The Grace of God has appeared

Preparation

Good morning brothers and sisters

Please open your bible to Paul's epistle to Titus chapter 2, verses 11-14

Context

Titus is one of the pastoral epistles Paul wrote to lay the foundations for pastoral ministry and the Christian life

He wrote it to his disciple Titus while on the island of Crete

He spends 1.5 chapters talking about how the Christian life should be lived differently from those around us

He concludes his exhortation with the following text

I invite you to rise for the reading of God's word

Reading

Titus 2:11–14 LSB

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.

Prayer

Prayer for the illumination of the holy spirit

Amen

You may be seated

Introduction

Titus' epistle is profound and clearly states the reality of the gospel

Paul spends the early part of this book talking about the good conduct of the Christian community

What the life of a deacon should look like

How women, men and slaves should behave

Only good doctrine and what edifies should come out of our mouths

The Christian life is ultimately a life of holiness

But it is not holiness forced upon us or produced by us.

God gives us his grace to do what he asks of us

He gives us what no one else has

He gives us Christ, who redeemed us from death, cleanses us from sin, and makes us zealous for good works.

His grace pushes us towards this holiness

And without his grace, we would continue to live like pagans

So we may ask: What is God’s grace?

God's grace is his unmerited favor towards us

It is not a reward for good behavior, but is given by God according to his will.

Christ is the manifestation of this grace.

Not only the person of Christ, but the whole work of redemption.

We need God's grace because we are sinners

We don't believe in a God who sits on his throne with his scepter, who gives us commands and punishes us if we don't fulfill them, leaving us without hope.

No, he appeared to us, walked among us, to heal the separation between us and Him

The separation caused by the sin that affects us all

Without his grace, we would continue to live unfaithful lives, full of debauchery and sin

But God's grace has appeared and compels us to live as God intends

This grace is available and freely offered to everyone without restriction

This grace saves us from sin, and trains us to be disciples of Christ

As our text this morning indicates, God's grace makes a difference in the way Christians live their lives.

Looking back at what Christ accomplished on the cross

to how it impacts our daily lives

and looking ahead to the world to come

Outline

So here's the plan for today

Since God's grace has appeared, Christ cleanses us from all lawlessness (v.14)

the basis for God's grace

Since God's grace has appeared, we are to lead godly lives (v.11-12)

The realization of God's grace in our lives

Since God's grace has appeared, we are to look to the kingdom of Christ (v.13)

The culmination of God's grace

Since the grace of God has appeared, Christ cleanses us from all ungodliness. (v.14)

God's grace wasn't free

The price was Christ

God is merciful and gracious, but he is also just, and his justice had to be satisfied because we have committed crimes against him

Our sins are high treason against the king!

And grace without justice would be injustice

verse 14 sums up it up

Titus 2:14 LSB

14 who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all lawlessness, and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good works.

Christ gave himself for us (substitution)

The verse begins by telling us that he gave himself for us, in our stead

we call this penal substitution

Christ took the place of sinners

I was the guilty one, condemned to death

When we look at the 10 Commandments, all are guilty because all have broken his law

Have you ever lied?

Have you ever looked at another woman or man with lust in your heart?

Have you ever stolen anything?

According to Jesus in Matthew 5, you're among the guilty and worthy of judgement

But Christ intervened, and took our place,

He took the blame for us

He was the substitute, and he was the only one who could do it

Apart from Christ, we have no hope of escaping God's judgment

In Genesis 22, we have an image or illustration of this substitution with Abraham and Isaac

God commanded Abraham to take his only son Isaac up a mountain to sacrifice him.

Abraham, probably reluctantly, obeyed

The two arrived at the mountain and Isaac observes that everything is present except the sacrifice.

Abraham explains that he trusts God to provide a sacrifice

Once up on the mountain, Abraham prepares to do what God has commanded.

