Holy Bible. New Living Translation copyright © 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust.
Prologue: Christ, the Eternal Word
14 So the Word became human and made his home among us. He was full of unfailing love and faithfulness. And we have seen his glory, the glory of the Father’s one and only Son.
15 John testified about him when he shouted to the crowds, “This is the one I was talking about when I said, ‘Someone is coming after me who is far greater than I am, for he existed long before me.’”
16 From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. 17 For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 18 No one has ever seen God. But the unique One, who is himself God, is near to the Father’s heart. He has revealed God to us.
John Wesley, the noted Christian theologian, taught of one grace, the grace of God, having three complimentary phases:
- Prevenient Grace – the grace of God which goes before and draws us into relationship with Him
- Justifiying Grace – the grace of God which saves us, declares us not guilty, as if we had never sinned
- Sanctifying Grace – the grace of God which makes us perfect in love, guides us away from willful sin, guides us to care for the welfare of others
The Apostle John spoke of this grace of God as “… one gracious blessing after another.” When we think about how much we mess up, how often we fall, there is no question that God’s grace is truly amazing!
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