Four Words Concerning God's Amazing Grace

FOUR WORDS CONCERNING GOD’S AMAZING GRACE – Part 1 of 2

Titus 2:11-15

INTRODUCTION:

A. Your worst days are never so bad that you are beyond the reach of God’s grace. And your best days are never so good that you are beyond the need of God’s grace.

1. The words of Jerry Bridges ring clear concerning Grace

2. Pleasant words indeed – Grace, God’s Amazing Grace

3. It is something we need to hear more about in our churches and practiced more in our communities!

B. Many definitions could be given to grace but let’s keep it simple

1. Grace can be defined as “free unmerited favor”

2. When attached to God, as in “God’s grace” it is the free unmerited favor that God shows towards man.

C. In speaking about grace Charles Swindoll recalls his last spanking when he turned 13 years old.

1. Chuck said, “Having just broken into the sophisticated ranks of the teen world, I thought I was something on a stick.

2. My father wasn’t nearly as impressed as I was with my great importance and new-found independence. “I was lying on my bed. He was outside the window on a muggy October afternoon in Houston, TX, weeding the garden. He said, ‘Charles, come out and help me weed the garden.’ I said something like, ‘NO, IT’S MY BIRTHDAY, REMEMBER?’

3. “My tone was sassy and my deliberate lack of respect was eloquent. I knew better than to disobey my dad, but after all, I was the ripe old age of thirteen.

4. Dad set a new 100-meter record that autumn afternoon. He was in the house in a flash and all over me like white on rice, spanking me all the way out to the garden.

5. As I recall, I weeded until the moonlight was shining on the pansies. “That same night he took me out to a surprise dinner.

- Earlier, he gave me what I deserved

6. The birthday dinner was a matter of grace (I did not deserve it). He showered his favor on this rebellious young man. And I enjoyed grace.”

D. Grace what an amazing thing! AMEN!

1. This morning we sang one of the greatest hymns ever written, as far as I am concerned – Amazing Grace

2. It was written by John Newton. A self proclaimed wretch, moral despot.

3. As a mid-shipman upon the man-of-war, H.M.S.Harwich (1744) he found the conditions intolerable and deserted

4. He was found, flogged, demoted to common seaman, and at his request traded to a slave ship, where as the servant of a slave trader he was brutally abuse.

5. In 1784 he was rescued by a captain who had known his father and was eventually promoted to captain of his own ship.

6. On May 10, 1748 John was saved after coming through a bad storm and while reading a book he had found on board ship entitled The Incarnation of Christ by Thomas a’ Kempis

7. Between 1755 and 1760, having left slave trading, he met George Whitefield and John Wesley, began to preach and became friends with the poet William Cowper

8. He and Cowper set a goal to write a new hymn for each service they held

9. Amazing Grace was probably written as one of these service songs somewhere between 1760 and 1770, no doubt as Newton contemplated God’s grace, amazing grace towards himself

10. At age 82, near to death and his memory all but gone he said, “My memory is nearly gone but I remember two things: that I am a great sinner, and that Christ is a great Savior.”

11. The grace of God is truly Amazing Grace!

E. And so this morning I want to bring the first of two messages that will take a look into this Amazing Grace of God .

1. Please turn in your Bibles to Titus 2:11-14,

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

2. In these four verse we can find evidence of Four Words Concerning God’s Amazing Grace and they are:

a. Salvation

b. Sanctification

c. Expectation

d. Consecration

3. So let’s ask God to open the riches of His grace as we delve into the first two words Concerning God’s Amazing Grace!

PRAY

We will begin with a wonderful Word Concerning God’s Amazing Grace

I. SALVATION - Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,… Here we have two observations from this word concerning God’s Amazing Grace