Father, we are so grateful to gather together in the name of Jesus. We thank you for who he is and what he has done to bring us back to our Creator God and enable us, Lord, to enjoy in this life just the beginning of what we will enjoy in fullness in the age to come, and that is the joy of your fellowship and being in your presence and honoring your great name forever and ever. We are so grateful for Jesus and what He has done. And we pray this morning that, Father, You would send your spirit here in our midst in a particular way that he would do the work that he was sent to do, and that is to glorify Jesus as we consider this morning, marveling at him through the person that he was. So do this good work, we pray, in the name of Christ, for the glory of your name and for the good of your saints, we pray this in Jesus' name, amen. Well, it is a privilege to be with you this morning and to share the word in this particular setting. I've been able to stand in this place and do this a few times during my 24 years teaching here at Southern and it's always a tremendous privilege to do so. You know, 2 Corinthians 3.18 is really an incredible text, an incredibly important text for understanding better a significant part of the sanctification process that God wants to take place in our lives. Do you remember that verse, 2 Corinthians 3.18? that we with unveiled faces are beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord and are being transformed into that same image, so into the glory of the Lord Jesus Christ, from glory to glory, that is in incrementally increasing degrees of glory, and this is from the Lord, the Spirit. So here we learn Paul's insight. into how sanctification works in significant part is as the Spirit causes us to gaze upon Christ, His beauty, His majesty, His truth, His goodness, His compassion, His righteousness, His obedience, His faithfulness to the Father. And we marvel at this, we're stunned at this, we glory in this, and what happens in us? we become more like the one we adore. Now, what stands behind this is a principle I learned from A.W. Tozer nearly 50 years ago, before most of you were born, right? So indeed, in the late spring of 1972, At the end of my freshman year from college, I read A.W. Tozer's The Knowledge of the Holy, and among the many things that I learned in that book that absolutely transformed my life was this principle. Now, these are my words, but it's Tozer's concept that he presented in his book. This is Tozer's principle. God has so made us that we instinctively, naturally seek to become like whatever it is we esteem most highly. God has so made us that we instinctively, naturally seek to become like whatever it is we adore, whatever it is we treasure, what we cherish, what we love, what we glory in. Look at it carefully. This is what you are becoming like. Isn't that what's going on in 2 Corinthians 3.18? We behold Christ. We see His glory. And that results in us becoming more like Him bit by bit by bit from glory to glory in incrementally increasing degrees of glory as the Spirit does this work within our hearts. So if you ask the question, you know, what is there about Christ that I might look at and treasure and cherish and esteem highly? Well, how about Philippians 2, just as a for instance, right? Beginning at verse 5, have this attitude in yourselves, which was also in Christ Jesus, who although he existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God. something to be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a bondservant, being made in the likeness of men, being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. How about that text? How about that vision of Christ, the incarnate Son, who is the eternal Son of the Father, glorious in his deity, taking on our humanity, marveling at Jesus in his sacrifice, and service, and his obedience. Boy, that's a great text. Here's another one for you, 1 Peter chapter 2 at verse 21. At the end of that verse, Peter implores us as believers to follow in his steps. who committed no sin, nor was any deceit found in his mouth. While being reviled, he didn't revile in return. While suffering, he uttered no threats but kept entrusting himself to Him who judges righteously." How do you take false attacks against you? How do you take vicious lies, wicked deeds that are harmful to your well-being? How about being like Jesus, right? Look at Him, marvel at Him. When being reviled, He didn't revile in return. When suffering, He didn't utter threats against them, but kept entrusting Himself to him who judges righteously. How about that text? Boy, that's a great one, isn't it? To see better who Jesus is, marvel at that. See the glory and the majesty of Christ. And what happens in us as we see that and embrace it and revel in it? we become more like that. You see it? Now, I want to present to you this morning another text besides those. that is very seldom, in my estimate, very seldom pointed to as something that we should marvel at in Jesus and become more like this. It is in John chapter 1. If you want to turn there in your Bibles, please, to John chapter 1. And I'm convinced that in the prologue of John, particularly the last verses of that prologue, verses 14 to 18, we see here a perspective on Jesus that we are to consider deeply, profoundly, and at length, a perspective by which we can learn better who Jesus is in a very important way, and by the Spirit long to be more like Him. Now let me just remind you of the early part of the prologue so we see who this Word is who becomes flesh in verse 14. You