When Grace Appeared

Introduction

We live in a time where we see displayed before us immeasurable forms of evil; abortion, adultery, murder, homosexuality, genocide, racism, and on and on we go. Along with that we have the recent weather and earthquake catastrophes. So what should be our response? Certainly God did not intend for us to rub shoulders with such filth, or did he? Or he certainly didn’t mean for us meet everyone’s need, right? Are we to assume that the sovereign God not only called us to live here, but has given us an assigned task to accomplish while we do so? Am I to understand that as we live and breathe in this evil world or come across immense human needs or suffering that somehow we are to live godly, free of sin and shine the gospel light dispelling this darkness, and furthermore, spread our salt to make men thirsty for God, while sharing the love of Christ in tangible ways? But how? We become frustrated because instead of making progress in our assigned task, we find ourselves merging into the very evil culture that we are trying to reach. Or we find ourselves callused to human suffering that doesn’t immediately effect us. So what’s the answer? Is there a way in which we at Ebenezer Bible Fellowship Church can have a profound affect on our surrounding communities, and even the world?

Hymn: Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Hymn: Wonderful Grace of Jesus

Text: Read (page 998)

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 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.

Theme and Background of Titus

In Paul’s letter to this young preacher of the church in Crete, he declares that there is an inseparable link between faith and practice, belief and behavior. Paul in essence is saying that we will never reach anyone just with our confessions of faith. Those confessions must be accompanied by a transformed life of practice and behaviour that is a product of God’s continual, powerful, sustaining Grace.

Paul gives the theological basis for the lifestyles he has described in vv. 1–10. Christians should live this way because (“for”) the grace of God that saves also instructs its recipients to live in a new way

Main Idea -

Main Idea

Since God's Grace (unmerited favor) has appeared, we who receive his grace will be transformed by it to live and accomplish its purpose.

Background

1. God's Grace has Appeared to Bring us Salvation ()

A displayed grace (11a)- God's desire to display his glory by bringing his grace into view. (; )

Baker New Testament Commentary: The Pastoral Epistles 2:11–15

This grace has penetrated our moral and spiritual darkness. It “has appeared.” The verb used in the original is related to the noun epiphany, that is, appearing or manifestation (for example, of the sun at sunrise). Upon those sitting in the darkness and in the shadow of death the grace of God had suddenly dawned (see also Mal. 4:2; Luke 1:79; Acts 27:20; and Titus 3:4)

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Romans 5:1–2 ESV

Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 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.

1 Corinthians 1:4 ESV

I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that was given you in Christ Jesus,

A saving grace (11b)- God’s grace is his active favor bestowing the greatest gift upon those who have deserved the greatest punishment ()

Baker New Testament Commentary: The Pastoral Epistles 2:11–15

This grace has penetrated our moral and spiritual darkness. It “has appeared.” The verb used in the original is related to the noun epiphany, that is, appearing or manifestation (for example, of the sun at sunrise). Upon those sitting in the darkness and in the shadow of death the grace of God had suddenly dawned (see also Mal. 4:2; Luke 1:79; Acts 27:20; and Titus 3:4)

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Titus 3:4–5 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,

A non-discriminating grace (11c)- God's grace is for all, older men, older women, younger men, younger women, slaves, and masters (2:1-10). (; ; )

Male or female, old or young, rich or poor: all are guilty before God, and from them all God gathers his people. Aged men, aged women, young women, young(er) men, and even slaves (see verses 1–10) should live consecrated lives, for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to men of all these various groups or classes. “All men” here in verse 11 = “us” in verse 12. Grace did not bypass the aged because they are aged, nor women because they are women, nor slaves because they are merely slaves, etc. It dawned upon all, regardless of age, sex, or social standing. Hence, no one can derive, from the particular group or caste to which he belongs, a reason for not living a Christian life.

Male or female, old or young, rich or poor: all are guilty before God, and from them all God gathers his people. Aged men, aged women, young women, young(er) men, and even slaves (see verses 1–10) should live consecrated lives, for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to men of all these various groups or classes. “All men” here in verse 11 = “us” in verse 12. Grace did not bypass the aged because they are aged, nor women because they are women, nor slaves because they are merely slaves, etc. It dawned upon all, regardless of age, sex, or social standing. Hence, no one can derive, from the particular group or caste to which he belongs, a reason for not living a Christian life.

