Sermons on John 1:17

John 1:17 Interpretation:

Embracing Wisdom: Trust, Grace, and Humility in Life (Encounter Church Fort Worth) offers a unique analogy for John 1:17 by comparing the law to a prescription from a doctor—something prescribed for healing, but only effective if fully taken. The sermon distinguishes between mercy and grace, defining grace not as unmerited favor but as the "empowering ability of Christ in me to be and do everything that Christ has called me to do." The law is likened to the truth that "digs around" the unfruitful tree, while grace is the fertilizer that empowers growth. This metaphor, drawn from Jesus’ parable of the barren fig tree, is used to illustrate how grace and truth must work together for transformation, not in opposition or isolation. The sermon also references the original Greek, noting the importance of "grace and truth" as a pair, and emphasizes that both must be "written on the tablet of your heart," not just intellectually assented to.

Understanding Grace Through the Law and Knowing God (MLJTrust) interprets John 1:17 by emphasizing the necessity of understanding the law before one can truly appreciate grace. The sermon presents a detailed theological argument that the law, given through Moses, reveals the holiness and demands of God, and that only by being convicted by the law’s standards can one grasp the magnitude of grace and truth brought by Jesus Christ. The preacher uses the analogy of the law as a "Divine x-ray" that exposes the true condition of the heart, making the need for grace apparent. The sermon also highlights the two tables of the law (love for God and love for neighbor) and insists that the order is crucial: one must start with God before addressing human relationships, a perspective that shapes the understanding of grace as the answer to the law’s condemnation.

From Law to Grace: Understanding Our Need for Christ (MLJTrust) provides a complementary but distinct interpretation, focusing on the law’s function to define, particularize, and intensify the awareness of sin, especially through the commandment against coveting. The sermon draws on Paul’s teaching in Romans 7, explaining that the law not only reveals sin but can even provoke sinful desires due to human depravity. The preacher uses the metaphor of the law as a prosecuting attorney, interrogating the soul with specific questions and exposing not just actions but inward desires. Only when the law has done its work—convicting the heart of its utter sinfulness—can the grace and truth of Jesus be fully appreciated as deliverance from condemnation.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) offers a detailed and nuanced interpretation of John 1:17, emphasizing that the law’s primary function is to reveal humanity’s utter helplessness and need for grace, and that Christ is the “end of the law for righteousness” for all who believe. The sermon uses the analogy of the law as a mirror, showing us our true condition, and as a schoolmaster leading us to Christ. It uniquely highlights the dual danger of either under-emphasizing or over-emphasizing the law, and insists that salvation must always be thought of in terms of the law, but never as something we achieve by keeping it. The preacher draws a vivid analogy between the Christian’s relationship to the law and a child learning piano: the law is like the mechanical exercises, but grace enables the believer to play with freedom and joy, as a concert pianist does. The sermon also references the original Greek, noting the contrast between “given” (law) and “came” (grace and truth), to stress the active, personal arrival of grace in Christ.

From Law to Grace: The Power of Christ (MLJTrust) interprets John 1:17 by focusing on the superiority and abundance of grace over law. The sermon uses the metaphor of the law as a “finger-post” or “schoolmaster” pointing to Christ, but then moves to a unique emphasis on the “super-abounding” nature of grace, drawing on the Greek word for “abound” in Romans 5:20. The preacher also uses the analogy of wages (law) versus gift (grace), and the parable of the laborers in the vineyard, to illustrate the radical difference between the legalistic demands of the law and the free, lavish giving of grace. The law is described as external, written on stone, while grace is internal, written on the heart and mind, enabling true obedience from within.

