel, however. Great words of gospel grace appear in red letters in all four Gospels, and red-letter words of timeless truth accompany them there, as the chart on the next page confirms.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
All four Gospels mix wonderful words of who Christ\u2019s disciples are by grace<\/em> with difficult words of what Christ\u2019s disciples do in truth<\/em>, like this:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n So, what does Johnny Cash have to do with being a disciple of Jesus Christ?<\/p>\n Johnny\u2019s life was a mess \u2014 until someone made the difference for him. Johnny\u2019s someone first loved him, accepted him, forgave him, motivated and inspired him so fully that his life was raised to a whole new level of dignity and respect for God, for others, and even for himself. Everything about Johnny changed when he met her.<\/p>\n It was then that Johnny could write and sing about June Carter Cash: I\u2019ll be true. I won\u2019t turn to the right or to the left. I\u2019m going straight on with you and you alone, as long as we both live. \u201cBecause you\u2019re mine, I walk the line.\u201d<\/p>\n This, I think, is a fair comparison to being one of Christ\u2019s disciples. Because of Jesus\u2019 love for us, we are learning to love Him with all our heart, mind, soul, and strength \u2014 and to love our neighbors as we love ourselves.<\/p>\n Because He promises us the kingdom, we will do what the Father says in His Word and gives us to do through His Spirit. Our light will shine before men as we feed, clothe, care, give, and go \u2014 to the least of Jesus\u2019 brethren.<\/p>\n Because Christ gave His life as a ransom, we will deny ourselves, take up our cross, and gladly lose our lives to follow Him and lift Him up \u2014 around the corner and around the world.<\/p>\n Because Christ has forgiven us and declared us as righteous as if we\u2019d never sinned, we will surrender all to follow Him.<\/p>\n Because Christ has given us life abundant and eternal, we will continue in His Word. Because He loves us and we love Him, we will keep His commandments.<\/p>\n Jesus, because we are Yours and You are ours, we walk the line of grace and truth.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Matthew<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 grace: \u201cBlessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven\u201d (5:3). Christ promises God\u2019s kingdom to those who confess their sins and their need of a Savior, and who repent: That\u2019s grace!<\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 truth: \u201cNot everyone who says to Me, \u2018Lord, Lord,\u2019 shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven\u201d (7:21). Those who feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned, and show mercy to the lowest will inherit the kingdom (25:34-40).<\/p>\n Mark<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 grace: \u201cFor even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many\u201d (10:45). Christ\u2019s mission on earth had the primary purpose of serving, giving, and paying a sin price we could never pay.<\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 truth: Following Him can cost us everything. \u201cWhoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. \u00a0<\/sup>For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel\u2019s will save it\u201d (8:34, 35).<\/p>\n Luke<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 grace: One man in church lifted himself to look down on others, while the second confessed his sin humbly \u2014 and went home justified rather than the other. \u201cFor Jesus\u2019 truth: \u201cWhoever of you does not forsake all that he has cannot be My disciple\u201d (14:33). This give-it-all-you-got principle is not just for a few elite disciples but for all (see also Matthew 13:44-46; Luke 18:22).<\/p>\n John<\/strong><\/p>\n Jesus\u2019 grace: \u201cHe who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment Jesus\u2019 truth: \u201cIf you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. . . . If you love Me, keep My commandments\u201d (8:31; 14:15).BA<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Not to be cute or trendy, this question is posed to help us better grasp the privileges and responsibilities of knowing and following the world\u2019s one true Lord and Savior. The answer to the question will come shortly.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":287,"featured_media":2231,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"sync_status":"","episode_type":"","audio_file":"","castos_file_data":"","podmotor_file_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n
Christ and Cash<\/h2>\n
According to . . .<\/strong><\/h2>\n
\n. . . he who humbles himself shall be exalted\u201d (18:9-14).<\/p>\n
\n. . .\u201d (5:24).<\/p>\n