remember verse one, in the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through Him and apart from Him, nothing came into being that has come into being. In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. The light shone in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." I mean, do you see the glory of Christ here, who is Himself with the Father, the eternal Son of the Father, called Word of the Father? Here in the prologue, the rest of the gospel of John, He's the Son, right? John 3, 16, God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, but in the prologue, He's the Word because He's speaking of the creation in the beginning. You know, God created the heavens and the earth. How did He do this? Through speaking. Then God said, then God said, then God said, on and on. So the Word who brings into existence creation is this glorious Son of the Father who is Himself God. and he is the light of man and he brings life into the world. So just marvel at the fact when we come to verse 14, that word, that glorious son of God, that glorious God comes in human flesh. Verse 14, and the word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld his glory. Stop there. I mean, isn't it amazing? We beheld His glory. Think 2 Corinthians 3.18, beholding as an emir the glory of the Lord. We are being transformed into that same image. in incrementally increasing degrees of glory. This is from the Lord the Spirit. So do you think the Spirit wants us to stop and ask the question, what is the glory of Christ that is manifest in John 1.14? The Word became flesh and dwelt among us. We beheld His glory Here's the answer, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. There it is, my friends. This is what John, the Apostle John, the writer of this gospel, wants us to see about Jesus that is astonishing, that is so amazing. He is highlighting this of all the things he could say about the incarnate Christ, the incarnate Son. What does he focus upon? He was just like his Father, the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and full of truth. There it is. What is so remarkable about Jesus? And indeed, we see in Him then this reality that He is full of grace and full of truth. It is not a grace that somehow compromises truth. It's not a truth that wields itself as a bludgeon and has no grace in it. He's full of grace and full of truth. And John wants us to marvel at that in Jesus. Now, the other thing is to realize that this grace and truth represent the Father, right? The Word became flesh and dwelt among us and we beheld His glory. Glory as of the only begotten of the Father. So like Father, like Son. And indeed, John's point here is well taken, because one of the richest unions of divine attributes, that is the juxtaposition of attributes. I mean, there are a number of pairings of attributes that are really significant. You think, for example, of the wisdom of God and the power of God. Boy, that is so important. Imagine wisdom without power to accomplish what the wise design is, or power to do whatever it wishes to do that's not governed by wisdom. So wisdom and power, wow, that's important. Justice and mercy. So there are a number of couplets of attributes you find in the Old Testament, but hands down, one of the most important is this one, that the Old Testament God is Chesed v'Emmet. He is full of loving kindness and truth. So indeed, it is true of the Father, what John says here. He is the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. He's just like the Father. So let me give you just a few passages. You can jot down the references if you like. where we see this couplet, these pairings of these two attributes, the steadfast love of the Lord, Chesed, the truth of the Lord, Emet, where we see these two brought together. Genesis 24, 27 is a very significant passage. Genesis 24, 27, here we see Abraham's servant, who is being led to Rebekah, who will become the wife of Isaac, sent there by Abraham to go find a wife, and he exclaims when he meets Rebekah, "'Blessed be the Lord, the God of my master Abraham, "'who has not forsaken," here it is, "'who has not forsaken his steadfast love "'and his truth toward my master.'" You hear it? The Lord has guided me to the way of his house of my master's brothers. So here is the servant of the Lord of all the things he could say about God's goodness and greatness and his kindness in bringing him in answering his prayer to find a wife for Isaac. What does he pick out? Grace and truth. Steadfast love and truth. And you think for a moment, you get it, don't you? Steadfast love. How kind of the Lord to provide this wife. How kind of the Lord to direct the servant to find where to go. The woman of God's choosing for Isaac. How kind of God. So the love of God, the grace of God, the mercy of God shown to the servant, to Isaac, to Abraham, yes, steadfast love, but truth. God is keeping His promise. He is doing what He said He would do through you, Abraham, and your son Isaac. All the nations will be blessed. The Abrahamic covenant specifies Isaac as the one who must have children who will eventually lead to the Messiah. So indeed, it is through Isaac that the promise comes. He must have a wife. God is faithful to his word. So, what does he proclaim? He has not forsaken his steadfast love and his truth toward my master. Exodus 34.6, this is the pinnacle passage really of all of these that speak of the steadfast love of God and the truth of God together. Exodus 34.6, Moses is on Mount Sinai receiving the twin tablets of the law and he says this, Then