Understanding the Connection Between Law and Grace (MLJTrust) provides a distinctive interpretation by arguing that the law itself contains elements of grace, especially in the ceremonial law and sacrificial system, which prophetically point to Christ. The sermon insists that law and grace are not opposites but are organically connected, with the law serving as the vestibule or introduction to grace. The preacher highlights the prophetic function of the law, especially in its types and shadows, and insists that the law’s ultimate purpose is to “shut us up” to Christ, making us see our need for forgiveness, new birth, and power—all of which are provided in grace.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust, Remembrance Day sermon) interprets John 1:17 by applying the law’s neglect to the moral and social decay of the modern world. The sermon uniquely argues that the abandonment of God’s law leads to apostasy, loss of standards, and ultimately chaos, both individually and societally. The preacher uses the analogy of education—contrasting rote learning (law) with modern permissiveness—to illustrate the necessity of negatives and details in moral instruction, paralleling the law’s function in spiritual life. The sermon also contends that the world’s false view of love and grace, detached from law, is at the root of its problems.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust, prologue focus) interprets John 1:17 by warning against two errors: dismissing the law entirely or mixing law and grace. The sermon uses the analogy of the dawn and midday sun to explain the relationship between law (preparation) and grace (fulfillment), and draws on the parable of the two debtors (Luke 7) to argue that only those who deeply feel the law’s condemnation can truly appreciate grace. The preacher also highlights the danger of antinomianism (lawlessness) and the tendency to seek happiness rather than holiness, both of which stem from a misunderstanding of the law’s ongoing role.

Embracing God's Transformative Grace in Our Lives (David Guzik) interprets John 1:17 by contrasting the principle of law (given through Moses) with the principle of grace (revealed through Jesus Christ). Guzik uses a vivid analogy of giving a $5 bill to illustrate that grace is undeserved favor, rooted in the giver (God), not the recipient. He emphasizes that while the law operates on earning and deserving, grace operates on believing and receiving. Guzik also notes that grace is not just the starting point of the Christian life but the ongoing principle by which believers relate to God, and he uses everyday scenarios (like family arguments before church) to show how people default to a works-based mindset, missing the liberating reality of grace.

The Law's Purpose: Leading Us to Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) offers a unique and detailed interpretation of John 1:17, focusing on the law’s function as a “schoolmaster” (using the Greek term “paidagogos” from Galatians 3) to lead people to Christ. The sermon argues that the law was never intended as a means of salvation but was given to reveal sin, expose human inability, and drive people to seek grace in Christ. The preacher uses the analogy of being “shut up” by the law—hemmed in and silenced in self-righteousness—so that one is forced to rely on Christ alone. This interpretation is deeply rooted in Pauline theology and highlights the law’s pedagogical and preparatory role.

Embracing Grace: The Power of Justification in Christ (SermonIndex.net) interprets John 1:17 by distinguishing between the Old Covenant’s “lovingkindness” (Hebrew: hesed) and the New Covenant’s “grace.” The sermon introduces a novel three-step progression: lovingkindness (Old Covenant), justification (the missing link), and grace (New Covenant). The preacher argues that justification—being declared righteous before God—is the necessary bridge that allows the love of God to become grace within the believer, not just over them. This is illustrated with the example that even a lifetime of sinless living would not suffice without justification, which is uniquely available through Christ.

Embracing Grace: Our Transformation in Christ (SermonIndex.net) interprets John 1:17 by emphasizing that grace is not merely the opposite of sin but the opposite of law. The sermon uses the metaphor of two trees—the tree of Moses (law) and the tree of Christ (grace)—to illustrate that true transformation and the life of Jesus are only possible through grace, not through striving to keep the law. The preacher also likens grace to a cloud or waterfall that continually covers and empowers the believer, making them “the richest person in the universe” regardless of external circumstances. This interpretation is marked by its focus on grace as the defining atmosphere and identity of the Christian life.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) offers a distinctive analogy for John 1:17, comparing truth to bones and grace to flesh. The sermon argues that truth alone, like a skeleton, is unattractive and even repellent, while grace without truth is like a jellyfish—lacking structure and conviction. The preacher insists that the glory of Christ is seen in the perfect balance of both, and that the church, as Christ’s body, can only reflect this balance when its members, each with their own leanings, work together. The sermon also provides a linguistic distinction between “mercy” and “grace,” asserting that mercy (unmerited favor) was present in the Old Testament, but true grace—defined as the power for victory over sin—only came through Jesus Christ. This is a notable departure from the common Christian definition of grace as simply unmerited favor.

