God’s Grace, Our Hope | Titus 2:11–15

Into: In 1998 during the NFL draft there was a guy named Ryan Leaf who was drafted number 2 overall. He was a great talent big, tall, strong, and on paper showed all the makings of a future hall of famer. He was drafted after a guy named Peyton Manning. Ryan was giving a big contract, had great coaches, had money, and every reason to be great but he didnt fair well and only played a few years and was for a long time considered the biggest bust in NFL history. why tell that story? Well most Christians are like Ryan Leaf. They have been given so much, they have been blessed with everything needed to do great things for the kingdom of God, but then they dont do anything with what they have been given. What we see in this text is what should be the motivation and the driving force behind all that has been taught so far and a reminder of how all that is possible.

Look at the text with me if you will.

When you see the for here this connects this section to the section that was just taught. Paul has been telling Titus that he is to teach sound doctrine. Then how that plays out in older men, older women, young women, young men, and even the slaves. He has given them the way they are to live if you remember the way they are to live is to represent God in a way that is attractive. But maybe you have not been convinced through the last two sections. Maybe you are thinking this is for the super Christians. If you are thinking that look at verse 11. For the grace of God has appeared. bringing salvation for all people. Some people would see this and think well everyone is going to be saved we are all going to be ok. Paul is telling TItus here that the grace of GOd has appeared or been revealed. What is the grace of God. Most people describe this as God’s unmerited favor. What that means is that God shows favor to people who do not deserve it. So then when does or did God show his unmerited favor? on the cross of Calvary. At the cross God showed his grace to a people who didnt derserve it when the perfect lamb God Jesus took on our sin so that we might be the righteousness of GOd. This grace of God has brought salvation to all people. is that every person on earth? You cant take one verse and make a whole belief system out of it. Remember all who call on the name of the Lord will be saved. The grace of God apeared in Jesus and it brings salvation for those who call upon him. This is one concept that I think we need to remember.

Because of God’s grace you have a forgiven past.

For conects this section with the last section. the motivation for living this life is the grace of God. God’s unmerited favor. That appeared in Jesus who came and died, who brings salvation for all people. All people is all those who call upon the name of the Lord. if you want to do more with what God has given you and you want to live for him then remember his grace his unmerited favor that brings salvation. You dont deserve it. Some of us are hung up in what weve done or how weve been. if you think like that you will be limited in what you do. Remember because of God’s grace your past has been forgiven. It doesnt matter what youv done it doesnt matter where youve been. Because of the grace of God you need to understand that through Jesus your past has been forgiven.

Tr: Others are good with that they stop there and they think Ive made it, im on the team. Im trusting Jesus as my saviour. Alot of people stop here. They want to focus on what God has done for them and then one day he will bring them home. But if you look in this text here it says that the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation for all people, this grace then is training us to renounce ungodliness and worldy passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. The grace of God should interject in every aspect of your life. Because of the grace of God unmerited favor, you have a present purpose.

Because of God’s grace you have a present purpose.

What is that purpose? to renounce ungodliness and worldy passions. This is where some get off the boat. I have been saved by the grace of God now I can do what I want to do. God’s grace trains you that mean teaches you and shows you. has the understanding of growing. Trains you to what renounce ungoldiness. that means that you should grow in hating the things that dont honor God. Ungodliness is anything that dosnt shine for Gods glory. We are good at toeing the line. We love to claim the grace of God but then we dont want to be like those crazy christians. We love to claim Jesus and be like the world. Paul tells Titus he is to disdain that means hate worldy passions. Worldly passions say do what makes you happy and do what feels good. Whats hard about that is that what makes us feel good usually takes us away from God. Why? Because our desires are contrary to God, bee of sin. because of sin we are proned to self- ceterendess, lustful thoughts, which is worldy passions. we see that the opposite of that is self-controlled, upright godly lives. Now. THis means that we have a purpsoe in this life and that purpose is not to try to get as much money as we can. THat purpose is not to try to make the best or biggest name that we can the purpose is to live lives that honor God and thats done by being self-controlled, and obeying God. Maybe you are there and you are thinking thats easy for the preacher to say. Each and everyone of us if we have given Jesus our life. We are saying that Jesus you have my life, you are my king and ruler. I am following you. I am trusting you with my life. the reason that you can say that and belive that is because of the grace of God. When you realize that you get someone you dont deserve then you it should change you. And when you are in the world and you are sinning it will burdon you because you know that Jesus gave his life for you and you are trshing his death that he gave to you and you dont deserve. His grace should motivate you to live a life that honors him.

TR: THis text shows us that because of God’s grace we can be saved then we have a purpose now, but then it also gives us a future to look forward to.

Because of God’s grace you have a future hope.

Waiting for our blessed hope. Our blessed hope is the return of Jesus. Thats what the believer gets to look forward to, the day when Jesus is going to call his people home and we will then be with him forever. Look at verse 14, what makes Jesus so great? He gave himself for us. that means Jesus gave his life for you. THe prupose is to redeem us from all lawlessness. that means he gave himself to free you from sin, to bring you to God. From past sins? Yes past, present future. Jesus’ death covers all sins. then he purifies a people for himself his possession. When you trust in him then his blood covers your sins. You are his possession. That should light you up because that means that you are sealed and secured till his return. He is the good shepherd and no one can escape his hand. He loves and takes care of his sheep till the day he comes and brings them home. is that you? Remember that is because of God’s grace. You dont deserve it. Then another question I have is are you really on the team? Are you really on the team or are you just wearing the teams jersey? THe difference is if you are wearing the jersey but not really on the team then you can live how you want and you can do what you like, you dont really care about what God is doing or what God has done you like the coach but you can still switch teams. At the end of this text Paul tells Titus that because of the grace of God the past is forgiven, they have a present purpose, and a future hope, these should make us zealous for good works.

Because of God’s grace you should be zealous for good works.

If you are truly on the team then you will be zealous to serve God. if you dont care about serving God then you might not be on the team. heres one illustration to expalin zealousness. Two students are asked to clean a classroom. the first one wipes a desk off slowly because they are asked to. the other student cleans the room because they want the room clean. There is a difference. If you are “serving” GOd because you have to then you might have forgotten about the grace of God. Here is a simple tool to help you. Everyday wake up and think about who you really are and what you deserve. you are a sinner and you deserve hell. then think about what you get, heaven then think about why you get heaven. through the work life death, and burial of Jesus. Think about why you get Jesus because of the grace of God. This will humble you and motivate you and make you zealous for good works.