Truth and Grace

These two virtues seem incompatible yet we should endeavour to be both fully grace people and fully truth people – at all times. In reality though we generally lean in one direction more than the other. Those who are biased towards grace are pleasant to be around, accepting us for who we are yet they never help us become who we should be

Truth and grace – it is not either/or, but should be both

because as they are more concerned with being loved they fail to present the truth to us. In contrast, those predisposed to truth, speak out against injustice, oppression, and evil, holding to their convictions, principles and maybe non-biblical values at the expense of sharing the love of Jesus. They come across as being judgemental and intimidating as they fearlessly declare the truth (as they see it) unconcerned even if it means being unloved and rejected by those they present their views to.

Jesus fully lived by both grace and truth as shown by His response to people and situations. With grace, He welcomed searching sinners and tax collectors, even eating with them, was compassionate to hurting people, healed the sick and welcomed the little children. Yet He also was not afraid to condemn many of the religious leaders for being liars and hypocrites, while also calling all those who would be His disciples to take up their cross daily and follow Him (Mt 23:13-33; Lk 9:23). Observe how He handled the woman caught in adultery (Jn 8:3-11). The Pharisees, who were solely truth people, demanded the woman be judged and punished by stoning to death as the law required (Lev 20:10; Deut 22:22). Note the wording of this verse “the law was given through Moses; yet grace and truth came through Jesus Christ” (Jn 1:17). A few verses earlier it is recorded, Jesus was “full of grace and truth” (Jn 1:14). Merciful bystanders would have wanted Jesus to take pity on the woman and let her go, recognising “we all sin and fall short of the glory of God” (Rom 3:23). When He confronted her accusers about their failings He suggested, “The one without sin cast the first stone”. Convicted of their own sin, they all left. With grace, Jesus said to the immoral woman, “I don’t condemn you” and with truth stated, “Go now and leave your life of sin”. Jesus had a balanced approach by extending grace but also calling for a lifestyle change – and we should try to follow His example.

We too should endeavour to demonstrate the grace of Jesus in love, which leads to the truth of Jesus that liberates. By loving people as they are we earn the right to speak Jesus into their situation for all people have the potential for improvement through the transforming power of the Spirit. When we offend everybody, we’ve declared truth without grace. When we offend nobody, we’ve softened the truth in the name of grace. The cheap gospel endorses verbally ‘accept Jesus and you can carry on the same lifestyle as before’. Yet this is contrary to the Bible’s teaching of putting off the old life and put on the radically different life (Rom 6:1,2; 2 Cor 5:17; Eph 4:22-24).

By divine grace, we too can experience eternal life, coming to Him in our brokenness and pain, with humility and repentance, and in faith realising it is impossible to clean up our act before we come to Him as only He can bring cleansing and relief from the burden of sin. It is only when we acknowledge we are sinners we can be set free. As wayward

God loves us too much to leave us the way we are

children, who have squandered their inheritance and lived a rebellious life, we are able to come home into the welcoming arms of our heavenly Father (Lk 15:20). It is then, the Holy Spirit within, will convict us of ungodly thoughts, words and actions and as we co-operate with Him we will come into conformity to Christ, for it is as we know the truth (Jesus) and respond obediently to Him we will be set free (Jn 8:32,36; Rom 8:29).

It is our responsibility as fellow believers to be our brother’s keeper, asking the tough questions to challenge and hold people accountable, helping them in their walk with God, yet always humbly speaking the truth in love and accepting correction ourselves (Gal 6:1; Eph 4:15,25). Unless we courageously confront, what is tolerated will likely result in their downfall. Our words may cause offence but faithful are the wounds of a friend who desires the best for the other (Prov 27:6). Tough love considers the long-term benefit. When we speak the ‘hard’ truth, we must ensure it is done in a gracious manner with the motive to bring about restoration. We are not given the freedom to point out every perceived fault we see in another. The early church leaders identified some key issues in the lifestyles of those turning to Christ and it was only those they highlighted so “Not to make it difficult or burden them” (Act 15:19,28). A non-threating yet powerful avenue is interceding on another’s behalf that the Holy Spirit will reveal further matters to them as they grow in the faith. God works in every believer in different ways and at different times. God expects us to live by His specific principles as recorded in the Bible. We are to show love in all our interactions with others aware some topics are issues of conscience – with what one believer considers acceptable another may not (Rom 14:5; 1 Cor 8:7,12).