Living in the Power of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) and "Embracing Grace: Living Truthfully and Forgiving Freely" (SermonIndex.net) both present a threefold framework for understanding grace in John 1:17: (1) grace as forgiveness of sins, (2) grace as power to overcome sin, and (3) grace as strength in physical or circumstantial weakness. They use the analogy of a mountain climber: mercy is the ambulance that helps after a fall, while grace is the strength that keeps one from falling in the first place. Both sermons also stress that grace is not merely forgiveness but a dynamic power for transformation, and they challenge the common language of being “covered by the blood,” insisting instead on the biblical language of being “cleansed by the blood.” They further argue that the New Covenant’s unique blessing is deliverance from the power of sin, not just forgiveness, contrasting this with the Old Covenant’s focus on external blessings.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) uniquely emphasizes the Greek nuance in John 1:17, noting that the word for “grace” in the Old Testament (as in Noah “finding grace”) is better translated as “favor,” and that the true New Testament grace is a new reality brought by Christ, not previously available. This shapes the understanding of John 1:17 as a radical shift in God’s dealings with humanity.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) also introduces the metaphor of the “wine and the whip” in ministry, drawn from the life of Jesus: sometimes ministry is about turning water into wine (grace), and sometimes it is about making a whip to drive out corruption (truth). This duality is presented as essential for building a healthy church.

John 1:17 Theological Themes:

Embracing Wisdom: Trust, Grace, and Humility in Life (Encounter Church Fort Worth) introduces the theme that grace is not merely pardon but empowerment—"the empowering ability of Christ in me"—and that truth without grace is incomplete, just as grace without truth is ineffective. The sermon insists that spiritual maturity involves embracing both, and that wisdom is found in the interplay of grace and truth, not in their separation.

Understanding Grace Through the Law and Knowing God (MLJTrust) presents the theme that the law’s primary function is to reveal the character of God and the true state of humanity, and that the world’s problems stem from reversing the biblical order (starting with human relationships rather than with God). The sermon argues that only by facing the law’s demands and our failure can we understand and receive the fullness of grace in Christ.

From Law to Grace: Understanding Our Need for Christ (MLJTrust) adds the theme that the law’s exposure of inward sin (especially coveting and desire) is essential for genuine repentance and appreciation of grace. The sermon also explores the paradox that the law, though good, can provoke sin in fallen humanity, thus magnifying the necessity and wonder of Christ’s grace.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) introduces the theme that assurance of salvation and joy in the Christian life are directly tied to a proper understanding of the believer’s relationship to the law. The sermon adds the fresh angle that both legalism and antinomianism are twin errors arising from a failure to grasp this relationship, and that true assurance comes from seeing oneself as “dead to the law” in Christ, yet empowered by the Spirit to fulfill the law in love.

From Law to Grace: The Power of Christ (MLJTrust) presents the distinctive theme of the “super-abounding” nature of grace, arguing that grace not only meets but vastly exceeds the demands and penalties of the law. The sermon explores the manifold aspects of grace—restraining, supporting, enabling, and preserving—and insists that grace “reigns” with power, not merely forgiving but transforming and empowering believers to live out God’s law from the heart.

Understanding the Connection Between Law and Grace (MLJTrust) develops the theme that the law is not merely a negative or preparatory force but is itself a vehicle of grace, especially in its sacrificial and ceremonial aspects. The sermon uniquely insists that the law’s types and shadows are prophetic, and that the law’s demands define the very content of grace: forgiveness, new birth, and spiritual power.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust, Remembrance Day) advances the theme that societal and moral collapse is the inevitable result of neglecting God’s law, and that true love and grace cannot exist apart from the foundation of law. The sermon’s fresh application is to modern culture, arguing that the loss of standards, discipline, and authority in society mirrors the spiritual consequences of rejecting the law.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust, prologue focus) adds the theme that the depth of one’s love for Christ is proportionate to one’s awareness of the law’s condemnation and the greatness of forgiveness received. The sermon also explores the danger of seeking happiness over holiness, and the subtlety of mixing law and grace, which leads to spiritual misery or superficiality.

