John 1:16-17 ESV
16 From His fullness 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 receieved 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,(license for immorality) 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 sometimes 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.
In some churches that Preach on HOLINESS, it is often preached not in Love, but in self- righteousness. Truth must always be preached in Love.
Ephesians 4:15 New International Version
15 Instead, speaking the truth in love, we will grow to become in every respect the mature body of him who is the head, that is, Christ.
