Grace For Us

A number of you may be aware of Jerry Bridges’ series of books on holiness, and the book that maybe put him on the map was Pursuit of Holiness. People were strongly motivated to obey God, to seek to honor Him, by Jerry’s writing in Pursuit of Holiness.

But he says that as he went around the country preaching on Pursuit of Holiness, there was always another sermon he had to preach after the series of messages based on the book. And he said the message that he had to preach after Pursuit of Holiness was how grace transforms us so that we can pursue holiness.

I mean, after all, it was in some measure, early on, just kind of a Nike Christianity: “Just do it. You just hunker down and try harder and do what God says here.” People were inspired but found themselves incapable. And so Jerry had to say, “Well, you know, it’s by the grace of God that you’re enabled to do what He says.”

… Here’s what happened. Jerry says the first book, Pursuit of Holiness, which was all about “you just do it,” sold some three million copies. The second book, Transforming Grace, which says it’s actually God’s grace that enables, sold 300,000 copies.

The more we talk about the grace of God rather than what we do to get God to respond to us, the less people seem to be interested. And, you know, what Jerry Bridges said was, it’s actually the grace of God that is the power of the ability to pursue holiness, and our disciplines, as we practice them, are not about somehow paying off God so that He will be good to us but, rather, are simply the means by which God gives us to open our hearts to receive the grace that helps us understand what He provides in our behalf… That inversion—understanding that His grace precedes our performance, not [that] our performance buys His grace—that shift changes everything.

Titus 2:11-14

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

Grace For Us

Brings Salvation

Instructs Us

Gives Hope

Redeems Us

Brings Salvation

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

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

So what does it mean that the grace of God will bring salvation? In Christianity, salvation (also called deliverance or redemption) is the saving of human beings from sin and its consequences—which include death and separation from God—by Christ's death and resurrection, and the justification entailed by this salvation.

A whole lot of words that mean this:

Romans 10:9

If you confess with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved.

People believe that you must do this or that to get the gift of grace that brings salvation. As you can see it takes only two things belief and confession.

Belief.

Confession.

Luke 5:31-32

31 Jesus replied to them, “It is not those who are healthy who need a doctor, but those who are sick. 32 I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance.”

This is the grace that is for us that brings salvation.

Instructs Us

Titus 2:12

12 instructing us to deny godlessness and worldly lusts and to live in a sensible, righteous, and godly way in the present age

God’s grace gives us instruction on how to live an obedient life. Parents-obedient children

We are called a child of God. Does He not expect us to be obedient too?

Proverbs 13:13

13 The one who has contempt for instruction will pay the penalty,but the one who respects a command will be rewarded.

But pastor, it is so much more fun being a rebel. And that is what we are really talking about is a rebellious spirit. The only reason rules are there are so they can be broken. Right?

Isaiah 30:1

30 Woe to the rebellious children!This is the LORD’s declaration.They carry out a plan, but not mine;they make an alliance,but against my will,piling sin on top of sin.

We discussed this a bit in our men’s Wednesday night bible study. Talk about Saul acting then seeking God’s direction, and how David was just the opposite. “Seeking the Lord’s instruction.”

We are such in a rush that we do not seek His instruction. Which is a gift of grace that is for us.

Luke 6:46

46 “Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and don’t do the things I say?

How? simple, worship, prayer and studying His Word.

Salvation, instruction

Gives Hope

Titus 2:13

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

Everything that is done in the world is done by hope.

Martin Luther

Today, it feels like hope is in short supply. It is because our hope is in the wrong place.

Cursed is everyone who places his hope in man.

Augustine of Hippo

We place our hope in our works, our government, our paycheck, our spouse…our hope is placed everywhere but where it should be.

Our hope is in Jesus Christ. That hope is placed in either His second coming or in our blessed assurance of glory after death. The grace that is for us gives us this hope.

It is this grace that gives me the hope to hear “Well done good and faithful servant.”

Not because I was perfect but because His grace is.

Salvation, Instruction and Hope

Redeems Us

Titus 2:14

14 He gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for himself a people for his own possession, eager to do good works.

Redemption (apolutrósis) refers supremely to the work of Christ on our behalf, whereby he purchases us, he ransoms us, at the price of his own life, securing our deliverance from the bondage and condemnation of sin.

When we have salvation, we follow His instruction, we understand the blessed hope in Jesus Christ, we are adopted into God’s kingdom.

Galations 3:27-29

27 For those of you who were baptized into Christ have been clothed with Christ. 28 There is no Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; since you are all one in Christ Jesus. 29 And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham’s seed, heirs according to the promise.

Notice that this is a promise given. Not just some haphazard statement. A promise for us through God’s grace. We are no longer separated from God. We are heirs and coheirs to the kingdom.