Guest Speaker | Dr. James Merritt | Joined At The Hip - Grace and Truth

What if the secret to authentic Christianity isn't choosing between love and truth, but holding both in perfect tension? This message takes us deep into John 1:14, where we discover that Jesus was 'full of grace and truth'—not 50% of each, but 100% of both, simultaneously. We're challenged to examine which way we naturally lean: Are we 'gracers' who avoid difficult conversations about sin and righteousness, or are we 'truthers' who wield Scripture like a weapon without compassion? The reality is that grace without truth becomes liberalism—excusing everything and confronting nothing. Truth without grace becomes legalism—judging quickly and forgiving slowly. But grace plus truth equals the liberty that transforms lives. This balance is even illustrated in our DNA, where two strands run in opposite directions yet perfectly complement each other. The cross of Jesus stands as the ultimate symbol of this divine balance: grace declares that anyone can be forgiven, while truth reminds us that forgiveness comes only through Christ's sacrifice. As we navigate our relationships, our witness, and our own spiritual growth, we're called to embody both—speaking truth in the spirit of grace, and extending grace in the spirit of truth. The question isn't whether we'll offend anyone, but whether we'll be balanced enough to draw people to Jesus the way He drew sinners, tax collectors, and outcasts to Himself.

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