Embracing God's Transformative Grace in Our Lives (David Guzik) introduces the theme that grace is the ongoing principle of the Christian life, not just its entry point. He adds the facet that many Christians unconsciously revert to a works-based relationship with God, leading to either pride or despair, and that true acceptance and joy come from embracing grace as the basis for God’s favor and acceptance.

The Law's Purpose: Leading Us to Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) presents the distinct theme that the law’s ultimate purpose is to make salvation by works impossible, thereby driving people to Christ. The sermon uniquely stresses that the law is not to be dismissed but used “lawfully” to convict of sin and point to grace, and that misunderstanding this relationship leads to spiritual confusion and lack of assurance.

Embracing Grace: The Power of Justification in Christ (SermonIndex.net) offers the fresh theological insight that justification is the essential prerequisite for experiencing grace. The preacher contends that without first being declared righteous, believers cannot access the power of grace, and that many Christians lack victory over sin because they skip this step, seeking grace without embracing their justified status.

Embracing Grace: Our Transformation in Christ (SermonIndex.net) adds the theme that grace is the believer’s new identity and environment, not just a tool for overcoming sin. The sermon highlights that grace is “God’s riches at Christ’s expense,” and that living under grace means seeing oneself as spiritually wealthy and empowered, which fundamentally changes the approach to obedience and spiritual struggle.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) introduces the theme that grace is not simply unmerited favor but is the divine power for victory over sin, a reality unavailable before Christ. The sermon distinguishes between mercy (forgiveness for the past) and grace (power for the future), arguing that the Old Testament saints received mercy but not grace as defined in the New Covenant. This redefinition challenges a widespread theological assumption and reframes the believer’s relationship to sin and sanctification.

Living in the Power of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) and "Embracing Grace: Living Truthfully and Forgiving Freely" (SermonIndex.net) both develop the theme that the New Covenant’s primary blessing is not material or physical (as in the Old Covenant), but spiritual: specifically, the power to overcome sin. They argue that the “health and wealth” gospel is an Old Covenant message, and that the true mark of being under grace is freedom from the dominion of sin. This is a significant theological shift from popular prosperity teachings.

Living in the Power of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) and "Embracing Grace: Living Truthfully and Forgiving Freely" (SermonIndex.net) also emphasize the necessity of forgiving others as a non-negotiable condition for receiving God’s forgiveness, drawing a direct line from the experience of grace to the practice of radical forgiveness. They stress that forgiveness does not require forgetting or reconciliation, but a deliberate choice not to hold the offense against the other, mirroring God’s own approach.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) adds a communal dimension, teaching that the church as the body of Christ can only manifest the fullness of grace and truth when its members, each with their own strengths and weaknesses, are intricately linked and minister together. This theme of corporate balance and interdependence is a nuanced application of John 1:17.

John 1:17 Historical and Contextual Insights:

Understanding Grace Through the Law and Knowing God (MLJTrust) provides historical context by explaining that the law was not invented by Moses but received from God, and that its two tables (duties to God and to neighbor) reflect the structure of ancient Israelite covenantal life. The sermon also situates the giving of the law within the broader narrative of Israel’s history, emphasizing its role in shaping both individual and communal identity.

From Law to Grace: Understanding Our Need for Christ (MLJTrust) offers contextual insight by clarifying that the law’s moral demands predate Sinai and are written on the hearts of all people, Jew and Gentile alike. The preacher references Paul’s argument in Romans 2 to show that conscience and natural law are universal, and that the Mosaic law was a re-articulation of these principles for a specific people at a specific time.

Grace and Truth: The Heart of the Gospel (MLJTrust) provides detailed historical context by describing the giving of the law at Sinai as the pinnacle of Old Testament revelation, emphasizing the uniqueness of Moses’ encounter with God and the mediation of the law through angels. The sermon also situates John 1:17 within the broader context of Jewish history and the persistent human tendency to ignore God’s message in favor of human solutions to societal problems.

