From his abundance we have all received one gracious blessing after another. For the law was given through Moses, but God’s unfailing love and faithfulness came through Jesus Christ. 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. (NLT)
Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God, but the one and only Son, who is himself God and is in closest relationship with the Father, has made him known. (NIV)
The Old Testament revelation of God is wonderful. Think about it -God did not have to reveal anything about Himself to us. He did not owe us an explanation. He is the Creator, and we are the created. He chose, however, through the Law and the prophets to give us insight into who He is and how He thinks and what He loves (and hates). So, in a very real sense, the revelation He gave us through the Old Testament is an essential grace -a foundational, formative, important insight into His nature and character.
Since Jesus came, however, the insight and revelation we have about God the Father is deeper and fuller by far. This was in fact, at least in part, why Jesus came -to reveal the Father. This new revelation, not given by prophets, by but Jesus who was and is Himself God, is not simply grace; it is grace upon grace.
Through Jesus we see not just what God says -not just His laws and commandments -rather, how He interacts with people, how much He cares, how He loves in practical terms of real life, how He deals with stress (and hunger, and heartache, and weariness, etc.) Through Jesus, we see Father's unfailing love and faithfulness.
Jesus is the greatest revelation of Father's heart. Because of this, Jesus actually said in John chapter 14, (looking ahead) "If you really know me, you will know my Father as well.... Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father."
It is also interesting that in John 14 Jesus prophecies concerning the Holy Spirit that the Holy Spirit "will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you." So, the Holy Spirit reminds us and teaches us and points us to Jesus, who reminds us and teaches us and points us to Father, who gives us the Holy Spirit. Perfect. Grace upon grace.
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