Titus 2:11-15 “For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; 13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; 14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. 15 These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.”?
GOD’S AMAZING GRACE
Intro: Grace is defined as the “underserved love and favor of God toward fallen man.” When you take a moment and consider all that that means, it is an awesome thought! It means that any sinner can be saved! Any storm can be weathered. Any situation can be faced. When we sing Amazing Grace, we are telling the truth. This passage is one of the clearest in the Bible on grace and its results. Notice three facts about God’s amazing grace.
I. v.11 GRACE SAVES US
A. Grace brings salvation – Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 4:3 For what saith the scripture? Abraham believed God, and it was counted unto him for righteousness. 4 Now to him that worketh is the reward not reckoned of grace, but of debt.
5 But to him that worketh not, but believeth on him that justifieth the ungodly, his faith is counted for righteousness. (Ill. Too great a sinner – Rom. 5:20 Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:
B. Salvation Means that the Christian has been:
- Cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus – Rev. 1:5 “Unto him that loved us, and washed us from our sins in his own blood,” (His blood) ( v. 14 – Redeemed; Purified; Gave – it was 100% God)
- Delivered eternally from the penalty of sin – Rom. 6:23; John 10:28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand. 29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father’s hand. 30 I and my Father are one.
(delivered from Judgment, Hell and the awfulness of both) - Assured of Heaven when we die – John 14:1-3; 2Cor. 5:6 Therefore we are always confident, knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: 7 (For we walk by faith, not by sight:)
8 We are confident, I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.; Martha unto Jesus, Lord, if thou hadst been here, my brother had not died John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: 26 And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this?
C. Do you know Jesus? Ill. The necessity of the New Birth -John 3:3 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.
Acts 16:31 Jailer “Believe on the Lord Jesus Christ, and thou shalt be saved,”; John 3:16; John 6:47 “He that believeth on me hath everlasting life.” (Rom. 10:9-10 – Confess and believe – You can be saved)
I. v.11 GRACE SAVES US
II. v.12 GRACE SCHOOLS US (Teaches Christian Living)
A. Teaches the negative side of Christian living: What to avoid!
- Ungodliness – Anything that does not glorify God – 1Cor.10:31.”whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God.”
- Worldly Lusts – James 4:4; 1John 2:16 “ For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world.”
B. Teaches the positive side of Christian living: What to do!
Soberly – Our Self – Col. 3:16 “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord.”
The big change 2Cor. 5:17) (Il. Your Character – What you are when you are alone!) - Righteously – Our Fellowman – Rom. 12:18 “If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men.21 Be not overcome of evil, but overcome evil with good.”
( Our method- Mt. 22:39”Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself”; Our Motive – Mt. 5:16 “”Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.) Ill. Your Reputation – What people think you are!; Not always true) - Godly – Our God – Col 3:15 “And let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to the which also ye are called in one body; and be ye thankful.”(All we do should be to please Him – (What you really are – Heb. 4:13)
C. Grace will teach you how to live. I’m glad that God is patient with His little children! That’s just His grace!
I. v.11 GRACE SAVES US
II. v.12 GRACE SCHOOLS US
III. v.13-14 GRACE SEPARATES US (Provides the Christian with Hope) Our hope as believers separates us from the rest of the world!
A. Causes us to look for Christ – Jesus is coming! John 14:1-3; 1Thes 4:13-18”But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
16 For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first:
17 Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord.
18 Wherefore comfort one another with these words.”
B. Causes us to be a peculiar people – (A people for His own possession) 1 Cor. 6:19-20”What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
(This relationship promises us special blessings – Heb. 13:5”for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.”; Phil. 4:19 “shall supply all your need according to his riches”, etc.) (Hope now!)
C. Causes us to be zealous of good works – Eph. 2:8-10; James 2:17-18