Grace and Godliness
Jude • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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What is the Christians relationship to the Law? Romans 7:1-6.
The Law is the authoritative commands of God that must be obeyed. Given to Moses in Exodus to the nation of Israel and not given to the Christian.
These laws were to be obeyed in order that Israel might please God.
God’s legal code can be divided into three categories.
Moral Law, which is how to live a godly life or how to pursue personal holiness.
Ceremonial Law, which is how Israel was to worship and approach God.
Civil Law, how Israel was to conduct themselves in societal affairs
When Jesus died, He put an end to the law as a means of pleasing God and gaining righteousness, Romans 7:4.
Christians are under the Law of Christ now,
Galatians 6:2 “2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.”
Matthew 22:37-39 “37 And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the great and first commandment. 39 And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.”
Jeremiah 31:31-34 “31 “Behold, the days are coming, declares the Lord, when I will make a new covenant with the house of Israel and the house of Judah, 32 not like the covenant that I made with their fathers on the day when I took them by the hand to bring them out of the land of Egypt, my covenant that they broke, though I was their husband, declares the Lord. 33 For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, declares the Lord: I will put my law within them, and I will write it on their hearts. And I will be their God, and they shall be my people. 34 And no longer shall each one teach his neighbor and each his brother, saying, ‘Know the Lord,’ for they shall all know me, from the least of them to the greatest, declares the Lord. For I will forgive their iniquity, and I will remember their sin no more.””
There are two extremes when it comes to the Law.
Legalism
Antinomianism, antinomians believe they have a free license to live however they want to live., Jude 4 perverting the grace of our God.
Third use of the Law: John Calvin stated three uses of the Law.
Third use of the Law: John Calvin stated three uses of the Law.
First use of the Law: Pedagogical use of the Law is like a mirror. I see myself unable to obey is demands, and see my ultimate need for Jesus, Galatians 3:24 “24 So then, the law was our guardian until Christ came, in order that we might be justified by faith.”
Second use of the Law: Civil use which restrains evil protecting the righteous from unjust.
Third use of the Law: Normative use which is to enlighten the believer to what is pleasing to God. Highest use of the law, an instrument of honor and glory to God John 14:15 “15 “If you love me, you will keep my commandments.”
Grace and Law are not in opposition to one another, but work together to show the Christian.
What pleases God.
What offends God.
Justification enables the Christian to obey the law and be in a right relationship to it.
Conclusion:
Conclusion:
There is a relationship that exists between grace and godliness which shows how important is it that Christians rightly relate God’s gift of salvation to the godly life he desires.
Right living is incumbent to right beliefs Titus 2:1 “1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.”
Grace is not only a vital link in redemptions chain, but it is an essential agent to the life of the believer instructing in right living.
Grace does not allow for separation between belief and the way we live, Titus 2:1.
“Things,” behavior as it accords with sound doctrine or what the believer believes.
The definite link between sound doctrine and godly living.
The insistent teaching of the bible carries equal divine authority.
Gender identity, marital relations, sexual conduct are just as important as the key doctrines of the faith.
The precepts the Bible lays down are non-negotiable.a.
It is the obligation of every believer to cultivate the grace of God in character.
“Sound Doctrine” theology for faithful Christian living.
The Bible’s way of salvation always promotes healthy Christian living.
The Christian life is not a list of duties to perform, but a noble purpose, grace calls for a higher life, Titus 2:2-10.
Different ages, genders, and roles are all faced with different challenges in life.
The Christian life is never the same from one believer to the next.
Grace calls for godliness but does not change with challenges; maintains consistency with challenges.
We don’t stop living for Jesus just because life becomes hard or may not turn out life someone else's life.
Society needs structure in order to operate coherently, godliness is a must for these structures to operate correctly.
This is why there is such a malfunctioning within these structures.
Grace should motivate us to live counter cultural and embrace obedience, Titus 2:7-8.
Godliness is grounded in salvation that is by grace alone, Titus 2:11.
“For” Paul’s gives proof for his previous exhortation to the different groups of people.
Titus 2:1-10, this is what grace looks like on the believer; Imperative, the command to godly living.
Titus 2:11-12, this is how grace works in the believer’s life; Indicative, what constitutes godliness is grace that brings salvation.
