For it was His Grace

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. (Tt 2:11–14).

The grace of God is a wonderful thing! The Christian life, from its beginning to its end, is totally dependent upon the grace of God.

Paul writes this letter to Titus to remind him of what he has said in many of his epistles in one form or another we are save by grace! Remember what he said in Ephesians "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" (Ephesians 2:8–9). Jesus told Paul My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Co 12:9). Gods grace is working for you! 8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work. (2 Co 9:8).

Your grace and mercy has brought me through. I am living this moment because of you! Grace gives us Salvation!

Salvation saves us from the penalty of sin and guarantees us eternal life in heaven with God. Look at (John 3:16–18).For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. 18 Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God. (Jn 3:16–18).

Many religions teach that salvation is achieved by things that we can do; they imply that we can be good enough to earn it, or that if we are sorry enough for our bad actions everything will be okay. But we know, No matter how good our intentions or actions are, they are not enough on their own.

While we should do good works and have contrition over our shortcomings, this is not enough to free us from the curse of sin we inherited from Adam in the Garden of Eden. We need to be delivered from the curse of sin. God's grace provides the deliverance we need. I shout today because of his grace!

Grace is God's unmerited favor which He freely bestows on us! For †his anger endureth but a moment; in his favour is life: Weeping may endure for a night, but joy cometh in the morning. (Ps 30:5).

How many know if it wasn’t for His grace! Romans reminds us that we have all sinned and fell short of the glory of God. The good news is as we learned we are justified by grace. Look at Romans 3:24-25 24 and are justified by his grace as a gift, through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus, 25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins. (Ro 3:24–25).

He loves us so He provides grace that enables us to receive the gift of salvation through Christ: "But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved" (Ephesians 2:4–5).

When we accept His gift of grace, it vindicates us and frees us from the power of sin. We are no longer separated from God or sentenced to hell, because His grace covers us and makes us sinless in His sight. We accept the gift of His eternal salvation by grace through faith.

Proper Christian behavior is based on the fact that “the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,” and therefore those who believe in Christ are to “live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives” as they await his return.

We accept God's grace by putting our faith in His son, Jesus Christ, and in the redemptive work He has done. He is the "founder and perfecter of our faith" (Hebrews 12:2).

So what is Paul saying first

We live self-controlled lives

We are living in a society that is completely out of control. The very definition of self-control is the ability to control oneself, in particular one's emotions and desires or the expression of them in one's behavior, especially in difficult situations:

Well see with the senseless shootings in our city there are a lot of people operating with no self control. We know those who are save should embody the fruit of the Spirit. Galatians 5:22 says But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law (Ga 5:22–23). Its in that same chapter we see what out of control lives look like. 19 Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, 20 idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, 21 envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God. (Ga 5:19–21).

Today we must learn to check ourselves. Let the Holy Spirit operate effectively in you. Seek God diligently, intelligently and regularly. 15 See to it that no one fails to obtain the grace of God; that no “root of bitterness” springs up and causes trouble, and by it many become defiled (Heb 12:15).

The world and its wickedness is luring the saints away from God but we must be strong. We must remain steadfast and unmovable! for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure. (2016). (Php 2:13).

We must live upright and godly lives

We have a challenge today to live upright and godly lives. What is that exactly? There has been much conversation about the Church and our worldliness. We have been taught that godliness is associated with piousness. So we make efforts to appear godly all the time missing the mark. Its easy to miss the mark because the definition says godliness is the quality of being devoutly religious; piety:

Yet religion has really messed us up. We must be careful not too be religious but to seek relationship with Christ. That relationship will cause us to live upright and godly lives! Jesus said if you love me you will keep my commandments!

We will practice loving our neighbor. We will practice justice. We will practice doing real ministry. We demonstrate it even in our giving. 6 Accordingly, we urged Titus that as he had started, so he should complete among you this act of grace. 7 But as you excel in everything—in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in all earnestness, and in our love for you—see that you excel in this act of grace also.

8 I say this not as a command, but to prove by the earnestness of others that your love also is genuine. 9 For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sake he became poor, so that you by his poverty might become rich. (2 Co 8:6–9).

We will live lives as living sacrifices. Romans 12 12 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. 2 Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. (Ro 12:1–2).

Finally We live lives waiting for Jesus

PAUL called him our blessed hope. We wait patiently for his return. Not idly but with great anticipation. 2 Thessalonians 1:10 10 when he comes on that day to be glorified in his saints, and to be marveled at among all who have believed, because our testimony to you was believed. (2 Th 1:10).

19 For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. (Ro 8:19).

2Peter 3:12 12 waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, ...... 13 But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

14 Therefore, beloved, since you are waiting for these, be diligent to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. (2 Pe 3:12–14).