God’s grace is already at work in unbelievers—breathing life, stirring conscience, delaying judgment, and pointing to Jesus, the greater grace who saves.

It was my turn to lead the guys in our community group.
Monday evening. Around 6:30 PM. Waiting at a fire pit on the Watermark campus — chairs arranged in a circle, wood ready to burn, the kind of scene that invites real conversation.

I was seated when Dallas arrived first — still on his feet, not yet seated — looked me in the eye and said:

“John 1:16.”

No preface, no sermon — just a verse tossed like a key.

I reached into my bag, pulled out my Bible, and opened to the verse.
My translation wasn’t the one he had in mind.
So he read it aloud from the NIV:

“Out of his fullness we have all received grace in place of grace already given.”
—John 1:16 (NIV)

Grace… in place of grace.

That phrase stopped us both.

Because if you don’t believe in Jesus yet, this verse is already talking about you.

If you’re breathing, thinking, questioning — scrolling —
God has already given you grace.

Not symbolic grace. Real grace.
Grace that:

• Holds back the full weight of the judgment your sins deserve (2 Peter 3:9)
• Wakes your conscience when you do wrong (Romans 2:15)
• Surrounds you with beauty that calls out “Someone made this” (Romans 1:20)
• Forces you to admit that love is real — and you didn’t invent it (1 John 4:19)
• Arranges moments like this where truth gets in your way (Acts 17:26–27)

God has been pursuing you long before you ever looked for Him.

But John 1:16 reveals something even more unsettling:

The grace you’ve already received is not enough to save you.

It was never meant to.

It was meant to lead you to the grace that can save you —
the grace that replaces every lesser grace:

Jesus Christ Himself.
The fullness.
The Redeemer.
The One whose blood cleanses, whose Spirit gives life, whose love conquers death.

Earlier grace awakens you.
Greater grace resurrects you.

Earlier grace says:

“There is a God, and you are accountable to Him.”

Greater grace declares:

“That God has come for you in Jesus Christ.”

Earlier grace covers shame with fig leaves.
Greater grace covers sin with blood (1 Peter 1:18–19).

Earlier grace restrains the darkness.
Greater grace transfers you out of it (Colossians 1:13–14).

Earlier grace gives you time.
Greater grace gives you life (Ephesians 2:1–5).

Grace has already positioned you here — reading this — considering truth you’ve resisted before.

Jesus Christ is the grace that replaces grace.
Because He — not the gifts you enjoy —
is the fullness of God.

If you sense something stirring — conviction, curiosity, a crack in the armor — listen to it.
That is not random.

That is grace.

Do not waste this grace.
Do not harden your heart.
Do not assume you get endless chances.

“Today if you hear His voice, do not harden your hearts.”
—Hebrews 3:15

Turn to Christ and trade lesser grace for the fullness of saving grace.

While there is still time.
While the fire is still warm.
While the Shepherd is still calling.
While grace still knocks.

You have received grace.
Now receive Christ.

“But as many as received Him, to them He gave the right to become children of God…”
—John 1:12 (NASB1995)

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