Understanding the Connection Between Law and Grace (MLJTrust) offers historical insight into the function of the ceremonial law, explaining the significance of sacrifices, offerings, and the tabernacle as divinely instituted means of grace that pointed forward to Christ. The sermon also addresses the historical error of Israel in treating sacrifices as ends in themselves, and references the prophetic critique of empty ritualism in the Old Testament.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust, Remembrance Day) provides cultural context by tracing the decline of Western society’s moral standards to the abandonment of the law of God, referencing the influence of Victorian thinkers, the rise of secular moral societies, and the shift from absolute standards to utilitarianism, hedonism, and expediency. The sermon also discusses the historical development of educational theory as an analogy for the loss of moral discipline.

The Law's Purpose: Leading Us to Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) provides detailed historical context about the Jewish misunderstanding of the law during Jesus’ time, explaining that many Jews saw the law as a means of self-justification and righteousness. The sermon references the mediation of the law through angels to Moses and situates the discussion within the broader debates of the early church (e.g., Acts 15, Galatians), showing how the law’s purpose was debated and clarified in the apostolic era.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) provides historical context by contrasting the Old Covenant, where the law was central and the only “light” was the written word, with the New Covenant, where the “Word became flesh” and the light is now the life of Christ in believers. The sermon explains that in the Old Testament, the message was “come and hear” (Moses bringing the law), but in the New Testament, it is “come and see” (the life of Jesus and his followers). This shift from message to embodiment is rooted in the cultural and religious expectations of first-century Judaism and highlights the radical nature of Christ’s incarnation and the new way of relating to God.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) also references the cultural practice of “building Babylon” (institutional religion focused on doctrine and law) versus “building Jerusalem” (a community centered on life and relationship), situating John 1:17 within the broader narrative of God’s redemptive history.

John 1:17 Cross-References in the Bible:

Embracing Wisdom: Trust, Grace, and Humility in Life (Encounter Church Fort Worth) references the parable of the barren fig tree (Luke 13:6-9) to illustrate the interplay of grace and truth, as well as Paul’s exhortation to let conversation be "seasoned with grace" (Colossians 4:6) and to "stand by grace" (Romans 5:2). The sermon also alludes to Paul’s statement, "when I was a child, I spoke as a child..." (1 Corinthians 13:11), to connect spiritual maturity with the embrace of both grace and truth.

Understanding Grace Through the Law and Knowing God (MLJTrust) cross-references Mark 12:28-34 (the greatest commandment), Exodus 19-20 (the giving of the law), and Psalm 104 (God as sustainer), using these passages to reinforce the necessity of starting with God in all things. The sermon also references James 4 (the source of quarrels) and the teachings of Jesus on the law’s fulfillment (Matthew 5:17-20).

From Law to Grace: Understanding Our Need for Christ (MLJTrust) draws extensively on Romans 2, 3, 4, and 7 to explain the law’s function in defining sin, exposing inward desires, and bringing all humanity under condemnation. The sermon also references the story of David and Nathan (2 Samuel 12) to illustrate self-deception and the need for personal conviction of sin, as well as Psalm 51 (David’s repentance) and Matthew 5 (Jesus’ teaching on the heart’s intentions).

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) references multiple passages to support its interpretation of John 1:17, including Romans 10:4 (“Christ is the end of the law for righteousness”), Romans 3:20-24 (the law brings knowledge of sin, but righteousness comes by faith), Galatians 2:21 (if righteousness comes by law, Christ died in vain), Romans 6:14 (not under law but under grace), Romans 7:1-6 (dead to the law), Romans 8:1-2 (no condemnation in Christ), James 2 (failure in one point of the law is failure in all), Matthew 1:21 (Jesus saves from sins), Matthew 5:17 (Christ fulfills the law), Romans 13:8-10 (love fulfills the law), Titus 2:11-14 (grace teaches godliness), and 1 John 5:3 (God’s commandments are not grievous). Each reference is used to build the case that Christ fulfills the law both in obedience and penalty, and that grace empowers believers to live out the law in love.

