Grace and truth are two essential attributes of God that are perfectly demonstrated in Jesus Christ. Both grace and truth originate from God and are inseparably linked together. While grace emphasizes God’s unconditional love, mercy, and forgiveness, truth reveals God’s unchanging character and standards. Understanding how grace and truth work together is foundational to understanding God’s plan of salvation for humanity.
Definition of Grace
The word “grace” literally means unmerited favor. Grace is God’s free and undeserved gift offered to sinful humanity. Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.” Salvation comes not by our own effort or merit but by God’s favor which we could never earn or deserve. Grace humbles us because we contribute nothing to our salvation; it is wholly God’s initiative and work.
Grace is normally contrasted with the law, performance, and works. Romans 6:14 states, “For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace.” God’s grace supersedes the Old Testament law. Grace is God mercifully providing salvation apart from the law which no one could perfectly keep. Grace also supersedes any human efforts to work for or earn salvation.
Grace highlights several key attributes of God. Grace reveals God’s mercy and lovingkindness. The Psalms often link God’s grace with His mercy, steadfast love, and compassion (Psalm 103:4,8; Psalm 86:15). Grace also reveals God’s generosity. Grace reflects His desire to freely lavish salvation and blessings on undeserving people.
Definition of Truth
Truth refers to the attributes, character, and Word of God which embody absolute truth, holiness, and perfection. Psalm 117:2 states, “the truth of the Lord endures forever.” God’s truth represents that which is genuine, real, uncompromising, and upright.
Jesus Christ perfectly embodied God’s truth during His ministry on earth. He declared in John 14:6, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life.” As the living Word of God, Jesus flawlessly revealed the truth of God’s standards and character. Jesus declared in John 17:17, “[Father] sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.” God’s Word written in Scripture provides the foundation of truth.
Truth deals with the reality of who God is and what He expects, as opposed to man’s perception or desires. Psalm 119 repeatedly highlights God’s commands, laws, precepts, and statutes as truth. Truth distinguishes what is holy and righteous from what is sinful and detestable to God. Ephesians 4:24 instructs believers to “put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.”
Truth and Grace Work Together
While grace and truth may seem like competing concepts, they perfectly coincide within God’s plan of redemption. God’s grace would not be what it is without His truth, and God’s truth would not have the impact it does without His grace. One old saying goes: Grace and truth kiss each other.
Let’s examine a few ways grace and truth interconnect with one another:
- Jesus Christ embodied both grace and truth. John 1:14 declares, “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth.” God’s full revelation of grace and truth is perfectly embodied in Christ.
- Grace necessitates truth. God’s grace means little without a true understanding of God’s holiness which exposes mankind’s utter sinfulness and need for salvation. God’s grace is prompted by the truth of man’s fallen condition. As Romans 3:23 states, “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”
- Truth necessitates grace. God’s absolute truth uncompromisingly exposes mankind’s inability to merit salvation outside of His grace. Truth eliminates any hope in man’s own goodness and reveals his desperate need for God’s grace.
- Grace highlights truth’s blessings. Grace illuminates the positive benefits resulting from obedience to God’s wise commands. Walking in God’s truth brings blessings when empowered by His grace.
- Truth qualifies grace’s freedom. Grace is not a license to sin at will. Truth still upholds God’s standards for Christian living. Romans 6:1 asks critically, “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound?”
- Truth condemns; Grace redeems. Truth without grace leads either to self-righteousness or despair. Grace without truth leads to careless living. Truth identifies the deadly cancer of sin, while grace provides the cure of Christ’s redemption.
Grace Comes First
While grace and truth operate together, grace is primary. Grace sets the stage for truth. The New Testament never tells believers to live by truth empowered by grace. But it repeatedly exhorts living by grace guided by truth. Titus 2:11-12 proclaims, “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.” Grace births the Christian life. Ongoing grace then trains believers into greater truth and obedience.
Ephesians 2:8-10 highlights that salvation by grace always precedes good works empowered by grace: “For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” Grace comes first and then equips us unto good works.
The superiority and centrality of grace guards against the errors of legalism and works-based righteousness. Grace keeps God’s demands in perspective, while still upholding truth. Grace constrains truth from being wielded in an overbearing, crushing way. Likewise, truth prevents grace from being distorted into an excuse for ungodliness.
Grace Builds on Truth
While grace has priority over truth, this does not downplay the vital importance of truth. Without truth, grace loses its essential meaning and power. Truth provides the necessary framework for grace to bestow its blessings.
