Question: What Does John 1:17 Mean?
Donald Bohanon: Just what it says, that the law/ ten commandments was given by Moses and grace came from Christ but one doesn’t cancel out the other. But many self proclaimed ministers will twist that verse and take it out of context to make it seem like this is a green light to transgress the ten commandments and word of God without consequence.
Once again, taking one verse out of context without taking into consideration the totality of scripture while allowing the Bible to interpret itself. When reading verses like that we must also remember that Christ also said in Matthew 4:4, and Luke 4:4, that we are to live by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God and those words include keeping the law/ ten commandments and the word of God as a whole in conjunction with faith, good works, and grace/ pardon when we stumble on occasion.
But to view grace as a license to sin can and will result in condemnation and destruction when judged as is emphasized in Hebrews 10: 26-31. Paul also tells us in Romans Chapter 6 that grace is not a license to sin and to think so leads to death. Christ also tells us that he came not to destroy the law/ ten commandments but to fulfill it Matthew 5:17-22. Christ also tells us in John 14:20-24 that if you don’t keep his ten commandments you don’t love him. The Bible also tells us in 1 John 2:4 if a person says they know Christ and don’t keep his commandments they are liars and the truth is not in them.
I could have provided numerous other verses to support and validate what I am saying but I’m trying to keep it short and simple. Grace is simply meant to be used in conjunction with keeping the ten commandments and word of God/ the Bible as a form of pardon, after asking for forgiveness for sins, and when we stumble on occasion, and nothing else. And never mistake willful sin for stumbling, they are two totally different things.
Under the old covenant, if certain sins were committed that carried the physical death penalty, death was the form of punishment that would be rendered. Now, under the new covenant, when we stumble on occasion the death penalty doesn’t apply, we now have the ability because of grace (as a result of Christ’s sacrifice) to come before God and Christ in prayer and ask for forgiveness in the name of Jesus Christ, the sin is then pardoned and we can then move forward striving to overcome the sin whatever it may be.
The sacrifice of Christ paid the penalty for past sins after accepting Christ as our savior. But that grace is not a license to sin willfully moving forward. All willful sin done after accepting Christ as our savior and coming to the realization of the necessity and importance of keeping God’s doctrine are counted against us that’s why sin must be put to rest. Grace is a privilege we now have to ask for forgiveness when we stumble on occasion moving forward not a license to sin willfully. And the goal is to always work to put sin to rest Galatians 5:24, 2 Timothy 2:19. And if the sin is not overcome/ departed from God will judge it when he judges you and render punishment as he sees fit Ecclesiastes 12:13-14, Matthew 12: 36-37, Roman 1:32. Romans 2: 1-6, Romans 2: 6-10, Romans 2:11-16, Romans 2:16, 2 Corinthians 5:10-11, Revelation 21:7-8.