(Titus 015) Amazing Grace How Sweet the Sound (Part 2)

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

1. God’s amazing grace redeemed us. (vs. 11, 14a)

Titus 2:11 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

Titus 2:14 (ESV)

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness...

(1) A. God’s amazing grace appeared.

Write this down (something we will track through this passage): The Grace of God appeared.

This is past tense.

(We will talk about this) It happened at a specific and appointed time.

It has already happened.

Three aspects of this appearance that is important to understand.

FIRST: It was a hidden mystery but has now been revealed to all men.

Second: It came without any of our doing.

Third: Not only is grace not an abstract thought, but it has a face… it is a person.

(1) B. God’s amazing Grace brought salvation to all peoples.

2. God’s amazing grace reforms us. (vs. 12, 14b)

Titus 2:12 ESV

12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,

Write this down (continuing to track this): God grace appeared (past tense). Paul says it is training us.

This is present tense.

Happening currently and is an ongoing processes.

Salvation is not only a positional change but a progressive change.

(2) A. God’s amazing grace trains us to disown.

“renounce” (it takes discipline)

Say NO

To the habits engrained in us from our previous citizenship.

Disown

This is a discipline.

Not just saying no once, but over and over.

We are being trained to say no to certain things on an ongoing basis.

Ungodliness

Whatever attitudes and actions undermine the centrality of God in your life.

If it makes God marginal.

If it slows or impedes your relationship and growth.

Worldly passions

Hungering for and focusing on things that do not have God at the center.

They could be good things.

Luke 14:26 ESV

26 “If anyone comes to me and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be my disciple.

(2) A. God’s amazing grace trains us to disown.

Unfortunately we don’t say NO just once.

We have to train ourselves.

We have to take up our cross everyday.

We have to say no constantly.

(2) B. God’s amazing grace trains us to pursue.

“to live” (it takes discipline)

Just as disowning is a constant thing, so it pursuing.

God doesn’t tell us it is ok to take breaks from either.

self-controlled

With a sound or controlled mind

The same conduct that is to be seen in older men and taught to younger men. As well as young women.

upright

Righteously

Honestly

Refers to proper performance of our duties to fellow man.

godly lives

In a godly manner

Speaking of or relationship with God.

Being fully devoted to God.

In such a way that God can quickly be identified in us and working through us.

A reverence for God that is seen in our actions.

purity

God is purifying for Himself

Romans 8:28–30 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. 29 For those whom he foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the image of his Son, in order that he might be the firstborn among many brothers. 30 And those whom he predestined he also called, and those whom he called he also justified, and those whom he justified he also glorified.

(2) B. God’s amazing grace trains us to pursue.

Never forget that disowning and pursuing are NOT a means of gaining grace.

They are not parameters for gaining favor with God.

Rather they are a result of the underserving favor that has already been poured out on the Christian.

We see a modern Christianity that says:

Come as you are.

All are welcome.

The coffee is on us.

Sit back and relax and enjoy the next hour.

Grace says:

Come as you are.

All are welcome.

Be prepared to be changed.

Come as you are but you can’t stay as you are.

(2) C. God’s amazing grace trains us to thrive.

(vs 12) “in this present age”

We know this present age is evil.

Galatians 1:4 ESV

4 who gave himself for our sins to deliver us from the present evil age, according to the will of our God and Father,

(2) C. God’s amazing grace trains us to thrive.

We can live victoriously in this age.

Whatever happens in this age does not impact our spiritual life.

There is nothing in this present age we haven’t already been or are not currently being trained to handle.

We can’t blame this present age on our spiritual downfall.

We cannot blame this present age on the downfall of the church.

God has equipped us to thrive in the present age.

We have been delivered from it.

Parents and grandparents of little ones, let me ask you a question:

When is “this present age?”

Was it when Paul wrote to Titus and the Galatians or right now?

Is it right now, or our little ones are adults?

John 17:14–16 ESV

14 I have given them your word, and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. 15 I do not ask that you take them out of the world, but that you keep them from the evil one. 16 They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world.

(2) C. God’s amazing grace trains us to thrive.

(vs 14) “zealous for good works.”

We once could do NO good thing.

He is purifying for his own possession

The idea of slavery to God.

Zealous to work for Him.

Titus strongly focuses on the need for good works/right living.

William Mounce writes: ‘Not only has God’s grace saved believers, but it has the ongoing task of teaching them to live righteously … This verse, which emphasizes present-day obligations, contrasts with the next verse, which looks forward to the Lord’s return. Its basic thrust is repeated in v. 14. The verse deals a death blow to any theology that separates salvation from the demands of obedience to the Lordship of Christ.’

1. God’s amazing grace redeems us. (vs. 11, 14a)

A. God’s amazing grace appeared.

B. God’s amazing Grace brought salvation to all peoples.

2. God’s amazing grace reforms us. (vs. 12, 14b)

A. God’s amazing grace trains us to disown

B. God’s amazing grace trains us to pursue.

C. God’s amazing grace trains us to thrive.

3. God’s amazing grace rewards us. (vs. 13)

Titus 2:13 ESV

13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,

3. God’s amazing grace rewards us. (vs. 13)

We move from this present time to the future!

Do not lose hope!

He is coming!

Keep looking!

Continuously with expectation.

But keep your life in order while you wait.

Zealously do good works while you wait.

Our idea of waiting is passive.

The biblical idea of waiting is always active.

We are to live by the principles found in Titus 2.

In this present age.

While we wait for Christ.

Romans 8:19–25 ESV

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. 20 For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope 21 that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. 22 For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. 23 And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies. 24 For in this hope we were saved. Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? 25 But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience.

3. God’s amazing grace rewards us. (vs. 13)

Write this down (Continuing to track this): God’s grace appeared (past tense) and is currently training (present tense). Now we see it rewards us. We are waiting for it.

Future tense.

This is an all encompassing grace.

That’s why Paul writes this to the church at Ephesus:

Ephesians 2:8–10 ESV

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast. 10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

God’s grace in our lives is His greatest work of art!

The specific context is lives have been and are being saved by grace is God’s workmanship.

His masterpiece.

This all encompassing work of past, present, and future grace.

Appearing in the darkness

Transferring us out of that darkness and into the light

Training, correcting, disciplining to purify us.

Preparing us for eternity.

Like the potter molding the clay.

The is God’s greatest work of art.

When the universe was created it was called good.

When new lives were created in Christ through the Grace of God, it was called His greatest work of art!

Don’t miss that as His greatest work of art, we are to do the good things He has planned for us.

Zealous for good works!

Questions for the week:

What new thing have I learned about grace and how should that impact my life?

(Not a question) Meditate on God’s amazing grace!

Does the world see me as God’s masterpiece?