For example, grace is amplified by the truth of God’s holiness. A low view of God’s unblemished righteousness would diminish grace’s kindness. But God’s perfection spotlights the wonder of grace. As 1 Timothy 1:14 says, “The grace of our Lord overflowed for me with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.” A higher view of truth enlarges grace.
Truth also gives meaning to grace’s offer of mercy. Grace is not leniency or pretense, but grounded in the truths of justice, atonement, and forgiveness. Romans 3:25-26 says, “[God] put [Christ] forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. It was to show his righteousness at the present time, so that he might be just and the justifier of the one who has faith in Jesus.” Grace works in conjunction with, not independent from, truth.
Grace Upholds Truth
Just as truth gives power to grace, grace likewise increases the impact of truth. While truth reveals God’s uncompromising holiness, grace makes obedience possible. Left to themselves, God’s high demands would crush fallen mankind. But grace transforms and empowers believers to walk in God’s truth.
2 Corinthians 3:17-18 states, “Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom. And we all, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another. For this comes from the Lord who is the Spirit.” God’s Spirit uses grace to free and empower believers to reflect God’s glory. Grace fuels the process of sanctification.
Furthermore, grace upholds truth by providing forgiveness when believers stumble. 1 John 1:8 reminds, “If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us.” But 1 John 1:9 continues, “If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” Grace offers pardon when believers repent after failing to uphold truth. Grace helps truth promote holiness without crushing the repentant.
Grace Purifies Motives
Grace also complements truth by purifying obedience to God from improper motives. Truth alone can produce legalistic compliance based on pride or fear. But grace stimulates heartfelt love, gratitude and delight in God. 2 Corinthians 5:14 says, “For the love of Christ controls us…” Grace fosters obeying God based on relationship, not just external rules.
Because of grace, believers can boldly approach God and obey out of love. Hebrews 4:16 invites, “Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.” Grace empowers wholehearted obedience to God’s truth.
Grace Magnifies Truth
When grace and truth work in symphony together, truth is magnified. Grace boosts appreciation for God’s truth, while truth enhances grace’s kindness. Grace awakens more passion for truth, while truth rouses greater amazement at grace.
Psalm 40:10-11 highlights the magnifying interplay between grace and truth: “I have not hidden your deliverance [grace] within my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness [truth] and your salvation [grace]. I have not concealed your steadfast love [grace] and your faithfulness [truth] from the great congregation.” Proclaiming one intensifies both.
Likewise, the powerful effects of grace amplify the fruits of walking in truth. Colossians 1:3-6 states, “We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love that you have for all the saints, because of the hope laid up for you in heaven. Of this you have heard before in the word of the truth, the gospel, which has come to you, as indeed in the whole world it is bearing fruit and increasing.” Grace multiplies truth’s harvest.
Grace Restrains Truth’s Abuse
In addition to magnifying truth, grace powerfully restrains truth’s potential abuse. Mishandled truth breed concepts like works righteousness, legalism, judgmentalism, and self-righteousness. But grace constrains truth from being twisted into an instrument of condemnation and control.
Romans 6:1 raises an important caution: “What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” Grace is no license to downplay truth’s standards of holiness. But conversely, truth should not be wielded as a club. Grace prevents truth from being distorted into legalistic bondage.
Likewise, Jesus demonstrated grace preventing condemnation when the Pharisees wanted to stone the adulterous woman. Jesus upheld truth saying, “Let him who is without sin among you be the first to throw a stone at her” (John 8:7). But He showed grace when He told her, “Neither do I condemn you; go, and from now on sin no more” (John 8:11).
Truth Clarifies Grace’s Message
On the other hand, truth prevents grace’s message from being watered down or distorted. Just as grace guards against truth’s excesses, truth also qualifies grace. Truth keeps grace anchored in the bedrock reality of God’s holiness and salvation through Christ.
Jude 1:4 warns, “For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ.” Truth exposes false teachings that try to distort grace.
Likewise, truth protects grace from being presumed upon or cheapened. Romans 6:1-2 asks: “Are we to continue in sin that grace may abound? By no means! How can we who died to sin still live in it?” Truth confronts wrong assumptions that grace condones ongoing unrepentant sinning.
Conclusion
Grace and truth work hand in hand. Grace offers God’s undeserved forgiveness and empowerment which highlight His loving kindness and mercy. Truth upholds God’s standards which reveal His holiness and perfection. Together they provide the full picture of God’s nature and glorious salvation plan in Jesus Christ. Truth gives grace meaning, while grace makes truth life-giving. Whenever grace or truth are divorced from one another, imbalance ensues. But when held together, grace and truth beautifully magnify one another and God’s redemptive work.