He takes his son, his only son, the promised son, and ties him up

Genesis 22:10–13 LSB

10 And Abraham stretched out his hand and took the knife to slay his son. 11 But the angel of Yahweh called to him from heaven and said, “Abraham, Abraham!” And he said, “Here I am.” 12 And He said, “Do not stretch out your hand against the boy, and do nothing to him; for now I know that you fear God, since you have not withheld your son, your only one, from Me.” 13 Then Abraham lifted up his eyes and saw, and behold, there was a ram after it had been caught in the thicket by its horns; and Abraham went and took the ram and offered it up for a burnt offering in the place of his son.

God provided a sacrifice in Isaac's place

The ram was Issac’s substitute

In this story it was a ram that took Isaac's place, but on Calvary, God's hand didn't stop, he struck his only son

Christ took our place as that ram to pay the price for our sins as a sacrifice to satisfy God's justice

This sacrifice was perfect, never having known sin

Listen the words of the Apostle Paul perfectly laying this out

2 Corinthians 5:21 LSB

21 He made Him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf, so that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

He takes our sins and gives us his righteousness

His perfect life for our terrible sin

This is the great exchange, the just for the unjust

The innocent for the condemned

That's the good news of the gospel: that Christ died in the place of sinners!

And he does all this by his grace

In addition to taking our place, he sanctifies us and adopts us

We become Christ's property (adoption)

He doesn't just let us go free afterwards

But we become his property

We are adopted by him to be coheirs with him

After washing us, he makes us sons and daughters of God's family

We belong to the one who redeemed us

Now we have direct access to God, as Hebrews 4 says

Hebrews 4:16 LSB

16 Therefore let us draw near with confidence to the throne of grace, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

What a privilege!

We used to be enemies of God

But now, through Christ, we can confidently enter the very presence of God, for we are his.

Transition

This is the reality or basis of the gospel, what Christ accomplished at the cross

Christ takes our place, cleanses us from all iniquity, and adopts us into his family.

And he did all this for us by his grace

But What does this mean for us today?

How should this reality impact the Christian life?

Why should we live differently?

Since God's grace has appeared, we are to lead godly lives. (v. 12)

God's grace is not a license to do as you please

It's a call to holiness

We are now sons and adopted sons of God

We are also stewards of Christ's kingdom and it's our duty to act accordingly

It's a call to live differently in view of this reality through God's manifested grace

Let's reread verses 11 & 12

Titus 2:11–12 LSB

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

Grace teaches us what God likes, what he doesn't like, and what he expects of us.

The text says it teaches us something, it goes through the mind before going to the heart

We're active in this process

Living in the Present Age

The text indicates that sanctification takes place in the present age

This fallen world, this world full of darkness and shadows

Living in this world is done by the grace of the one who is more powerful than this darkness.

John 16:33 LSB

33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

We can live in the present world because Christ has conquered it

And he is always with us through his holy spirit

We're not called to abandon our society but to be salt and light among the world

We're not going to be taken away from the present time, in fact, it's God's will that we walk here

Remember Jesus' prayer to the Father in John 17?

John 17:15 LSB

15 “I do not ask You to take them out of the world, but to keep them from the evil one.

It is God's plan that we remain here on earth and, through his providence, we are kept from evil.

Renouncing godlessness and worldly desires (mortification)

Next, the what of the christian life

God's grace teaches us 2 things.

Titus 2:12 LSB

12 instructing us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

Negative in denying ungodliness and worldly desires

positively in living righteously and godly

Lets start with the first

To renounce the desires of this world

While still in the presence of sin, we must deny the desires of this carnal body

The Christian is always fighting against sin

Yes, the blood of Christ cleanses us, but on this side of the grave, we are still struggling with sin

The process of mortification, the putting to death of our sins, is the continual work of every Christian

God doesn't leave us unarmed for the fight

The apostle Paul talks about the fight against sin and our tools in the battle

Lets read Romans 8 for the tools that God gives us in this combat starting at verse 9

Romans 8:9–13 LSB

9 However, you are not in the flesh but in the Spirit, if indeed the Spirit of God dwells in you. But if anyone does not have the Spirit of Christ, he does not belong to Him. 10 But if Christ is in you, though the body is dead because of sin, yet the spirit is alive because of righteousness. 11 But if the Spirit of Him who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in you, He who raised Christ Jesus from the dead will also give life to your mortal bodies through His Spirit who dwells in you. 12 So then, brothers, we are under obligation, not to the flesh, to live according to the flesh— 13 for if you are living according to the flesh, you must die, but if by the Spirit you are putting to death the practices of the body, you will live.