From Law to Grace: The Power of Christ (MLJTrust) draws on Hebrews 8:6-13 (the new covenant with better promises), Romans 5:15-21 (grace abounds much more than sin), 2 Corinthians 8:9 (Christ’s poverty makes us rich), Ephesians 1:7, 2:7, 3:8 (riches of grace), 1 Peter 4:10 (manifold grace), James 4:4-6 (God gives more grace), Philippians 1:6, 4:13, 4:19 (God’s sustaining grace), John 10:28 (no one can pluck believers from Christ’s hand), Romans 8:3-4 (the law fulfilled in us by the Spirit), 1 John 3:8-9 (the seed of God prevents habitual sin), and Philippians 2:12-13 (God works in us to will and do). These references are used to show the richness, power, and internalization of grace.

Understanding the Connection Between Law and Grace (MLJTrust) references Galatians 3 (the law as schoolmaster), Hebrews 7 and 9 (the temporary nature of sacrifices), Deuteronomy 18:15 (Moses prophesies a greater prophet), Matthew 5:17 (Christ fulfills the law), Romans 3:19-24 (the law brings guilt, but righteousness comes by faith), Ephesians 2:1-10 (salvation by grace, not works), and Romans 7 (the struggle with sin). Each passage is used to demonstrate the law’s preparatory and prophetic role, and the absolute necessity of grace.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust, Remembrance Day) references Romans 1:18 (ungodliness leads to unrighteousness), James 4:1 (wars come from lusts within), Romans 13:1-4 (the role of government and law), Hebrews 2:2-3 (the steadfastness of the law), and the Ten Commandments (Exodus 20). These references are used to argue for the necessity of law in both society and spiritual life, and to critique the modern tendency to separate morality from its theological foundation.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust, prologue focus) references Galatians 3:19 (the law mediated by angels), Hebrews 2:2-3 (the law as the word spoken by angels), Romans 3:31 (faith establishes the law), Luke 7:41-50 (parable of the two debtors), Luke 18 (parable of the Pharisee and the publican), and Psalm 51 (David’s confession of sin). These passages are used to illustrate the relationship between law and grace, the necessity of conviction, and the depth of forgiveness.

Embracing God's Transformative Grace in Our Lives (David Guzik) references several passages to expand on John 1:17: Ephesians 2:8-9 (salvation by grace through faith), Acts 13:43 (continuing in grace), Galatians 1:6 and 5:4 (warning against turning from grace to law), Romans 11:6 (contrasting grace and works), and Ephesians 1:6 (acceptance in the Beloved). Each passage is used to reinforce the idea that grace is the ongoing principle of the Christian life and that law and grace are mutually exclusive principles for relating to God.

The Law's Purpose: Leading Us to Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) draws extensively on Romans 9-10 (Israel’s pursuit of righteousness by law vs. faith), Galatians 3 (the law as a schoolmaster leading to Christ), Romans 8:3 (the law’s inability to save due to human weakness), Philippians 3 (Paul’s former confidence in law-keeping), James 2:10 (the demand for perfect obedience), and 1 Timothy 1:8-11 (the lawful use of the law). These references are used to show that the law reveals sin, cannot save, and is meant to drive people to Christ for justification by faith.

Embracing Grace: The Power of Justification in Christ (SermonIndex.net) references Romans 5:1-2 (justification by faith as the entrance into grace), Luke 18:13-14 (the tax collector’s humility leading to justification), Philippians 3 (Paul’s longing for righteousness by faith), and Titus 2:11-14 (grace as power for godly living and hope). Each passage is used to illustrate the progression from humility and justification to the experience of grace and its transformative power.

