John 1:17

Treasury of Scripture Knowledge

Summary

John 1:17

For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.

The law

Grace

General references

Matthew 22:40

Acts 13:24

Bible References

The law

"Do not suppose that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you, namely Moses, on whom your hope rests.

We know that God spoke to Moses; but as for this fellow we do not know where he comes from."

This is he who was among the Congregation in the Desert, together with the angel who spoke to him on Mount Sinai and with our forefathers, who received ever-living utterances to hand on to us.

So they arranged a day with him and came to him in considerable numbers at the house of the friends who were entertaining him. And then, with solemn earnestness, he explained to them the subject of the Kingdom of God, endeavouring from morning till evening to convince them about Jesus, both from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets.

But it cannot be denied that all that the Law says is addressed to those who are living under the Law, in order that every mouth may be stopped, and that the whole world may await sentence from God.

Now Law was brought in later on, so that transgression might increase. But where sin increased, grace has overflowed;

If, however, the service that proclaims death--its code being engraved in writing upon stones--came with glory, so that the children of Israel could not look steadily on the face of Moses because of the brightness of his face--a vanishing brightness;

All who are depending upon their own obedience to the Law are under a curse, for it is written, "Cursed is every one who does not remain faithful to all the precepts of the Law, and practise them."

Moreover, Moses was faithful in all God's house as a servant in delivering the message given him to speak;

For, being dissatisfied with His people, God says, "'There are days coming,' says the Lord, 'When I will establish with the house of Israel and with the house of Judah a new Covenant--

Grace

and you shall know the Truth, and the Truth will make you free."

"I am the Way," replied Jesus, "and the Truth and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

His servant Israel He has helped, Remembering His compassion--

And as to His having raised Him from among the dead, never again to be in the position of one soon to return to decay, He speaks thus: 'I will give you the holy and trustworthy promises made to David.'

But now a righteousness coming from God has been brought to light apart from any Law, both Law and Prophets bearing witness to it--

in order that as sin has exercised kingly sway in inflicting death, so grace, too, may exercise kingly sway in bestowing a righteousness which results in the Life of the Ages through Jesus Christ our Lord.

For Sin shall not be lord over you, since you are subjects not of Law, but of grace.

My meaning is that Christ has become a servant to the people of Israel in vindication of God's truthfulness-- in showing how sure are the promises made to our forefathers--

For all the promises of God, whatever their number, have their confirmation in Him; and for this reason through Him also our "Amen" acknowledges their truth and promotes the glory of God through our faith.

Indeed we may almost say that in obedience to the Law everything is sprinkled with blood, and that apart from the outpouring of blood there is no remission of sins.

For it is impossible for the blood of bulls and goats to take away sins.

And although by their faith all these people won God's approval, none of them received the fulfilment of His great promise;

And when He had taken the book, the four living creatures and the twenty-four Elders fell down before the Lamb, having each of them a harp and bringing golden bowls full of incense, which represent the prayers of God's people.

After this I looked, and a vast host appeared which it was impossible for anyone to count, gathered out of every nation and from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb, clothed in long white robes, and carrying palm-branches in their hands.

General references

The whole of the Law and the Prophets is summed up in these two Commandments."

Before the coming of Jesus, John had proclaimed to all the people of Israel a baptism of repentance.