If you are in Christ you are neither in the flesh nor under its reign.

Put it to death by the Holy Spirit who is more powerful

Pray that God will give you the strength to do so

To deny the worldly desires of your bodies

Don't give it any space

The road is hard, but God's grace and the gospel remain our strength

Fighting sin doesn't mean you're chained to it, it means you're alive and able to fight it

John Owen

If you fight sin, you're alive. Take heart.

But if sin holds fast unopposed, you're dead, no matter how alive that sin may be.

Take courage, holy fighters

He who is at ease with his sin, he who does not seek the holiness God demands, should be very afraid for his soul

Living in righteousness and piety (vivification)

the second thing God's grace teaches us is to live for righteousness and godliness.

Our behavior should be marked not just by what we reject, but by how we live our lives and love one another

Earlier in the epistle, Paul instructs us:

to be blameless before others,

to be sober and moderate,

to speak soundly,

to be honest and faithful

Is this true for you?

Are you known for your love?

Do your co-workers see you as kind, patient and humble?

And what about your neighbors?Or your family?

Do they hear you when you yell at your wife?

Do they hear you losing patience when you talk to your children?

Do they see you banging on something when you get angry?

Our testimony as Christians can easily be destroyed by our behavior

Paul gives this warning to Titus at the end of chapter 1

Titus 1:16 LSB

16 They profess to know God, but by their works they deny Him, being detestable and disobedient and unfit for any good work.

We can confess Christ with our mouths while our hearts are far from him.

It's well said that our actions speak louder than our words

There's a correlation between our actions and the reality of our hearts

You can try to hide it for a while, but the reality of your heart will come out at some point

If you do something and say the opposite, it's because you don't really believe what you're saying.

You're being a hypocrite!

Be honest with the reality of your heart

Are you denying your faith with your behavior?

Justification and Sanctification

Don't misunderstand me here

The exhortation to godly living does not make us more acceptable before God

These good works I speak of are actions that honor the God who saved you

Not how you earn your seat in heaven

Good works are part of sanctification, and do not make you just before God.

Paul concludes this epistle by saying

Titus 3:4–7 LSB

4 But when the kindness and affection of God our Savior appeared, 5 He saved us, not by works which we did in righteousness, but according to His mercy, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit, 6 whom He poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, 7 so that having been justified by His grace, we would become heirs according to the hope of eternal life.

It is God's mercy and grace that saves us, not whatever works we’ve done to obtain justice before God.

The Protestant Reformation was based on this specific point

The Church of Rome had hidden the good news of the gospel and twisted it.

They mixed up the place of good works in the Christian life, giving them the central place of salvation

Our flash cannot please God

This body of flesh must die before it can do anything to please God

There's only one thing that has any saving value before God

And that is Christ crucified on the cross

We are justified before God by his grace through faith in the work he accomplished

Paul states it so simply in Romans 5:1

Romans 5:1 (LSB)

1 Therefore, having been justified / by faith, / we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ,

To you who work to earn heaven,

To you who try to be a good person, hoping that God will accept your best

To us who are too often hypocrites in our “Christian” walk

Tenderly

Stop... Just stop...

The Word of God is clear

Even your best efforts won't be enough to be acceptable before God

There's only one thing he'll accept as payment for your sin

And that's Christ. He's your only hope

His payment has been accepted, and we have the assurance of it, because after his death, what happened?