the Lord passed in front of Moses and proclaimed, the Lord, the Lord God, compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and truth. How about that? Abounding in steadfast love and truth, John 1.14. of grace and truth, the Father abounding in steadfast love and truth, you get the connection, don't you? Indeed, this is who God is in His very being, in His very character. One of the most important defining characteristics of God is this twin, this pair of attributes of steadfast love and truth. In the Psalms, there are 15 usages of steadfast love and truth together. I'm just going to give you a few of them so you get a sample of some of the most beautiful expressions of this. Psalm 25.10. Psalm 2510, all the paths of the Lord are steadfast love and truth to those who keep His covenant and His testimonies. Psalm 263, 263, your steadfast love is before my eyes and I have walked in your truth. Psalm 40 verse 11, 40, 11, you Lord will not withhold your compassion from me, your steadfast love and truth will continually preserve me. Psalm 57, 3, God will send from heaven and save me, he will send forth his steadfast love and truth. Psalm 57, 10, your steadfast love is great to the heavens, your truth to the clouds. Psalm 86, 15, obviously reflecting back on Exodus 34, but thou, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in steadfast love and truth. That was Psalm 86, 15. Psalm 89, 14, 89, 14, righteous and justice are the foundation of your throne. Steadfast love and truth go before you. And finally, Psalm 115, verse 1, not to us, O Lord, not to us, but to your name be glory, glory, because of your steadfast love, because of your truth. Wow. This is important, isn't it? This is a way of understanding God, this couplet of attributes, full of grace, full of truth, like Father, like Son. So indeed, the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ exhibited the very qualities now the incarnate Son exhibits, just like His Father, begotten Son of the Father, full of grace and full of truth. Now, the prologue might have ended here at the end of verse 14. He's made his main point, right, that the incarnate Son comes, the Word who created the universe comes in human flesh. But he goes on, and my hunch is the main reason he goes on is because he wants to drill home better, stronger, deeper, how important it is to see Jesus as full of grace and truth. So, let's read the rest of the prologue, verse 15. John testified about Christ, and he cried out saying, "'This is He of whom I said, "'He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, "'for He existed before me. "'For of His fullness we have all received, "'and grace upon grace.'" Did you hear that? Of His fullness. We have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses. Grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. No one has seen God at any time. The only begotten God who is in the bosom of the Father, he has made him known. So indeed here we have grace and truth again in verse 17. For the law was given through Moses, grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ. Now what can John mean by this? This contrast that he's making between the law of Moses and grace and truth that are found in Christ. I know many people have taken this to be an absolute antithesis, right? These opposites that are there. The law is graceless, right? The law is the law, but when Christ comes, we receive grace. You know, and some of the support for that comes from other passages of Scripture, like John 6…6…14, of course, in my judgment, misreading it, taking it out of context. Paul's saying there, we're not under law but under grace. Oh, okay, so get rid of that law and grace can come. So indeed, you know, you see, this is how many people take this. But you know, one problem in John 1 itself is that this doesn't work. Because notice in verse 17 that the law is set in contrast not just to grace, right? But the law is set in contrast also to Truth. So, the law came through Moses, grace and truth were given through Christ. Would anyone want to say that the law being contrary to grace is also contrary to truth? You've got to be kidding. I mean, Jesus staked His claim upon the truth of the Old Testament, right? Everything prophesied about me fulfilled. in my life and teaching them from the Old Testament. And so indeed, the truth of God that is given in the Old Testament law is undisputed. So indeed, the contrast is not between the graceless, truthless law of the Old Testament versus grace and truth in Christ, but rather the contrast, I think, is found in the little word that is used in verse 16, for of His fullness we have received. Here's the contrast. Yes, there is grace and truth in the Old Testament law. And indeed, let me just make one comment here in terms of the grace. Think of Deuteronomy chapter 10 verses 12 and 13 where we are to keep the law, its statutes, its commandments, its ordinances. for your good." I mean if that isn't gracious, I don't know what is, right? God wanting His people to thrive as they keep the law. So indeed, it is not the case that the law is opposed to grace or the law opposed to truth, but rather in comparison, the grace and truth brought through Moses is pitiful compared to the fullness, the greatness, the glory, the expanded fullness of that grace and truth that is found in Christ. So indeed, seeing in Him the magnitude and fullness of the revelation of God, right? God spoke to the prophets in many portions in many ways, but in these last days, gasp, He has spoken to us in His Son. He is the radiance of His