Embracing Grace: Our Transformation in Christ (SermonIndex.net) references John 1:17 (law vs. grace), Luke 2:40 (Jesus growing in grace), Romans 5:1-2 (standing in grace), 1 Corinthians 15:10 (Paul’s identity by grace), Ephesians 1:3 (spiritual blessings in Christ), James 4:6 (greater grace to the humble), and 2 Corinthians 9:8 (abounding grace for every good work). These passages are used to support the idea that grace is the believer’s new environment, identity, and source of power.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) references Psalm 119:105 (“Thy word is a lamp unto my feet”), John 17:17 (“Thy word is truth”), Genesis 6 (Noah finding grace/favor), Psalm 103 (mercy and forgiveness in the Old Testament), Matthew 3:11, Mark 1:8, Luke 3:16, John 1:33, and Acts 1:5 (baptism in the Holy Spirit), as well as Revelation 21 (the church as crystal clear glass). These references are used to contrast the Old and New Covenants, to define grace and mercy, and to illustrate the shift from external law to internal life. The sermon also uses the story of Nathanael (John 1:47) to exemplify transparency and the story of the wedding at Cana (John 2) as a parable of ministry partnership with Christ.

Living in the Power of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) and "Embracing Grace: Living Truthfully and Forgiving Freely" (SermonIndex.net) both reference Ephesians 1:7 (forgiveness through grace), Hebrews 8:12 (God choosing not to remember sins), Romans 6:14 (sin not having dominion under grace), John 8:32 (the truth setting free), 2 Corinthians 4 (Satan blinding minds), Psalm 103 (Old Covenant blessings), Hebrews 13:9 (heart strengthened by grace), 2 Timothy 2:1 (be strong in grace), Hebrews 4:15-16 (Jesus as sympathetic high priest, throne of grace), 2 Corinthians 12:9 (grace in weakness), Matthew 6:15 (forgiveness conditional on forgiving others), and Lamentations 3:22-23 (mercies new every morning). These passages are woven together to build a comprehensive theology of grace as both forgiveness and power, and to ground the call to radical forgiveness in the teaching and example of Christ.

John 1:17 Christian References outside the Bible:

Embracing Grace: The Path to Holy Fear (Heavener First AOG) explicitly references Bob Hoekstra, a preacher known for his teaching on grace, quoting his distinctions between law and grace: "The law of God is the what. The grace of God is the how. The law of God tells us what we need to do. The grace of God tells us how we can get it done..." The sermon also mentions Charles Spurgeon, recounting his story of the dying saint who trusted God’s promise, using it to illustrate the reliability of God’s grace and character.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) explicitly references Christian hymn writers Augustus Toplady and Charles Wesley, quoting their hymns to illustrate the assurance and joy that come from understanding the believer’s position “dead to the law” and clothed in Christ’s righteousness. Toplady’s “The terrors of law and of God with me can have nothing to do” and Wesley’s “No condemnation now I dread” are used to reinforce the sermon’s teaching on assurance and justification by faith.

From Law to Grace: The Power of Christ (MLJTrust) references John Bunyan’s “Grace Abounding to the Chief of Sinners” and Charles Wesley’s hymns (“Plenteous grace with thee is found”), using them to illustrate the super-abounding nature of grace and the believer’s experience of God’s lavish generosity.

Embracing God's Transformative Grace in Our Lives (David Guzik) explicitly references Chuck Smith, recounting Smith’s testimony about his “grace experience” as a pivotal moment distinct from his early conversion. Smith’s emotional account is used to illustrate the transformative impact of truly grasping grace, beyond mere intellectual assent or legalistic Christianity.

The Law's Purpose: Leading Us to Grace in Christ (MLJTrust) references Martin Luther, particularly his hymn “Out of the Depths I Cry to Thee,” as an expression of the breakthrough that comes from understanding justification by faith and the law’s role in leading to grace. Luther’s experience is cited as a historical example of the liberating power of this doctrine.

