God's Grace to All Men

Introduction

Yesterday, we saw how God was faithful to His promise to redeem the nation of Israel from exile. He has partially fulfilled His promise by allowing the nation to return to the Promised Land. However, we are still awaiting the time when the nation, as a whole, will turn to Jesus Christ and acknowledge Him as their Messiah.

We drew parallels from the story of the exiles in that we too are in exile here on earth. The kingdom that we belong to is God’s, and we await the time when Christ will establish that kingdom here on earth. In the meantime, we draw comfort and refuge from God, for He is our sanctuary. He has renewed us through the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, to live according to His will in a world tainted by sin and death.

Today, we will learn how God extends the same grace toward those who are outside the nation of Israel. God established the nation of Israel not just to bless it, but so that it will be a blessing to all the peoples of the earth. God accomplished this by sending His Son, Jesus Christ, into the world, so that His grace and mercy may be extended to all who believe.

Let us turn our Bibles to Titus 3:3-8. Here, Paul wrote about life before God’s grace, how we were lavished by God’s grace, and how believers should live by God’s grace.

Titus 3:3–8 ESV

For we ourselves were once foolish, disobedient, led astray, slaves to various passions and pleasures, passing our days in malice and envy, hated by others and hating one another. But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by his grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life. The saying is trustworthy, and I want you to insist on these things, so that those who have believed in God may be careful to devote themselves to good works. These things are excellent and profitable for people.

Life before God’s grace (Titus 3:3)

Details

This verse is in response to vv. 1-2 where Paul reminds believers to be submissive to authorities and do good to all people. People may ask, “Why should we do good to those who are evil?”

The Bible is clear. All of us are sinners. There is nobody who is good. (cf. Romans 3:10-18)

This includes all of us, believers. We too were born sinners. (cf. 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 1 Timothy 1:15)

This is the result of Adam's sin in the garden of Eden (cf. Romans 5:12)

Timeless truth

All humankind are born sinners and cannot do anything to be reconciled to God. Obeying God’s commands does not negate our past sins. (cf. Romans 3:20)

Application

Let us not judge others for we were once like them. Just as God extended His grace to us, let us extend that same grace to others as well. The answer to the question, “Why should we do good to those who are evil?” is, “Because God did good to us who are evil.”

Lavished by God’s grace (Titus 3:4-8)

Details

Comes from God’s goodness and loving kindness (v. 4)

God’s goodness and loving kindness led to the outpouring of His grace (cf. Romans 5:20-21; Ephesians 2:4-6)

Accomplished by the Holy Spirit (Titus 3:5)

It is not something we earned or can ever earn (cf. Romans 3:20; Ephesians 2:8-9)

It is rather a result of His mercy

We are regenerated and renewed by God’s Word and the Holy Spirit (cf. John 1:12-13, 3:5; Ephesians 5:26)

Through Jesus Christ the Savior (Titus 3:6)

The indwelling of the Holy Spirit was made possible because of the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ (cf. John 16:7)

All three persons of the God-head were involved in extending grace to us

That believers may become heirs to the hope of eternal life (Titus 3:7)

God not only justified us to reconcile us back to Him; He adopted us as His Sons. Our adoption is permanent and can never be repealed (cf. Romans 8:16-17, 8:38-39)

This is a trustworthy saying (Titus 3:8a)

Paul reiterates that this truth he has just mentioned is trustworthy. (cf. 1 Timothy 1:15, 3:1, 4:8-9; 2 Timothy 2:10-13)

Titus should insist on these things, especially when people challenge them or teach things that are contradictory.

Timeless truth

It is only through God’s grace that salvation for humankind is made possible. Humanity can never earn salvation.

God did more than just reconciling us to Him. He made us His Sons, and He made this relationship permanent.

Application

Let us praise and thank God for His goodness, loving kindness, mercy, and grace. He did for us what we could never do on our own, at great expense to Himself, because of His goodness.

Live by God’s grace (Titus 3:8b)

Details

Because God lavished His grace upon us, those who believe, we should be careful to devote ourselves to good works (cf. Ephesians 2:10)

Doing good works is excellent and profitable for people (cf. Matthew 5:16)

Timeless truth

Those transformed by God are to live according to God’s will. (cf. 2 Corinthians 5:14-15; Galatians 2:20)

Application

We should be devoted to do the good works that God has prepared beforehand for us to do. This is an appropriate response to the immeasurable grace that God has lavished upon us.

Conclusion

Praise God for His grace! We are undeserving of it, He was not under any obligation to give it to us, yet He poured it richly upon us. We are undeserving, because our life before God’s grace was characterized by sin and rebellion against God. So, let us also extend that same grace to others who are also undeserving. We were all lavished by God’s grace. It was not a result of anything we had done, but a result of God’s own goodness and loving kindness. All three persons of the God-head took part in lavishing grace upon us. Let us praise and thank God for all that He has done, all that He is doing, and all that He will do for us. Now that we have been lavished by God’s grace, let us live by His grace. Let us do good and please God in the way we live. Let us reflect Christ to others that they too may come to saving faith in Him.