What Is Grace Without Truth?

What Is Grace Without Truth?

Grace without truth is deception. If Jesus had come with grace but without the truth, we would still be in our sins, and the angel’s word to Joseph would not have been fulfilled: “And she will bring forth a Son, and you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins.” Matt. 1:20-21.

The spirit of Antichrist has worked hard to make grace appear so great and glorious that it covers all sin, thereby proving God’s love for mankind. He presents the truth as something that belongs to the law, as an accusation of Satan, as something Jesus has fulfilled in our place. They say that the gospel is all grace, and God sees us in Jesus as being perfect. His life is imputed to us by faith. Truth is something which is supposed to be heard by those who do not believe that Jesus died for us on Calvary so that they can see they are sinners and are in need of having their sins forgiven. Once they have come to faith in Jesus, and the forgiveness of their sins, they are under the blood. To speak about sins “believers” live in is considered an accusation of Satan, and then the shout goes up, “You shall not judge!”

Millions of so-called Christians live in this satanic deception. You get a clear understanding of this when you read the apostle John’s three epistles. He is called “the apostle of love,” and rightly so. But why is he called that? The word “grace” is found only once (by way of a greeting) in his epistles, but the word “truth” appears constantly. Perhaps it would have been more apt if he were called “the apostle of truth”? Jesus called him “son of thunder.” Mark 3:17.

Generally speaking, it is quite significant how believers read the Bible. When they read that John wrote much about love, they do not read how he defines love. The word “love” in our days has come to mean “tolerance”; one is supposed to overlook all sin and unrighteousness and not judge. Then you supposedly preach Jesus, grace, and the blood. This is the gospel. This is how most people have ended up being deceived by the Antichrist.

Nevertheless, the name “apostle of love” is a perfectly apt name for John. He saw the deception into which the spirit of Antichrist was leading the people, and he loved them so fervently that he did everything to save them. That is why he writes over and over again, for example: “If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth.” He makes it plain that we are to practice the truth. “He who says, ‘I know Him,’ and does not keep His commandments, is a liar, and the truth is not in him.” “He who says he abides in Him ought himself also to walk just as He walked.” “Therefore, if I come, I will call to mind the deeds which he does . . . .” This preaching does not have much in common with the understanding that religious people have of the gospel of grace. But what do we want with grace if we do not love the truth? We are to be saved from sin by grace!

Moses came with the law, but not with grace. This is why the people could not be saved from sin by the law; the intention was that the law was to bring them to an acknowledgment of their sin. Those who loved the law and came to this acknowledgment were also prepared to receive Jesus, who was full of grace and truth. Rom. 5:20-21. Therefore sin cannot have dominion over us if we are under grace and not under law. Rom. 6:14. By being obedient to the gospel we are freed from sin, and we become God’s servants. Rom. 6:17-18, 22. We receive grace to live this life and help at the right time from the throne of grace so that we can be without sin in the hour of trial, just as Jesus was. Heb. 4:15-16. God will see to it that all those who do not love the truth will be deceived. They run after signs and wonders and entertainment. 2 Tim. 4:1-5; 2 Thess. 2:8-14. Only by believing the truth can we make use of grace and partake of salvation through sanctification by the Spirit so that we can gain the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.