Recap from last Sundays lesson: I cannot do anything to earn salvation by good works, Titus 3:4-5 “4 But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, 5 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,”
I am condemned, guilty of breaking God’s law; death.
I am sinful, even best efforts are tainted with sin.
“The sovereign God of creation would reach down from heaven and rescue undeserving sinners from the bondage and slavery of sin, from spiritual death and eternal separation from God in a place called hell, can only be described in one word: grace.” – Daniel Akin.
Grace has come in the person of Jesus to save all kinds of people, John 1:14-17 “14 And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth. 15 (John bore witness about him, and cried out, “This was he of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me ranks before me, because he was before me.’ ”) 16 For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. 17 For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.”
Paul is not a universalist, believing every single individual will be saved.
The reason that Christians must live godly lives, Titus 2:1-10, Jesus came to save people from every walk of life, Titus 2:11.
Unbelievers will find life in Christ compelling, even though that life is often counter-cultural and frequently costly.
God does not save all people, but he does save all kinds of people—so we all need to live in a way that commends the gospel to all kinds of people.
Godliness is grounded in reform that is by grace alone, Titus 2:12.
God’s grace does not relieve us of holy obligations.
Believers are called to still obey; the requirements have not changed.
Since believers have new standing, status, relationship, we want to obey God, and do the right thing.
Grace is the power and influence for obedience.
Titus 2:14 “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.”
2 Corinthians 9:8 “8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.”
Ephesians 2:10 “10 For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.”
Grace teaches the believer to live a holy life.
Corrective instruction in order to form proper habits.
Grace reorients the believers with respect to sin.
The Christian sees sin for what it is.
Ungodliness is not taking God into account, ignoring Him.
“Licentiousness,” Jude 4, a man who has sinned so much that he no longer cares what people say or think.
Worldly passions.
1 Peter 2:11 “11 Beloved, I urge you as sojourners and exiles to abstain from the passions of the flesh, which wage war against your soul.”
Galatians 5:19-21 “19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.”
Renouncing these sins is a progressive work of grace, taking place over time.
“Renounce” verbally renounce; deny, disown, repudiate. refuse to agree or follow as a leader (Refuse to let take over or have power); Be false to oneself, behave in a way that untrue to one’s real self.
Sanctification is a fight, requires effort, strife with sin, and discipline in our habits.
Romans 7:23 “23 but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members.”
Grace also teaches the believer to pursue positive virtues of the Christian life.
Titus 2:14 “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.”
“Zealous” enthusiasts; adherent; fiery; passionate.
Self-control, we develop mastery over ourselves
Galatians 5:
Sensibility in life comes by making the bible a priority in life, John 17:17.
John 17:17 “17 Sanctify them in the truth; your word is truth.”
Uprightly is respecting others that leaves no room for condemnation.
“Christians will labor in prayer for the sanctification of their tongues, learning to speak not in a way that tears down, but builds up.”
James 3:6 “6 And the tongue is a fire, a world of unrighteousness. The tongue is set among our members, staining the whole body, setting on fire the entire course of life, and set on fire by hell.”
Godliness is orienting our whole selves for the glory of God.
“The ultimate reason that we live in a godly way is we love Jesus, and we desire for grace to honored.” – Richard D Phillips
Conclusion/Exhortation “in this present age.”
Conclusion/Exhortation “in this present age.”
Christians live between two appearing’s.
Titus 2:11 First Appearing – Appearing of Grace.
Titus 2:13 Second Appearing – Appearing of Glory.
Paul has emphasized that Christians live between the two coming of Jesus and what the life of the believer is to be in this present age.
In between Grace and Glory, the Christian is to live a Godly life.
The motive and source for the godly life is grace and glory.
Grace appears Titus 2:11, grace teaches Titus 2:12, glory comes Titus 2:13, and grace teaches Titus 2:14.
Grace not only secures our future, but it also shapes our present lives. The gospel is the good news about our future, but the gospel is good news for now.
Personal Reflection:
Personal Reflection:
What is the hardest thing about the Christian life you have to deal with, and how does living between grace and glory help you deal with this
How are you challenged about living out what you believe, and how is it motivating you to change?
What about your life needs changing to be more effective witness to the grace and glory of Jesus?