Pastor Leon’s SOAP:  Scripture, Observation, Application, Prayer
December 26, 2025:  SOAP #5867: Psalm 117; 119:81-176; 2John; 3John

SCRIPTURE:  2John (NIV) 1 The elder, To the chosen lady and her children, whom I love in the truth—and not I only, but also all who know the truth— 2 because of the truth, which lives in us and will be with us forever: 3 Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and from Jesus Christ, the Father’s Son, will be with us in truth and love.

OBSERVATION:  In Luke 2 we see that the Baby Jesus was wrapped in swaddling clothes, but here we see that the grace, mercy, and peace He brings is wrapped in truth and love. 

     God’s holiness demands truth.  Truth is God’s reality!  Grace, mercy, and peace are offered to us in love that is based on truth.  The truth is: I have sinned and can have no place in a holy heaven with a holy God. (Romans 3:23)   The truth is: God’s sinless Son, Jesus died as payment for my sin.  The value of His sinless blood far exceeded the value of my sin. (Romans 5:8)   The truth is:  if I confess my sin, He is faithful and just and will forgive my sin and cleanse me from all unrighteousness. (1John 1:9)

     The grace, mercy and peace that comes to us from God is always wrapped in truth and love. Truth is an expression of holiness. He who is perfectly holy always deals with truth. Truth is God’s reality.

     Grace is God giving us what we do not deserve. Mercy is God not giving us what we deserved. Peace is God establishing a right relationship with us.
Grace, mercy, and peace all come to us with full acknowledgement of our sin. Truth acknowledges our sin. And truth acknowledges God’s holiness. But truth also acknowledges God’s love and His holy sacrifice made for our sin!

APPLICATION:  To receive this grace, mercy, and peace, we simply accept it by faith.  Our faith is also based on truth.  We have faith that God has told us the truth about sin, and about Jesus, and about his willingness to forgive. 

     It is not a gift we can receive in our hands, but we receive it in our heart.  It enters our heart when we express the truth.  We receive it by believing it and saying, “Thank you.”  We receive it like we receive a compliment from a friend…we believe they are sincere, and we say, “Thank you.”  (Romans 10:9-10)

PRAYER:  Lord, I confess that I have sinned and need your forgiveness.  I believe that your death can be the payment for my sins.  I ask you to forgive my sins.  I confess that you are my Savior and Lord.  Thank you for forgiving me and making me your child.  With my sins forgiven, my heart is your home. Amen

Pastor Leon
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