How does John 1:17 connect to the teachings in Romans 6:14? The Passage at a Glance John 1:17: “For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Romans 6:14: “For sin shall not be master over you, for you are not under law, but under grace.” Key Terms: Law, Grace, Truth • Law – God’s righteous standard, revealed through Moses, exposing sin (Romans 3:20). • Grace – God’s unearned favor and empowering presence, brought and embodied by Jesus (Ephesians 2:8-9). • Truth – The full revelation of God’s character and plan, perfectly expressed in Christ (John 14:6). The Mosaic Law: Gift with Limits • Holy, just, and good (Romans 7:12), yet unable to give life or free from sin (Galatians 3:21). • Functions as a tutor leading us to Christ by highlighting our need for a Savior (Galatians 3:24). • Pronounces condemnation on every transgressor (James 2:10). Grace in Jesus: Fullness and Power • Grace and truth “came” (literally, were realized) through the incarnation, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus. • Grace not only forgives but trains us to deny ungodliness and live righteously (Titus 2:11-12). • Because grace is anchored in Christ’s finished work, it supplies the Spirit who enables obedience from the heart (Romans 8:3-4). Connection between John 1:17 and Romans 6:14 • John 1:17 declares the historical shift: Moses → Law; Jesus → Grace and Truth. • Romans 6:14 applies that shift personally: believers now stand “under grace,” so sin’s mastery is broken. • The same grace that justified us (John 1:17) is the grace that sanctifies us (Romans 6:14), rendering the Law’s condemning power inoperative. • Truth accompanies grace; therefore, freedom from Law’s condemnation does not license sin but aligns us with the truthful character of Christ (John 8:32, 36). Implications for Daily Living • Rest in the accomplished grace of Christ—no condemnation (Romans 8:1). • Rely on grace’s power to overcome temptation; sin’s dominion is legally and practically dethroned. • Embrace Scripture’s truth: the Law remains a moral compass, yet grace is the realm in which obedience becomes possible. • Walk by the Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18); the Spirit mediates the very grace John highlights and Romans expounds. |
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