God’s Amazing Grace!
Titus 2:11-14, For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.
Looking for that blessed hope, and that glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
What is the first thing that comes to your mind when you think of the word grace?
Is it the wonderful old Hymn Amazing Grace "?
Or maybe you think of the old hymn, " Wonderful Grace of Jesus."
How about, " Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that will pardon and cleanse within; Grace, grace, God’s grace, Grace that is greater than all our sin.
Our Scripture this morning, points straight to the fact that we are all recipients of God’s Grace, it is fitting that we take a fresh look at this amazing word.
Lets look at the definition of grace, Titus 2:11, tells us, For the Grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men.
This Scripture tells us three facts about grace...
1. It comes from God
2. It is designed to bring salvation
3. Everyone can receive it
This very fact refutes the ideal that salvation is only for some. If a person cooperates with God’s grace, THEY WILL BE SAVED
Lets look at Ephesians 2:4-5, But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us
Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, ( by Grace ye are saved ).
After describing the plight of the unsaved as being dead in trespasses and sin
Paul tells us that God who is rich in mercy for his great love wherewith he loved us,.....EVEN...when we were dead in sins
He hath quickened us together with Christ
by grace ye are saved...
Grace is God’s reaching out to you and to me in mercy and love.
The ultimate demonstration of His mercy and love, His grace....
Is Jesus....
In Jesus’ life and work, His sacrifice for our sins, and His resurrection, we see God’s mercy and love being extended to all people.
This is part of what John meant when he said, in John 1:17, For the law was given by Moses, but grace and truth came by Jesus Christ.
Grace, however, includes more than God reaching out to us in mercy and love.
Paul tells us that God’s grace seeks to work within each person to change them.
Describing the working of God’s grace in his own life, he says in
1Cor. 15:10, By the Grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.
What motivated Paul to stop persecuting the Christian Church and become a Christian?
What motivated him to become such an active hard working Apostle?
It was God’s Grace at work in him creating the desire and the ability to change.
Grace is what enables a person to change for the better.
We have read both Ephesians 2:4-5, and 1 Cor. 15:10, and by putting both together we can define grace...
Grace is the outreaching of God’s love and mercy to undeserving people, producing within them the desire and power to do God’s will.
This means that any desire to know God
Any desire to seek spiritual truth comes from God.
Is God’s grace only for salvation?
Or does
His grace operates in our lives to produce other changes as well?
God has grace for every need.
God has grace to help us in every area of life.
Romans 3:24, Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
Tells us of a Justifying Grace!
Justification involves God’s forgiveness of our sins, the removal of our penalty, and His acceptance of us as righteous.
It is God’s grace that creates spiritual hunger within a person, that enables a person to repent of his or her sins and exercise saving faith in Christ.
Romans 5:2, By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
As part of your justification, God grants you access to His very throne. You have a new Standing with God because you responded in obedience to His grace.
2 Cor. 12:9, And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.
We hear of a vital Grace...A Strengthing Grace!
Do you feel weak in some area of your life?
Are you struggling with difficulties?
Are you having difficulty doing God’s will?
LISTEN... Simply God assures us He has grace sufficient to enable us to be what He wants us to be and to do what He wants us to do.
Hebrews 13:9, Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines, For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
Another wonderful truth is this
We CAN ask God to increase our desire to do what we know to be right.....
We read in Romans 5:21 of Reigning Grace... That as sin hath reigned unto death, even so might grace reign through righteousness unto eternal life by Jesus Christ our Lord.
Whereas sin once Reigned in our lives....Now God’s grace is able to produce a reign of righteousness.
As we read in Ephesians 4:29, Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers
Listen…These examples of the areas of life in which God’s grace seeks to work are only the tip of the iceberg.
God has grace for every need. He is reaching out to you in love and mercy to increase your desire and your ability to do His will.
There is no reason for a Christian to accept defeat or to be discouraged in his walk with the Lord.
God has all the Grace you need
What can a person do to cooperate with God’s grace?
This brings us to vs 12-14, The deployment of grace....
Lets read Titus 2:12-14 again, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
Looking for the blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
We have learned that God’s grace comes to all and is sufficient for every need in our life.
Why then do not more of His children experience the fullness of His grace???
The answer lies in the fact that although God’s grace is free, it is not cheap......
Although God’s grace is available for all it does not automatically work in all.
There are things God requires of us IF we desire His grace to be deployed in full measure in our lives.
According to Titus 2:12-14, grace has a teaching component. It teaches us that we are to say NO to ungodliness, and worldly passions.
It is God’s grace that activates our consciences and prompts us to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope.....
The second coming of Jesus, That day when we will receive our reward in heaven..... as Scripture tells us, in Titus 2:13, Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ.
God will enable us to obey, but He does not force us to obey. The choice is ours, the choice is yours....
If we do not cooperate with the instructional component of grace, we will frustrate God’s work in our lives.
Lets look at Hebrews 13:15-16, By Him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
And do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased...
We now come to God’s INVITATION to receive more grace...
What response does God require of those who wish more grace?
How can we cooperate with God to increase the working of His multifaceted grace in our lives?
James supplies the answer...He says, He giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud....But giveth grace unto the humble...James 4:6.
Notice the promise of more ( or greater ) grace. How much grace will God give a person??
Romans 5:20, speaks of abounding grace...But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
It is saying to us, But where sin increased, grace increased all the more there is no reason for any child of God to be defeated by willful sin...
God’s grace can enable you to be more than a conqueror.
In Acts 4:33, we read of great grace...And with great power gave the apostles witness of the resurrection of the Lord Jesus: and great grace was upon them all.
Luke is speaking of God’s grace in terms of courage to do God’s will no matter the cost.
God wants to impart to His children great grace so they will have courage to confess His name, Listen....To act as salt and light, EVEN IN THE FACE OF OPPOSITION AND PERSECUTION....
We must remember, however that God does not promise special grace to the proud. Instead we read that God resists the proud.
By pride, James is referring to any attitude we adopt or any action we take that fails to measure up to God’s Word.....
Listen this morning.....WE MUST HUMBLE OURSELVES AND SUBMIT TO THE AUTHORITY OF SCRIPTURE...
It is only then that James says, we can receive an increase of God’s grace in whatever area we have need.
Submit yourself in every area of life, and claim God’s promises for you..
It is no wonder so many of us sing with thankful hearts, AMAZING GRACE, how sweet the sound, that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found...was blind, but now I see.
Many of us have found truth and encouragement in those precious words..
Listen.. He giveth more grace when the burdens grow greater, He sendeth more strength when the labors increase, to added afflictions He addeth His mercy, to multiplied trials, His multiplied peace.
His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power has no boundary known to men; For out of His infinite riches Jesus, He giveth, and giveth, and giveth again...
Whatever you NEED, GOD has the grace.......
Call out to Him....
Humble yourself in full obedience to His Word
And receive from His inexhaustible supply.....
God’s
AMAZING GRACE......
