November 8

Grace and truth came by Jesus Christ. - John 1:17.

GRACE means favour, and especially undeserved favour. Indeed without this it cannot be grace. Grace is the darling word of inspiration, and is unspeakably dear to all those who feel their Spiritual condition. But how did this grace come? By Jesus Christ. First, Because he revealed it. He published it as a doctrine, and he gave clearer and fuller views of it than were ever heard before. Grace came by Jesus Christ; “grace was poured into his lips,” and all men “wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.”

Secondly, Because he is the effect of it. This is his own testimony: “God so loved the world as to give his only-begotten Son, that whosoever believeth on him might not perish, but have everlasting life;” and Paul, his own inspired servant, said: “To show in the ages to come the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness toward us by Christ Jesus.” The earth on which we dwell is full of goodness, and his goodness appears in providing us not only with relief but with indulgences. But Spiritual blessings are infinitely above these in their nature and in their value; and what is the chief of these but the “consolation of Israel,” the “desire of all nations,” the “hope of all the ends of the earth.” Grace comes by the Son, and all the blessings God gives us. Grace comes by friendship, and the charms of it; but “thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift,” grace came by Jesus Christ.

Thirdly, Because he was the medium of it. He is the Mediator between God and man, the channel of all divine communication to us. God was under no obligation to save us; and therefore it follows that he had a right to determine the way in which he would be gracious to the guilty, and as he had the right so he had the power. Every thing that is worthy the name of grace in the Scriptures we find flowing from his mediation.

Is it the purpose of our salvation? This was “given us in Christ Jesus before the world began.” Is it the exceeding great and precious promises? “They are all yea and amen in Christ Jesus.” Is it redemption? “In him we have redemption through his blood, even the forgiveness of sins.” Is it justification? “By him all that believe are justified from all things from which they could not be justified by the law of Moses.”

Lastly, Grace came by Jesus Christ, because he is the exemplifier of it. We know not what kind of body Jesus Christ had-whether it was tall or short, whether it was full or slender, whether it was plain or beauteous; as far, indeed, as beauty depends upon the expressions of the inward sentiment, he must have been fairer than the children of men. But we know what a soul he has; that

“His heart is made of tenderness,

His bowels melt with love.”

If we go back to the prophecies given before time, there it was foretold that “he shall come down like the rain upon the mown grass, as showers that water the earth;” “a bruised reed shall he not break, and the smoking flax shall he not quench.” If we go forward and look into his history, there we only see grace. What is the image of his person? “A lamb.” What is the emblem of his Spirit? “A dove.” What is the character of his kingdom? “Righteousness, and peace, and joy in the Holy Ghost.” If we turn to his miracles, we shall find that they were not displays of wrath, nor of the pride of mere power; they were desirable, useful, necessary, merciful, and gracious. Nor can we read his history, or witness his conduct to his disciples, without feeling that “grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.”