Trained by saving grace.

INTRO

Last week we looked at the qualities of a healthy flock. We seen that in order to have a healthy flock sound teaching must be taught. Then we looked at the individual roles and responsibilities for believers of all age groups. To sum up, a healthy flock or church, consist of sound preaching and sound living. Tonight we are going to see how and why believers are able to live sound lives. The how is due to the transforming work of grace; the why is due to God’s grace that was displayed in our redemption.

The Appearance of Saving Grace. Titus 2:11-13

Grace Define

Grace (Gk. charis); good will; favor. Conveys the sense of a gift of kindness and favor given to a person or persons. God’s grace is unmerited divine favor, a favor from which many gifts spring from. Center to the bible and all His works. All the works of God—creation, covenants, promises, his word, redemption—all spring from His grace. J. Gresham: “The very center and core of the whole Bible is the doctrine of the grace of God.”

In His nature. Exodus 34:6

Exodus 34:6 ESV

The Lord passed before him and proclaimed, “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness,

Various Kinds of grace.

Common grace: the favor God shown to all mankind that is less than salvation. “For he makes his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and unjust” (Matt. 5:45).

Prevenient grace: Taught by Wesleyan-Arminian theology. In theory, prevenient grace is extended to all and enables them to make a free choice for or against God.

Special grace: is saving grace, the Spirit’s work of applying Christ’s atonement to humans.

Justifying and sanctifying grace: “future grace.” Reformed theology states that saving grace is effectual and irresistible, because it is sovereignly ordered by God.

Issues historically. Protestants, Roman Catholics, Wesleyan-Arminians, the Free Grace, the Reformed, and the Orthodox all formulate their views on grace differently. The central issue separating them tends to do with when or how merit (good works) cooperates with divine favor. In most non-Christian religions, grace is absent; if not, grace is seen as God’s enablement, as divine help that allows man to achieve salvation. As the Book of Mormon famously says, contradicting by addition Paul’s wording in Ephesians, “It is by grace that we are saved, after all we can do” (2 Nephi 25:23).

Revealed in the person and work of Jesus Christ. John 1:14-18

John 1:14–18 ESV

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. (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.’ ”) For from his fullness we have all received, grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ. No one has ever seen God; the only God, who is at the Father’s side, he has made him known.

Titus 3:4–6 ESV

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,

The Appearance of Saving grace brought salvation for all people.

What does salvation mean? What are we saved from?

Salvation (Gk. soterios); bringing salvation; saving. From the root word (sozo) “to save”, and “to deliver.”

Saved from the power and effects of sin. Specifically from the wrath of God. Romans 5:9

Romans 5:9 ESV

Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.

1 Thessalonians 1:10 ESV

and to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, Jesus who delivers us from the wrath to come.

Saved by God alone. Eph 2:8-9

Ephesians 2:8–9 ESV

For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

All people.

All people does not imply “universalism.” Which teaches the guarantee of salvation for every single person that has ever lived. All people refers to “all classes of people.” This is evident by the classes of people—young, old, male, female, slaves—in the preceding verses.

We must keep in mind the context and theme of the NT. The NT is a fulfilment of the promises made to Abraham that in him all nations of the earth shall be blessed. At the close of Matthews gospel, Jesus commissions his Apostles to ‘make disciples of all nations.’ As Gentiles, who before was without hope, should appreciate this verse. Scriptures to consider: Psalms 67:2

Psalm 67:2 ESV

that your way may be known on earth, your saving power among all nations.

1 Timothy 2:4 ESV

who desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

The appearance of saving grace empowers godliness and holiness.

“ungodliness” (Gk. asebeia); impiety. Lack of respect for God.

“passions” (Gk. epithymias); lust; cravings. 1 Peter 4:2

1 Peter 4:2 ESV

so as to live for the rest of the time in the flesh no longer for human passions but for the will of God.

1 John 2:16 ESV

For all that is in the world—the desires of the flesh and the desires of the eyes and pride of life—is not from the Father but is from the world.

According to one commentary: Repentance requires one to “renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.” In this context, “ungodliness” refers to “sacrilegious words and deeds” (BDAG, s.v. ἀσέβεια). “Worldly passions” denotes the sinful desires that produce such deeds (“passions” = “desires,” Gk. epithymia; cf. comment on 2 Tim. 2:22).

grace teaches us to deny sinful desires and deeds.

Grace not only prohibits sin but commands and enables us to live godly lives “in this present age.” According to one commentary: “ Even though Christians are not yet what they will be in the age to come, God’s grace nevertheless has transforming effects on the sinner’s character in advance of that day. Grace does not produce perfection in this life, but it does decisively change the direction of the sinner’s life.”

The appearance of saving grace trains us to wait for our blessed hope.

refers to Christ second coming.

“waiting for” (Gk. prosdechomai); look forward to; wait for. Waiting with expectations to receive something. More specifically the kingdom of God.

1 Corinthians 1:7–9 ESV

so that you are not lacking in any gift, as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who will sustain you to the end, guiltless in the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God is faithful, by whom you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

2 Peter 3:11–15 ESV

Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be set on fire and dissolved, and the heavenly bodies will melt as they burn! But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells. Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. And count the patience of our Lord as salvation, just as our beloved brother Paul also wrote to you according to the wisdom given him,

“Waiting” indicates that the Christian life is one of patient endurance, no matter the trial. We are to “wait” for our “blessed hope.” Believers are able to endure because they have “hope.” Hope is not wishful thinking; it is confident expectation that God will do as he promised.