glory, the exact representation of His nature, Hebrews 1 verses 1 to 3. So you see in that, indeed, the fullness of the revelation of God manifest in Christ, the fullness of the revelation of grace and truth. manifest in Christ. And so I think verse 18 then is a fitting conclusion to this point that John has been pressing home. So verse 18, no one has seen God at any time. We don't see the Old Testament God. We don't see the God who is Spirit. But the only begotten God, who is in the bosom of His Father, who comes from the Father, extends from the Father, bringing to us exactly what the Father is. Philip, have you been with me so long? You don't know that if you've seen me, you've seen the Father? So, indeed, bringing to us the very character of the Father who is in the bosom of the Father, He has made Him known. That's the idea. Grace and truth in the Father now exhibited in the Son. What an amazing thing. Now, let me ask this question for us all to consider. Why is it so remarkable that Jesus displayed fullness of grace and fullness of truth? Why would John focus on that in this way? And I think part of the answer to that is this, that it is so rare to find someone who embodies fullness of grace and fullness of truth. Indeed, when we think of Jesus, He's the only one who has that fullness of grace and fullness of truth. And John wants us to see that, and as we read the gospel of John, to see Jesus as full of grace and truth all the way through. In other words, he gives us a lens to look at Jesus through as we read the gospel of John. So just consider with me just a couple of these instances early in the gospel of John. So you go on to John chapter 2, Jesus with His mother at the wedding at Cana of Galilee Full of grace, he does what his mother asks him to. Full of truth, mother you don't know the time of my own work that I have to do before the father. So the truth has to be upheld, but the grace that he shows in honoring his mother, do you see it? John chapter three, Jesus' interaction with Nicodemus, do you see it? Full of grace. Oh yes, goodness, giving to Nicodemus the gospel, helping Nicodemus understand the beauty and the glory of regeneration by the Spirit, helping him understand that you must be born again by the Spirit. And so indeed, the grace, but the truth that is given to Nicodemus that he needs to understand, fullness of grace, fullness of truth. Go on to chapter 4, Jesus and the Samaritan woman. Oh my goodness. Full of grace, full of truth. It's obvious, isn't it? I mean, he is so gracious with her and she's actually surprised, is she not? What are you, a Jew, doing talking to me, a Samaritan? Right? She knows this is not the acceptable thing to do. She gets that. But he is, he's talking with her and sharing these glorious truths that eventually bring her to faith in Christ and many in her village to faith in Christ. Full of grace, full of truth. What about in chapter five? Jesus with the lame man at the pool at Bethesda in Jerusalem as He heals this man and brings new life to his body so he's able to function again. And you realize, full of grace and full of truth. And then you read these words in John 5.17. I just think it's so apt in light of what we're talking about. John 5.17, my Father is working until now and I myself am working. Do you hear it? So indeed, what the Father does, I do. Who the Father is, I am. What the Father exhibits, I exhibit, full of grace and truth, just like my Father. In character and in work, He exhibits the Father. Amazing. In all of these, and through the gospel, one very important feature that John finds so remarkable about Jesus is how he exhibited grace that never compromised truth, a grace which in fact served his commitment to the fullness of truth, and truth which was given with a heart of grace. truth which served the longings and the purposes of grace. So indeed, Jesus full of grace and full of truth. Now, in the moments we have remaining this morning, I want to take just a few minutes with you and talk to you in two categories. Grace and truth applied. How can this be applied in our lives? And then grace and truth acquired. How can we be people who grow in grace and truth as we grow in our Christ-likeness. So first of all, grace and truth applied. As I mentioned a moment ago, how rare indeed it is to see grace filled truth, truth directed grace. from the lives of people. I mean how easy it is in fact to err on one side or the other of what I think of as a grace truth continuum, right? So there are people who are grace people. Oh my goodness, they're gracious, they're hospitable, they're friendly, they're warm, they're accepting, they're kind, they're charitable, they're loving and forgiving, they're tolerant and They compromise truth because they don't want to say what needs to be said if it would disrupt that friendly warm relationship. Right? We know those people. Now that's not the error that I tend toward, but that is an error to which many people tend toward. And that is a truthless grace, which not only compromises truth, it compromises grace. The irony of this is thick, isn't it? It compromises grace because what should grace seek to bring about in that person? their healing, their well-being. And what do they need for that? Oh, they need truth. Do they not? Do they not need to know? I mean, because it's not going to do any good for people who are outside of Christ to just befriend them, to be kind to them, to be warm and charitable to them. They need to know the gospel. People need to know the truth in order to see the errors of their