Grace that changes everything

If you have a bible open it up to Titus Chapter 2. I have titled the message this morning, “Grace that changes everything.”

I pray that I would keep my voice because man I have been really fired up to preach this message this week. This idea that grace changes everything is one thing to say but its another thing to live out. Truly the text we are in today comes in a place where Paul just got through talking about our roles as Christians, talking about confronting falsehood, and doing things for the sake of the faith all of this is possible because of God grace. This text is just a great text for us a believers to be reminded of the great grace of God, and how that truly does change everything about our lives. Even the littlest of details.

Now what I want you to see as we make our way though this passage today is this..

Main idea: Gods grace changes everything about the Christians life.

Titus 2:11–15 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. 15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

Several things I want you to take home today as we go through this text together the first is this…

God’s grace came down to us.

The amazing thing about grace is that grace in the person of Jesus Christ came to us. So many people throughout the generations even in to our own generation try so hard to get to God when in fact God came to them. WE in our sinful state do not have the ability to climb our way to the Lord in heaven he had to come down to us and extend us grace. And he extends that grace to all who believe in him. This text is not talking about universalism where all people will be saved the gospel is exclusive meaning it belongs to only those who have a relationship with Jesus Christ. Only those who repent and believe have this amazing grace.

In studying this week I found out that Paul uses the phase grace has appeared because in greek literature the gods of the times would appear to save the people from something. Some sort of danger. But Paul is saying Christ did come to save the people from something and that was to save the people from their sins. Not just for the people of that time, but for people of all times. Jesus coming down to us over 2000 years ago still has the amazing power of grace to save you.

One man said something so good. Grace is the one word summary of God’s saving act in Christ, given freely to sinners who believe.

And this grace my friends does more than just save it changes us.

Second point to make note of this morning is this…

God’s grace helps us say no, and yes.

Now this part is important to us because I know I am talking to a room full of professing believers. And God’s grace is going to help you change. In fact I would argue to you God’s grace is the basis of wanting to make any change in your life. God’s grace makes you want to say no to the things you should say no to, as well as say yes to things you should say yes to.

Now when it comes to saying no that might be hard for many of you. For my daughter Isabella its the easiest thing to say. But the problem many of you including myself may have is we are not saying no to the things we should be saying no to. BUT Its ok to say no especially if it goes against God and his word.

In fact Paul calls us to say no to ungodliness to worldly passions. Man thats alot to say no to isn’t it. Because there is alot of ungodliness alot of worldly passions. WE must learn in this Christian life to say no.

I love what Francis Schaeffer says..

We are surrounded by a world that says "no" to nothing. When we are surrounded by this sort of mentality ... then suddenly to be told that in the Christian life there is to be this strong negative aspect of saying "no" to things and "no" to self., it must seem hard. And if it does not feel hard to us, we are not really letting it speak to us...

We have a society that holds itself back from nothing... Any concept of a real "no" is avoided as much as possible.... Absolutes of any kind, ethical principles, everything must give in to affluence and selfish personal peace...

Of course, this environment of— of not saying "no"—fits exactly into our natural disposition, because, since the fall of man, we do not want to deny ourselves... And this natural disposition fits in exactly with the environment which surrounds us in the twentieth century?

Friends what do you need to say no to. I am not here to be legalist BUT I am here to tell you and to tell myself what do you need to say no to. Is something you are watching, listening to, partaking in that is leading you down a path of ungodliness and world passions. If you are caught up in the worldly passions say no to them and, and yes to the Lord.

Let us be a people who says no to the things we need to say no to because we want to be people who are using God’s grace to do what is right.

But let us also be people who say yes to the right things. The Christian life is not just about denial its about obedience. To being self-controlled. To living upright, in the place where we are called to. If Jesus is our Lord, If he has extended this glorious grace to us than we should want to live for him in the age he has called us to.

So how do we put this idea of saying no to yes in its proper place. One man says this… We must be very clear about all the requirements of grace. If anyone says that what we do earns God's love, that is legalistic trash. If anyone devises standards for us to follow that cannot be proven from Scripture, that is the rubbish of Pharisaism. But if anyone says that it does not matter to Good or his people what we do, that is selfish, un-Biblical, and damaging to the gospel of our Lord. All about us are those who are enslaved to the evil of this world.