The “blessed hope” is the promise that will share in Christ glory when He appears. Christ appeared once in grace and will appear a second time in glory.

Romans 5:2 ESV

Through him we have also obtained access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

Colossians 1:27 ESV

To them God chose to make known how great among the Gentiles are the riches of the glory of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

Colossians 3:4 ESV

When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.

The unbelievers do not have this hope. For them, the Day of the Lord will be a day of “wrath and furry.” Rom. 2:4-8

Romans 2:4–8 ESV

Or do you presume on the riches of his kindness and forbearance and patience, not knowing that God’s kindness is meant to lead you to repentance? But because of your hard and impenitent heart you are storing up wrath for yourself on the day of wrath when God’s righteous judgment will be revealed. He will render to each one according to his works: to those who by patience in well-doing seek for glory and honor and immortality, he will give eternal life; but for those who are self-seeking and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, there will be wrath and fury.

Colossians 3:5–6 ESV

Put to death therefore what is earthly in you: sexual immorality, impurity, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. On account of these the wrath of God is coming.

This day they will finally be judged for their sins 2 Peter 2:9

2 Peter 2:9 ESV

then the Lord knows how to rescue the godly from trials, and to keep the unrighteous under punishment until the day of judgment,

We must warn unbelievers of the wrath to come.

The cost of saving grace. Titus 2:14

Gave himself.

Christ willingly laid down His life for us. He became our substitute on the cross. Gal 3:13

Galatians 3:13 ESV

Christ redeemed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us—for it is written, “Cursed is everyone who is hanged on a tree”—

Christ gave himself on the cross for believers for two purposes—to redeem them and to purify them.

Redemption

redeemed. (Gk. lytroo); redeem; to rescue, ransom, set free, liberate from an oppressive condition. Set free by paying a ransom price. In the OT land and slaves could be redeemed by a kinsmen redeemer. In the NT, the sufferings of Christ are seen as the redemption price for our salvation. Matt. 20:28

Matthew 20:28 ESV

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

1 Peter 1:18–19 ESV

knowing that you were ransomed from the futile ways inherited from your forefathers, not with perishable things such as silver or gold, but with the precious blood of Christ, like that of a lamb without blemish or spot.

Christ redeemed us from not only the penalty of sin, but also the power of sin.

lawlesness. anomia lawlessness; lawless deed. Violation of the law. Christ not only redeemed us from the punishment of sin, but he also redeemed us from its power.

Purification.

purify. (Gk katharizō); make clean; cleanse; purify. Christ redemption results in the believers cleansing. see. Ezek 37:23

Ezekiel 37:23 ESV

They shall not defile themselves anymore with their idols and their detestable things, or with any of their transgressions. But I will save them from all the backslidings in which they have sinned, and will cleanse them; and they shall be my people, and I will be their God.

This cleansing results in our sanctification.

Redemption aimed at a particular, chosen people, taking them to be God’s special treasure in covenant relationship with him.

Israel as God’s special people in the OT. Ex. 19:5

Exodus 19:5 ESV

Now therefore, if you will indeed obey my voice and keep my covenant, you shall be my treasured possession among all peoples, for all the earth is mine;

Deuteronomy 7:6 ESV

“For you are a people holy to the Lord your God. The Lord your God has chosen you to be a people for his treasured possession, out of all the peoples who are on the face of the earth.

In the NT, believers are God’s special people. Eph. 1:3-6

Ephesians 1:3–6 ESV

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places, even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him. In love he predestined us for adoption to himself as sons through Jesus Christ, according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the Beloved.

1 Peter 2:9 ESV

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.

Good works.

zealous for good works. The mark of being God’s special people. Eph. 2:10

Ephesians 2:10 ESV

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

The preaching of saving grace. Titus 2:15

Declare these things. Chapter 2 begins with Paul’s exhortation to “teach sound doctrine” and ends with Paul saying, “declaring these things”; which refers back to all of chapter 2.

Exhort and Rebuke.

exhort (Gk. parakaleō); urge; implore. Titus must encourage others to live out their faith.

Titus is not to just encourage but also rebuke.

rebuke (Gk. elenchō); expose; reprove; convict. Titus must rebuke those who depart from the faith. Titus 1:13

Titus 1:13 ESV

This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

1 Timothy 5:20 ESV

As for those who persist in sin, rebuke them in the presence of all, so that the rest may stand in fear.

All authority.

As Christ minister, Titus is to exhort and rebuke with all authority. Titus must do this in a way that no one looks down on you. Without personal holiness, Titus will lose his hearers. 1 Tim. 4:12

1 Timothy 4:12 ESV

Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity.

CONCLUSION AND APPLICATION.

As we have seen, grace is not cheap. Any grace that saves but doesn’t transform is cheap grace; its not really grace at all. So we need to ask ourselves:

‘Have we been saved and transformed by this grace?’

‘Do we live our lives in a manner that reflects the work of grace?’

‘Are we preaching a grace that transforms us?’