For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. -John 1:16
The above passage from John’s Gospel is from the English Standard Version. I like this translation best for John 1:16. The New International Version 2011 says it this way: “Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.” This is accurate, but does not give the complete sense of meaning here. The NIV 1984 says it better; “And from the fullness of his grace we have all received one blessing after another.” The ESV, following closely the New American Standard and the King James, in my humble opinion, got the best intent and meaning from the original Greek here.
In modern English we normally would not say “grace upon grace.” We would say “a lot of grace” or “many blessings.” But the idea behind the original Greek here is “never-ending grace” or “full grace.” It is a grace that goes on and on, kind of like how a super-spicy dinner tends to keep reminding us that we ate it on and on through the night – only this time it’s pleasant (probably not the best illustration I have ever developed). What we might say when we read John 1:16 is this: “From the very fullness of God we have received grace upon grace upon grace upon grace upon grace…” Or maybe like this, similar to the NIV 1984: “From the very fullness of God we receive blessings that never stop blessing.” Like the old Timex watch commercials – even after a licking, they keep on ticking. Sorrows in life never eclipse the blessings of God for the genuine believer.
As we continue through Advent 2018, we would do well to remember that what we received at the coming of Christ into our world is fullness. He came when time was “full” (Gal. 4:4; Eph. 1:10), to bring us the fullness of God’s grace (John 1:16), by taking upon himself the fullness of God’s wrath against sin (Rom. 5:9), so that now we (the church) might become, under the headship of Jesus Christ, the “fullness of him who fills everything in every way” (Eph. 1:22-23).
God doesn’t do anything halfway. What he has done has been done completely. Christmas Day brought with it the fullness of God’s grace and mercy to a waiting world. After we have opened our gifts on Christmas Day and thrown away the wrapping paper, all the fullness of what was celebrated continues on and will continue on throughout eternity.
You have probably been to an auction at some point in your life where the auctioneer began selling things by the box in order to speed things up. It becomes an all or nothing venture. You do not get to pick and choose what you want to bid on in the box, you buy it all and take it with you, whether you want it or not. In a similar fashion, we get the fullness of God in Christ. We get the whole package: grace, mercy, love, discipline, correction, hope, trials, struggles, healings and infirmities. It’s not a “you pick” occasion, it’s a “count the cost” occasion (Luke 14:25-35). I have found that there is no better way to live life than as a follower of Christ, but I have also found that I’ve been forced to deal with some unpleasantries in my life as a result of my walk with him as well. I find myself disciplined by God for actions that non-believers never seem to be disciplined for, simply because I am his son. It is part of the package, part of the fullness of God for which I rejoice in my better moments. Jesus took on “fullness” as well, paying my debt in full, while taking upon himself my sin in full. I actually get the better end of the deal. So do you if you know Christ.
So, here’s to fullness. Fullness of time, full grace, full redemption, full pardon, fullness in adoption, and full life filled with joy and sadness, all giving way to an eternity filled with every good and pleasant thing, with the fullness of God always before us, time without end. Amen.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Jym