If we pursue our liberties primarily for our own sake, then we may profess a maturity that gives us rights, but it will not support the proclamation of God's grace toward those lost in the miseries of sin. The goal of the godly is to adorn the gospel with credibility and evidence of its power in their lives. The indulgence of "ungodliness and worldly passions" ultimately is a denial of the Word of God and the message of the Savior. If our lives exhibit no freedom from the passions of this world, then our lives implicitly say the gospel makes no difference.

We must be very clear about all the requirements of grace. If anyone says that what we do earns God's love, that is legalistic trash. If anyone devises standards for us to follow that cannot be proven from Scripture, that is the rubish of Pharisaism. But if anyone says that it does not matter to Good or his people what we do, that is selfish, un-Biblical, and damaging to the gospel of our Lord. All about us are those who are enslaved to the evil of this world.

If we pursue our liberties primarily for our own sake, then we may profess a maturity that gives us rights, but it will not support the proclamation of God's grace toward those lost in the miseries of sin. The goal of the godly is to adorn the gospel with credibility and evidence of its power in their lives. The indulgence of "ungodliness and worldly passions" ultimately is a denial of the Word of God and the message of the Savior. If our lives exhibit no freedom from the passions of this world, then our lives implicitly say the gospel makes no difference.

So changed lives say no the worldly passions and ungodliness, but yes to being self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this age. Really evaluate what you are saying no to but also what you are saying yes to.

And that is motived by my next point which is this..

We live out God’s grace waiting on Jesus to return.

I believe Paul is trying to teach us something in verse 13. Waiting on the Lord helps you live out God’s grace. Just like Jesus came at the perfect time when no one expected it, so will he come again, and who is coming is truly great. Its Jesus. Who Paul refers to by two names. Did you notice that. One he is a great God? What makes him so great? Its who he is. No one is like God no one has this power his attributes he alone is God, and Jesus is our savior. Our savior Jesus Christ is coming again. The same grace that came and saved you is the same grace that is coming again. Knowing something is going happen will usually change the way you prepare. I talked about this months ago about OU season they would have prepared differently if they knew they won the national title, obviously they didn't believe that after this season. But For us we need to live out the grace of God differently because we know Jesus is going to come back. And he could come back at any moment.

which leads to my next point.

Knowing the extent of God’s grace helps us live out our faith.

Verse 14 is one you might look to memorize. In fact I want to just read it to you again. Titus 2:14

Titus 2:14 ESV

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.

You may get your pens ready on this one I have many scriptures I am about to share. But Friends God the creator of all things gave himself up. For who??? For US!! He gave himself up for us. We are talking about the God who created the universe gave himself up for us… This should be mind boggling for you and I. Ellis Crum said He paid the debt He did not own, I owed the debt I could not pay. Thats the reality. The richest man in the world could not purchase what Jesus purchased for us.

Listen to just a few scriptures.

Romans 8:31–32 ESV

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

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,

Galatians 2:20 ESV

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

Look what he did for you believer. He gave himself up for you. So as we talked about in this message you could live a life of God’s grace.

Couple more.

Mark 10:45 ESV

45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

21 For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

You look back at Titus 2:14 and see that he was Ransomed for you. The word redeemed translates to release upon the receipt of ransom. Scholars think this part of the verse could even be translated as in the place of. You ever watch a western and the guys will have this ransom on their heads price is 10 dollars for this guys head well for you and I the ransom that we owe because of our sin is our very own life, BUT… Jesus took that ransom for himself when he went to the cross to die for our sins. WE owe God our very our life for our sin, but Jesus said no this one is mine... I have paid his debt with my suffering with my death, and my resurrection. He owns nothing.

Titus says he purifies us. Not only did he give himself up for us not only did he ransom us he makes us clean.

Listen Ezk 36:25

Ezekiel 36:25 ESV

25 I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you shall be clean from all your uncleannesses, and from all your idols I will cleanse you.

He says not only do I want to save you I want to make you new. All the filth you had before me.. my death my resurrection is going to make you clean as I am clean. Again mind blown. Idk about you, but i have alot of sin and he came in and died for it not only yesterday today but forever. And as God looks at me to this day he sees the purity of his own son and if you are a believer that what he sees in you.