Male or female, old or young, rich or poor: all are guilty before God, and from them all God gathers his people. Aged men, aged women, young women, young(er) men, and even slaves (see verses 1–10) should live consecrated lives, for the grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to men of all these various groups or classes. (William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 371.)

William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 371.

William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 371.

William Hendriksen and Simon J. Kistemaker, Exposition of the Pastoral Epistles, vol. 4, New Testament Commentary (Grand Rapids: Baker Book House, 1953–2001), 371.

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Revelation 5:9–10 ESV

And they sang a new song, saying, “Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain, and by your blood you ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation, and you have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on the earth.”

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Ephesians 2:14–16 ESV

For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility by abolishing the law of commandments expressed in ordinances, that he might create in himself one new man in place of the two, so making peace, and might reconcile us both to God in one body through the cross, thereby killing the hostility.

Galatians 3:28–29 ESV

There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you are Christ’s, then you are Abraham’s offspring, heirs according to promise.

2. God's Grace has Appeared to Train us for godly living ()

Renounce ungodliness and worldly passions

renounce (arneomai) - to deny [verb, aorist, middle, participle, plural, nominative, masculine | adverbial participle] - "after having denied"

ungodliness (asebeia) impiety - blatant disregard for the character of God and his commands

worldly passions (τὰς κοσμικὰς ἐπιθυμίας) - the passions that drive this world, opposed to the spiritual realm

Live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives

live (ζήσωμεν) - to live [verb, aorist, active, subjunctive, first person, plural | finite verb] - the verbal action is probable and intentional

self-controlled (σωφρόνως) - Sense: moderately – in a wise manner as keeping self-control over one’s passions and desires.

upright (δικαίως) - Sense: justly – in accordance with moral or social standards.

godly (εὐσεβῶς) - Sense: piously – showing fitting and proper respect or reverence to (a deity or other deserving figure)

To be a model in this present age () -

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Titus 2:7 ESV

Show yourself in all respects to be a model of good works, and in your teaching show integrity, dignity,

grace trains us in order that “in the here and now” (this present age; cf. ; ; then ; ; ; contrasted with the coming age in ; cf. ) we may live lives which display a changed relation:

to oneself: “selfmastery,” making the proper use of such desires or drives as are not sinful in themselves, and overcoming those that are sinful;

to the neighbor: “fairness,” honesty, justice, integrity in dealing with others;

to God: “devotion,” godliness, true piety and reverence with respect to him who alone is the proper Object of worship.

God's Grace has Appeared to prepare us for the blessed hope () Waiting for Christ's return (Waiting - contemporaneous participle) - Sense: to wait (look forward) – to look forward to the occurrence of or arrival of. Working until Christ's return (; ) God's Grace has Appeared to claim us for his own pocession () Christ redeemed us individually from lawlessness () Christ is purifying us corporately for himself (; ) Christ owns us as his special people () We in turn are to be zealous for good works ()

3. God's Grace has Appeared to Prepare us for the blessed hope ()

Waiting for Christ's return

(Waiting - contemporaneous participle) - Sense: to wait (look forward) – to look forward to the occurrence of or arrival of.

Working until Christ's return (; )

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1 Corinthians 15:58 ESV

Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

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Philippians 2:12–13 ESV

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

4. God's Grace has Appeared to claim us for his own possession ()

Christ redeemed us individually from lawlessness ()

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.

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Christ is purifying us corporately for himself (; )

Hebrews 9:14 ESV

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.

Ephesians 5:25–27 ESV

Husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her, that he might sanctify her, having cleansed her by the washing of water with the word, so that he might present the church to himself in splendor, without spot or wrinkle or any such thing, that she might be holy and without blemish.

Christ owns us as his special people ()

1 Corinthians 6:19–20 ESV

Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body.

We in turn are to be zealous for good works ()

ζηλωτής zēlōtēs zealous; zealous adherent - noun, accusative, singular, masculine Sense: enthusiast – a fervent and even militant proponent of something.

noun, accusative, singular, masculine Sense: enthusiast – a fervent and even militant proponent of something.

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.

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.

So What?

So What?

Grace, bringing salvation is more then just a conversion experience

Grace means godly living

Grace means waiting for the return of Christ

Grace means we belong to Christ and prove it through diligent good works.

Hymn: Grace Greater Then Our Sin