The Word became flesh (Part 3a)
III. Grace and Truth (16, 17)
See v16.
16 Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.
This emphasizes ‘grace’ – grace upon grace, abundant grace.
See v17.
17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.
“For the law was given through Moses” (17a)
The law is righteous. Through the law, we can understand God’s justice. For example, without knowing the law, we can’t exactly know how much the thief must make restitution. According to the law, the thief should pay back ‘five times’ for cow and ‘four times’ for sheep if the animal was killed or sold (Exodus 22:1), ‘double’ if the animal is alive and not sold (Exodus 22:4), and ‘double’ for silver or goods (Exodus 22:7). Through the law, we can understand human rights. For example, if you find out someone stole yours, you can know you have the right to ask him/her double or more depending on the situation. You become fair and wise!
But we can’t become righteous or saved by keeping the law because it is impossible to keep this ‘written code’. If you keep everything in the law and break one thing in the law, you become a lawbreaker (James 2:10) and condemned by the law. The law is powerless to save us (Romans 8:3) but teaches us that we are sinners (Romans 3:20).
