Why 1:16? Next Up: John! (Part 2 of 5)

Okay class, there will be no math today! (That only makes sense if you’ve read our first post.) In Part 1 of “Why 1:16?” we explained why Isaiah 1:16 was chosen as a foundational Scripture for our Bible study group.

Just like the people of Judah were called to cleanse themselves and stop doing evil, we—the Church—must do the same. Our God is holy and righteous, and He expects His people to reflect His character.

Now, let’s shift to a very different kind of 1:16: John 1:16.

A Different Tone: Grace Upon Grace

John 1:16 (NKJV):
“And of His fullness we have all received, and grace for grace.”

Right away, this verse feels different. To understand whose fullness we’re talking about, we need to look at the whole chapter—which we’ll get to in a future post. But here’s a spoiler: it’s Jesus, our Lord and Savior.

Fullness in Christ

We’re not KJV-only at 1:16 Bible Study Group. While we lean toward the New King James Version, we often reference others like the NASB, NLT, and occasionally the ERV (Easy-to-Read Version), especially when breaking down complex texts.

Here’s how the NASB phrases John 1:16:
“For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace.”

That’s powerful. The “fullness” we receive from Jesus includes grace and truth. Just two verses earlier, John 1:14 says:

“And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory… full of grace and truth.”

Truth and Transformation

Jesus didn’t just bring the truth—He is truth (John 14:6). His very essence is truth. If we are truly His followers, then we are called to walk in that truth daily. That’s not always easy—but by His grace, it’s possible.

And speaking of grace…

John says we receive grace upon grace. That means:

• We didn’t deserve it.

• We couldn’t earn it.

• And we definitely can’t exhaust it.

If John had kept writing, he might’ve added:
“...upon grace, upon grace, upon grace...”
(And honestly, that might’ve been the entire Gospel of John.)

Why John 1:16 Matters

As much as we miss the mark, God’s grace is deeper still. Romans 5:20 reminds us that “where sin increased, grace abounded all the more.”

That’s not an excuse to sin—it’s an invitation to return. When we come back to God with a humble, repentant heart, His grace meets us there every time.

So why John 1:16?

If Isaiah 1:16 shows us our condition, John 1:16 shows us God’s solution.
We deserved His wrath.
But in Jesus, we received His grace.