John 1:17 Illustrations from Secular Sources:

Embracing Wisdom: Trust, Grace, and Humility in Life (Encounter Church Fort Worth) uses the analogy of a GPS navigation system to illustrate how God "reconfigures our route" when we stray, paralleling the way grace and truth guide and correct us on our spiritual journey. The sermon also draws on the experience of learning to ride a bike or swim, emphasizing that true understanding comes from lived experience (heart knowledge), not just intellectual assent (head knowledge).

Transforming Lives: The Journey to Christlikeness (Kingsland Colchester) uses the example of David Beckham practicing free kicks ("Bend it like Beckham") to illustrate the necessity of practice in spiritual growth, paralleling the process of becoming like Jesus through repeated application of grace and truth. The sermon also references the experience of job interviews and the culture of instant gratification to contrast the slow, transformative work of grace with societal expectations for quick results.

Grace and Truth: The Heart of the Gospel (MLJTrust) uses a detailed illustration from contemporary (1950s) culture, listing automation, inflation, nuclear weapons, and racial tensions as the chief concerns of modern people, and contrasting these anxieties with the supposed irrelevance of the gospel. The preacher references a recent article summarizing the modern attitude, and then critiques the misplaced faith in political conferences (such as NATO meetings in Paris) and the search for a “message” from human leaders. The sermon uses these examples to argue that the world’s problems are rooted in the soul, not in external circumstances, and that only the gospel addresses the true disease.

Understanding Law and Grace in Christ (MLJTrust, Remembrance Day) employs the analogy of educational theory, contrasting rote learning (law) with modern permissiveness, to illustrate the necessity of negatives and details in moral and spiritual instruction. The preacher also references the decline of heroism, romance, and idealism in postwar British society, the rise of utilitarian and hedonistic moral philosophies, and the shifting standards of public morality (e.g., changing attitudes toward divorce and sexual ethics) as evidence of the consequences of abandoning the law of God. The sermon critiques the “kitchen sink” plays of contemporary theater as emblematic of a culture obsessed with mere existence rather than true life, and references political slogans like “Better Red than Dead” to illustrate the loss of transcendent values.

Embracing God's Transformative Grace in Our Lives (David Guzik) uses several secular illustrations to clarify John 1:17. He stages a live demonstration with a $5 bill to show the difference between giving based on merit and giving by grace, making the abstract concept tangible. He also uses the analogy of a sports performance (a graceful touchdown catch) to describe the beauty and pleasure of grace. Additionally, Guzik tells the story of sailors stranded at sea near the Amazon River, dying of thirst while surrounded by fresh water, to illustrate how people can be spiritually parched while grace is abundantly available if only they “put down their buckets.” He further references cultural standards of acceptance (beauty, wealth, excellence) and the longing for acceptance from celebrities (e.g., Taylor Swift) to contrast with the surpassing acceptance found in God’s grace.

Reflecting Christ: The Balance of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) uses the vivid analogy of bones and flesh to describe the relationship between truth and grace, likening truth-only Christians to skeletons (unattractive, repellent) and grace-only Christians to jellyfish (lacking structure and conviction). The sermon also uses the story of a man on a train who, rather than fighting for his reserved seat, sits near the bathroom and explains to the ticket collector that he is a Christian who does not fight with people. This real-life example is used to illustrate how the life of Christ is seen not in doctrinal correctness but in gracious, humble conduct in everyday situations.

Living in the Power of Grace and Truth (SermonIndex.net) and "Embracing Grace: Living Truthfully and Forgiving Freely" (SermonIndex.net) employ the analogy of a mountain climber: when the climber falls and breaks bones, the ambulance (mercy) comes to help; but grace is the strength that keeps the climber from falling in the first place. They also use the illustration of a check written for a million dollars by a judge-father to pay his son’s fine, emphasizing that forgiveness is free for the recipient but costly for the giver, and that pride can prevent one from receiving it. Another analogy is the difference between covering and cleansing: covering is like putting a sheet over a list of sins, while cleansing is like wiping the board clean so nothing remains. The sermons also reference the health and wealth desires of all people, using the example of TV preachers and the universal human longing for health and wealth to critique prosperity theology and highlight the unique spiritual blessing of the New Covenant.