John 1:16-17 NIV
16 From His full – ness we have all received grace upon grace. 17 For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
Notice that it says GRACE and TRUTH came through Jesus Christ. While it is true that we have received a super abundance of GRACE (unmerited favor) through Jesus, we must never forget to preach the TRUTH of God’s word.
GRACE without TRUTH tends to lead us to LASCIVIOUSNESS, (unrestrained freedom) and TRUTH without GRACE tends to lead us to LEGALISM.
Jude 4 New International Version (NIV) (Warning Scripture)
4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about[a] long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality (LASCIVIOUSNESS) and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
In some Churches where an abundance of GRACE is preached, the preaching of HOLINESS is neglected. It is my opinion based on scriptures that BOTH must be preached.
Hebrews 12:14 New International Version (NIV)
Warning and Encouragement
14 Make every effort to live in peace with everyone and to be holy; without holiness no one will see the Lord.
Titus 2:11-14 King James Version (KJV)
11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.