Transfer of Grace
Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Intro: Most parents don’t have to be parents very long before they realize what a huge responsibility they have. Not only do they face the realization that their little tiny baby is depending on them for its survival, but also, as that baby grows and begins to do what the parents do and repeat what the parents say, most parents become aware of how much is riding on their delicate ability to set a good example. Experts tell us that the most formative years of a person’s life are birth to 5 years old. How’s that for pressure on parents?
-So most parents hopefully come to a place where they ask this question: “How can I transfer the good character traits I have to my children?” And the next question is, “How can I avoid transferring my vices, weaknesses, and failures to them?” Well, there is no easy answer to that, but let me offer a few thoughts on the subject. First, understand that those who lead well follow well. Do you want to lead your family in the right direction, helping them grow up and become productive citizens who are part of the solution, not part of the problem? Then decide who you are going to follow! But choose carefully because your kids (and perhaps many others) will be right behind you!
-Now I don’t know about you, but I don’t have what it takes to lead my family in the right direction. Not on my own. I am grateful that I don’t have to be the perfect Dad in order to keep my kids on the right track. Why not? Because I have the perfect Savior, whose grace is enough to help me do what would be impossible without Him! As I do life with the God who loves me, there is a transfer of grace from Jesus to me that makes all the difference. And as I lead my family and do life with them, there is also a transfer of grace that flows from me to them.
-Of course this isn’t just about our kids. It is about us and about anyone our lives touch in a significant way. The important thing is that you put yourself in a position where God’s grace is being transferred to you because you trust Him and are connected with Him in relationship. And that’s really what this passage in Titus 2 is all about. God’s grace is available to us, and will make the difference in us! Let’s break it down and look at it.
1. God’s Grace brings salvation (11a)
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation…”
-The Bible talks a lot about being saved. Romans 10 says, “Whoever calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.” John 3:17 "For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through Him might be saved.” Jesus also said that He came to seek and to save those who were lost.
-And this is all about what Jesus did on the cross. He gave His life to atone for our sins so that when we call on Him in faith, we are saved – forgiven, made right with God. What are we saved from? Life without God. Eternal punishment. Despair and hopelessness. Self-centered living. The grace of God brings salvation to those who put their trust in Him!
2. God’s Grace has appeared to all people (11b)
Titus 2:11 “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”
-This is really good news b/c God does not play favorites. His grace is available to all people! He loves the people He made, and He made us all!
-People had waited a long time for grace to appear. Jesus made His earthly appearance in a time when people really needed some good news. Babies were being murdered. The government was hostile toward people of faith. Many religious leaders were corrupt and only in it for the money. The rich were taking advantage of the poor. Demonic activity seemed to be at an all-time high.
-If ever people needed God to show up, it was then… and yet, things aren’t all that different now, are they? If ever someone needed God to show up, it’s here and it’s now! Our world and our communities are filled with broken people who need a Savior. God’s grace has appeared to ALL people. If only someone would go to them and help them open their eyes and see that God’s grace is available to them! And it works! It can break every form of bondage, every addiction, remove every sin, and bring hope and peace! It’s here and it’s yours for the asking.
3. God’s Grace teaches us how to live (12)
Titus 2:12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age
-Self-control seems like an impossibility to so many people! Our world pushes excess in so many areas (partying, recreation, eating, spending, acquiring, etc.). And yet, for the Christian, self-control is one of the marks that we are being led by the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22-23).
-Grace helps us shut the door on anything that is contrary to who God is and on worldly passions. Worldly passions can be coveting, longing after something that belongs to someone else. It can refer to sexual lust, which has very few remaining boundaries in our culture, as people do what is right in their own eyes.
-God’s grace teaches us to say NO to these things! His grace teaches us to say yes to self-control, to living right in a way that honors God and others. God’s grace teaches us to live differently from our culture, showing them what God is like by the way we live and the way we love! His grace is powerful!
4. God’s Grace centers on a promise (13)
Titus 2:13 “…while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ…”
-Jesus is coming back to this earth to reclaim all who belong to Him. Paul spoke of this earlier in the book of Titus:
“We rest in this hope we’ve been given—the hope that we will live forever with our God—the hope that He proclaimed ages and ages ago (even before time began)” (Titus 1:2, VOICE). The return of Jesus is our blessed hope!
-Here’s what Paul said about it in 1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 16 For the Lord himself will come down from heaven, with a loud command, with the voice of the archangel and with the trumpet call of God, and the dead in Christ will rise first. 17 After that, we who are still alive and are left will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And so we will be with the Lord forever.
-We are waiting for Christ’s return, but not idly. Jesus said to work now, for the night is coming when we won’t be able to work anymore.
5. God’s Grace transforms us (14a)
Titus 2:14a “…who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people…”
-Here Paul focuses on the work of Christ on the cross that changes us on the inside and makes us right with God. Notice that He purifies us. There are other Scriptures which encourage us to purify ourselves, but it’s not really an either/or thing. The work of Christ on the cross provides for our inner transformation so that we no longer give in to the old desires. He makes us new and gives us the grace to be pure! The old life that had such a hold on us is gone!
2 Corinthians 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
-God’s grace sets us free, cleans us up, and helps us stay clean!
6. God’s Grace gives us acceptance (14b)
Titus 2:14b “…to purify for himself a people that are his very own…”
-God accepts us as His very own people when we call on Him! And we show that we are His people by the way we live a holy life and honor Him!
-We all need a sense of belonging, but that can be pretty tenuous, b/c we live in a world of broken, hurting people, who can’t seem to help but break and hurt other people. Yet, God’s acceptance is unconditional and unwavering! He loves and accepts us no matter how bad we fail, regardless of the past!
-You are His very own! I am His very own! He accepts me and is making me pure!
7. God’s Grace motivates us to do what is good (14c)
Titus 2:14c “…eager to do what is good.”
-God’s grace helps us want to do the right thing! Not so much for others as for God Himself! Because Jesus loved me and gave Himself for me, I want to honor Him with my life! I want to do what is good for my family, good for my neighbor, good for my friends, good for my enemies, good for myself.
-God is good and He does what is good! Goodness is another fruit of the Spirit. If we are following the Lord, being led by the Holy Spirit, then goodness will be evident in our character, in our behavior, in our lives.
1. God’s Grace brings salvation (11a)
2. God’s Grace has appeared to all people (11b)
3. God’s Grace teaches us how to live (12)
4. God’s Grace centers on a promise (13)
5. God’s Grace transforms us (14a)
6. God’s Grace gives us acceptance (14b)
7. God’s Grace motivates us to do what is good (14c)
“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. 12 It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope-- the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
-How is the grace transfer going in your life? Are you staying connected with the Lord? Is your connection solid enough for there to be a continual transfer of grace from Him to you? Some of the best ways I know of to increase the transfer of grace is through prayer, through reading/studying the Bible, through interaction with others Christians, and through some kind of service (using your area of giftedness to help others know God and be encouraged).
-If you haven’t really established a connection with God yet, what is keeping you from doing that today? His grace brings us salvation. If you call on the name of the Lord, you will be saved! Your sins will be forgiven and you will become a new person on the inside! God does amazing miracles like that everyday! If you want to say YES to His grace and YES to Him, I’d like to pray for you.