ways, the sin of their lives, and repent and turn to what is right and good. and to Christ and to their only hope that there is. So indeed, truth is so necessary. So a truthless grace is not only not truthful, it's not gracious, not really. Do you see that? But then on the other hand, this is the side that I can easily err in, and that is truth My goodness, upheld. You know, I'm looking at my colleagues over here, you know, I think many of us, you know, who care so much. I mean, goodness, Southern Seminary today is a place that is committed to truth. And we have it on our slogans, you know. We parade it in front of people. We celebrate this, and we ought to celebrate this because there was a period of time when our seminary was not faithful to the truth. And here we are again by God's grace, by His kindness and His power at work to reestablish a place that is endeavoring to be faithful to the truth of God. But here's what can happen, is a truth that is upheld in a way that does not consider the needs of the people to whom that truth is directed. It's directed kind of full force without consideration of how best to present this. What will gain a hearing with them? The winsomeness, the kindness, the charity that ought to accompany that truth, speaking the truth in love, right, as Paul will say. So indeed, there is this graceless truth that actually not only doesn't have grace in it, but also harms the truth because the truth is not seen in its beauty and glory and majesty when it comes in a form of of power and opposition and argumentation in a way that people find offensive. Now, it's one thing if the truth itself offends. We see that in the Bible, right? The Word of the cross is to those who are perishing. Foolishness. But to us who are being saved, it's the power of God. So indeed, it's one thing if the truth itself offends, if it's another thing if we present the truth in an offensive way. Those are two different issues, aren't they? So indeed, to find someone who is full of grace and full of truth, oh my, how amazing this is. And this is who Jesus is. So I encourage you to consider just your own life. if in fact you tend to tip in one direction or the other, and then realize in order to correct that tipping toward one side of the continuum over the other, we've got to take deliberate efforts to grow in grace, grow in truth as needed for each one of us. That brings us then to grace and truth acquired. How can we acquire grace? How can we grow in truth? How can we become more like Christ, more like him? We'll never be there, not in this life, but more like him, full of grace, full of truth that John wants us to see and marvel at in the prologue of John's gospel. Well, let me take grace first of all. How do we grow in grace? Consider these passages, James 4.6, you can write down the references if you like, James 4.6 and 1 Peter 5.5, quoting from Proverbs 3.34. So that was a lot of verses, let me give them to you again. James 4.6, 1 Peter 5.5, quoting from Proverbs 3.34, God is opposed to the proud, but he gives, what? Grace to the, what? Humble, He gives grace to the humble. So here's my suggestion to you, to grow in grace, you truth people out there, I know you, I am you, you truth people out there, how to grow in grace? Grow in humility, right? Grow in humility before God. easy said, hard to do, right? So let me give you a few suggestions on growing in humility. This of course could take a long, long time to develop, but I'm just going to give you a few little bullet points here. To grow in humility in order to grow in grace. He opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. So growing in humility, first suggestion, I've only got two, so don't worry. First suggestion is to consider your identity as those created and redeemed by God. and what that means. You might say, huh, I'm not getting it. Okay, well let me explain this. First of all, redeem. Let me start with redeem, because that's where most people who talk about humility, they go there, and sometimes they don't go to creation, which I think is a huge mistake. But anyway, they go to redemption, and that's fine. We are redeemed. So how does that work? How does that promote humility? Well, we understand that in and of ourselves, we can do nothing to bring about our salvation. Our works are just futile, empty. We cannot accomplish anything in this life that God would look at and say, I find you now acceptable. Oh no, by the works of the law, no one will be justified before God. So indeed, to receive salvation is to recognize what Luther said, that we are beggars. who tell other beggars where to find bread. Right? That's who we are. We're empty-handed. We come as we receive the gift, get the word gift there, the gift of salvation. We come empty-handed. We have nothing to offer. We have only our sins to confess and repent of. And what does God do? He grants to us freely given, unmerited, gracious salvation. So indeed, we realize we can do nothing for our salvation. It humbles us before God. That's a very important source of our meditation and contemplating why we should be humble before God. But that's not the only thing. The instrument that cuts the nerve of pride is two-edged, right? It has a double edge. The other edge of that instrument that cuts the nerve of pride is contemplating God as Creator. Now, what does that mean? Well, that means we understand God is the one who gives to us in the first place everything that we are and have. Right? Now, the redemption point takes what we have. We mess it up. God restores it. Great. But what about