He was resurrected 3 days later

His payment was accepted by God and he obtained eternal life for all who believe in him.

The debt was paid

Romans 6:23 LSB

23 For the wages of sin is death, but the gracious gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.

To you who don't yet know Christ, it's not too late

Repent, recognize that your efforts are futile and that you need a savior

Put your faith in him, to be forgiven of your sins, and to be justified by him

And to you who walk with Christ but too often lean on your own strength

Repent and acknowledge that all has been accomplished, that eternal life is found in Jesus Christ.

The word of God says in Ephesians 2

Ephesians 2:8–9 LSB

8 For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; 9 not of works, so that no one may boast.

Grace is offered to you. Take it by faith

It is free. It will cost you only your pride

Transition

God's grace has appeared on Calvary

It teaches us how to live the Christian life in today's world.

But that's not all

It also urges us to look to the future

Since God's grace has appeared, we are to look to Christ's kingdom. (v.13)

Let's reread verse 13

Titus 2:13 LSB

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

This is the next thing grace teaches us

we are to Look

Look - in the sense of waiting hopefully for what’s to come

Looking towards the blessed hope

God's grace teaches us to look to him, not to the present world

The final fulfillment of your salvation is not here on earth, but awaits you up above

Don't look to authorities, politicians or even pastors to save you

God may place people on our path to accomplish his plan, but ultimately our hope must be in Christ alone

We must keep our eyes fixed on Christ to get through the difficulties of this world

If we look at the storm around us, we'll fall

There will be a time when we will be delivered from the presence of sin

Sanctification will stop, for it will be concluded

But before that glorious moment, we must live in the present world in anticipation of the one to come

Scripture gives us many illustrations of how to look to God in times of distress

For example, Peter's story of walking on water

Matthew 14:26–31 LSB

26 Now when the disciples saw Him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” And they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered and said to Him, “Lord, if it is You, command me to come to You on the water.” 29 And He said, “Come!” And getting out of the boat, Peter walked on the water and came toward Jesus. 30 But seeing the wind, he became frightened, and beginning to sink, he cried out, saying, “Lord, save me!” 31 And immediately Jesus stretched out His hand and took hold of him, and said to him, “You of little faith, why did you doubt?”

Instead of looking to Christ, he looked to his surroundings, to the storm, and what happened to him?

He sank into the sea, but Christ was there to help him, to support him.

To lift him out

We're all like Peter from time to time

It's easy to turn away from Christ, sometimes we don't even realize it until we're in the water

But cry out to him, and he'll be there to help you

His grace is always there to catch you when you fall

Looking ahead to the Second Coming of Christ

Yes the narrow road is long, but it has an end

This world won't last long

It's temporary

I liked what Jonathan Edwards had to say about the Christian walk

Jonathan Edwards

The path to heaven is upward; we must be content to climb, even if it is difficult and tiring, and contrary to the natural tendency of our flesh.

Christ has promised us that he will return on the clouds with his army

He will conquer this world and all the darkness that encompasses it

We know the end of the story

John 14:2–3 LSB

2 “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. 3 “And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

We go to our Savior who has prepared a place for us

The final rest awaits us

Look to Christ!

Look to his kingdom and his arrival at the end of time!

Conclusion

But until then, God's grace is sufficient for us

We won't be removed from this world before the end, so we have to learn to live down here

And God has manifested the grace necessary to do so

Christ cleanses us from all sin and unrighteousness, since his grace has appeared

He is the perfect substitute for us, giving us his righteousness and taking our sin

We are called to lead godly lives because his grace has appeared

Life is not always easy but God is there with us in our suffering

Our hope is for the heavenly kingdom, since his grace has appeared

Don't let your gaze be diverted by the storm, but keep your eyes fixed on Christ

Remember the last words of the Bible

Revelation 22:20–21 LSB

20 He who bears witness to these things says, “Yes, I am coming quickly.” Amen. Come, Lord Jesus. 21 The grace of the Lord Jesus be with all. Amen.

Amen