2 Corinthians 7:1 ESV

1 Since we have these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from every defilement of body and spirit, bringing holiness to completion in the fear of God.

There is a response from us to clean ourselves up because he has made us clean.

Ephesians 5:26 ESV

26 that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word,

The word purifies our very own life.

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

14 how much more will the blood of Christ, who through the eternal Spirit offered himself without blemish to God, purify our conscience from dead works to serve the living God.

We have been cleansed purified to serve the Lord. He made us clean so we could serve him with all our heart mind and soul with a clear heart and soul.

It does not end there church listen to this. He made you his. Some of you may need to here what I am about to say from something I read this week listen…

Having redeemed and cleansed us at such a terrible price, God's attitude toward us could be one of resentment or disdain. Instead, we are told that those he has purchased and purified, he now claims as "a people for his own possession" (v. 14d) The Greek phrase reflects the wording of Exodus 19:5 where God identified the covenant people as "my treasured possession" . The attitude of the Redeemer toward the redeemed is that we are precious to him despite the sin that required such sacrifice from him. These words breathe the grace that characterizes our God and should inspire us to do the good works that please our Savior. The people that are God's own by virtue of his unconditional favor and sacrifice are to be "zealous for good works" (v. 14e). Here again is the theme that grace leads to godliness.

Friends if you are in Christ then he gave himself up for you, he ransomed you, purified you, AND bought you. You are truly his.

1 Peter 2:9–10 ESV

9 But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. 10 Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.

Have you ever heard the hymn Jesus will love me forever?

It says.. Jesus my Lord will love me forever, From Him no power of evil can sever. He gave His life to ransom my soul, Now I belong to Him. Now I belong to Jesus. Jesus belongs to me. Not for the years of time alone, But for eternity.

And what should that truth do for you my friends? Make you zealous for good works. Have in mind always each and every day. That Jesus came down to me when I could not come to him. That he gave me this grace to ability to say when I need to say yes when I need to say yes, and I am waiting tell he comes back knowing what he has done for me. Knowing what he has done for me by coming for me ransoming me purifying me, and I am his, I want to do good works because of that.

Final point this morning is this…

We preach God’s grace knowing it changes everything.

Paul writing to Titus did not want him to ever stop declaring this glorious grace. Paul said to Titus do all this will all authority. He wants Titus to preach what is right and let no one come in between him and the message. The right message that comes only from the Word of God. Remember what he has already said Titus must be a pastor must be. Titus 1:9

Titus 1:9 ESV

9 He must hold firm to the trustworthy word as taught, so that he may be able to give instruction in sound doctrine and also to rebuke those who contradict it.

Titus 2:1 ESV

1 But as for you, teach what accords with sound doctrine.

But he wants him to do it in a way that is exhorting others to be more like Christ. While rebuking those who are not faithful.

I do not get up here and preach because I think I have all the answers, I dont get up here and preach because I think I know it all, I get up here and preach telling you the truth because we serve a God who saves, and he wants you to be more like him. His Lordship requires your obedience. And your desire to follow him should come from the amazing work he has done for you, in you, and through you by his grace.

His grace truly changes everything. Let me share one last thing for you today listen to this.. .

This passage shows us that the grace of God is the foundation for godly living in the here and now. It is rooted in Christ's past work on the cross and the promise of His future return. Martin Luther summarized how we ought to live in light of this passage. He said, "I live as though Christ died yesterday, rose again today, and is coming again tomorrow. present pursuit of godliness is sandwiched in between the death and resurrection of Christ and His second coming-the grace of His first coming and the glory of His return. Our hearts should well up with praise in response to the grace of God. It truly is amazing grace. Consider the words of this old hymn and respond in praise to our great God and Savior Jesus Christ:

Wonderful grace of Jesus, Greater than all my sin;

How shall my tongue describe it, Where shall my praise begin?

Taking away my burden, Setting my spirit free, For the wonderful grace of Jesus reaches me.

For those listening to this message I believe you are in one of two places today one you don’t know the grace of God for yourself personally. Think back of what I have said today about his grace for sinners and the grace he extends to all people, and if you don’t know that grace today. Repent believe trust in Christ to save you.

But if you are like me a believer you need to live out that grace. Remembering he has come that he is coming again. Learning how to say no and yes, and remembering just how great his grace is so you can live a life full of good works. Let us pray.