how we have what we have? It's all a gift, all of it. 1 Corinthians 4, 7, what do you have that you've not received? If you've received it, why do you boast as if you've not received it? There it is. You hear it? So indeed, you think, boy, I'm really smart. You know, I'm one of the brightest guys in the class. Question, where did you get your brain? Who gave it to you? Who cultivated it? Who provided you the opportunities? Who gave you the training? You say, well, boy, I'm musical. Doxology, by the way, that was beautiful. And this is not a hit on the importance of musical ability. It's just a reminder. Where does it come from, right? I'm musical. You know, boy, I can sing. I got the solo part, you know, or whatever the case. I mean, I played trumpet growing up. I get what that is. I understand this. You know, I always wanted to be first chair. I get this. You know, you want your own reputation to be put forward. Question, how are you able to do what you do? I mean, what gave you that equipment to begin with, you know? And what has enabled you to cultivate it? And don't you realize that like this, it could be taken from you? It happens. I hear it more often with athletes. My brother-in-law is an example. He played quarterback for a high school football team in Texas and was really good. Scouts came looking at him and he had a major knee injury in his senior year, was out. His whole career was done. Guess what God led him to become? A pastor. So I mean the kindness of God to take away what had become an idol. So indeed, realize by creation everything we are, everything we have is in the category of gift. Do you see it? We can't take credit for it. So then redemption comes along and helps us understand, oh my goodness, that gift that we have received, we messed up and God restores us despite our sin. How glorious that is. But the two-edged sword that cuts the nerve of pride is the sword that includes God as creator. So I owe him everything for who I am and what I have. and Redeemer. I owe Him everything for taking the mess that I made of what He gave me and bringing it to full restoration in Christ. So indeed, contemplate your identity as created and redeemed. Secondly, second item for how to grow in humility, consider the importance of prayer in fostering humility. So how often do you pray, Lord, help me be more humble? Help me understand what it means to be humble before you. Do you pray that? Well, if you don't, I think it would be a good thing to do, right? Among the many things that you pray for yourself, don't forget this one. God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble. Ask Him. to help you become a humble person, to recognize it's not about me, it's not about my reputation, it's not about my well-being ultimately, it's about the glory of God in Christ. May I want my life to serve the advancement of that, not my own agenda. May I grow in humility by your grace. Truth. What about acquiring truth in our lives? Here consider John 14.6, I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father but through me. I am the way. I am the truth. So in Jesus we find truth. And John 17.17, sanctify them in the truth. Your Word is truth. So how can we grow in being truth people? I think the answer is to saturate ourselves in the Word of Christ. Colossians 3.16, let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you, speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs. So indeed, what comes out of our mouths, the way we live our lives, how we live before others is an expression of the transformation that has taken place in our lives as we saturate ourselves in the truth of Christ, right? Let the Word of Christ richly dwell within you. You know, it's interesting, that passage, Colossians 3.16, is parallel. You know, Ephesians and Colossians are parallel in many ways. It's parallel to Ephesians 5.18. We know this because the same effects follow. Speaking to one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs is in both passages. So, Ephesians 5.18, don't be drunk with wine. but be filled with the Spirit." Spirit, Ephesians 5.18, Word of Christ, Colossians 3.16, great marriage, isn't it? Isn't that a wonderful union? Spirit and Word, they go together. Jeremiah 31.31, I will write the law on your hearts, I will write it. You will not teach each one his neighbor, each one his brother, saying, know the Lord for you all know me. Ezekiel 36, I will put my spirit within you, cause you to walk in my statutes, you will be careful to observe my ordinances. So law and spirit, word and spirit go together. So, indeed, grow in saturating yourself in the Word of God, in the truth that Christ has given to us. What was His final admonition in the Great Commission? Teaching them all things I commanded you. Teaching them all things I commanded you. So, indeed, by God's grace, let's be a people who grows in our love for, saturation in the truth of God's Word so that we can be full of grace and full of truth, and by that be like Jesus. In the beginning was the Word. The Word was with God, and the Word was God, and the Word became flesh. and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and full of truth. May we grow to be more like Jesus." Let's pray together. Father, we do pray that Your Spirit would work within us, that we would adore Christ and adore Him as the one who is full of grace and truth. And by your Spirit's work within us, grow to become increasingly like Him. To His glory and for our good as those who are called to follow Him and represent Him, we pray these things in His name. Amen.