God’s Amazing Grace
Titus 2:11-14
November 25, 2001
Introduction
A story is told about Fiorello LaGuardia, who, when he was mayor of New York City during the worst days of the Great Depression and all of WWII, was called by adoring New Yorkers ’the Little Flower’ because he was only five foot four and always wore a carnation in his lapel. He was a colorful character who used to ride the New York City fire trucks, raid speakeasies with the police department, take entire orphanages to baseball games, and whenever the New York newspapers were on strike, he would go on the radio and read the Sunday funnies to the kids. One bitterly cold night in January of 1935, the mayor turned up at a night court that served the poorest ward of the city. LaGuardia dismissed the judge for the evening and took over the bench himself.
Within a few minutes, a tattered old woman was brought before him, charged with stealing a loaf of bread. She told LaGuardia that her daughter’s husband had deserted her, her daughter was sick, and her two grandchildren were starving. But the shopkeeper, from whom the bread was stolen, refused to drop the charges. "It’s a real bad neighborhood, your Honor." the man told the mayor. "She’s got to be punished to teach other people around here a lesson." LaGuardia sighed. He turned to the woman and said "I’ve got to punish you. The law makes no exceptions--ten dollars or ten days in jail." But even as he pronounced sentence, the mayor was already reaching into his pocket. He extracted a bill and tossed it into his famous sombrero saying: "Here is the ten dollar fine which I now remit; and furthermore I am going to fine everyone in this courtroom fifty cents for living in a town where a person has to steal bread so that her grandchildren can eat. Mr. Baliff, collect the fines and give them to the defendant." So the following day the New York City newspapers reported that $47.50 was turned over to a bewildered old lady who had stolen a loaf of bread to feed her starving grandchildren, fifty cents of that amount being contributed by the red-faced grocery store owner, while some seventy petty criminals, people with traffic violations, and New York City policemen, each of whom had just paid fifty cents for the privilege of doing so, gave the mayor a standing ovation.
Now that is grace! Paul describes God’s grace in a unique and wonderful way in his letter to Titus. If you have your Bibles open with me to the second chapter starting at verse 11.
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.
Body
I. Grace that leads to Eternity
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men
A. Grace opens the door to eternity
1. It is only by the grace of God that we can have salvation
a.) Every person needs grace because we have sinned. Paul teaches us that everyone has sinned (Romans 3:23) and everyone acts in rebellion to God’s will.
b.) Every person needs grace because we will die. The simple fact of life is that we will all one day die. Our human nature is not eternal.
c.) The good news is that God has given us grace and offers us salvation. Through Christ, God has made His grace known to humanity
2. The reality of God’s grace
a.) Grace defined:
Grace is free sovereign favor to the ill deserving – George Sweeting
Grace is complete undeserved and unmerited favor
b.) God has given because He knows we would be completely lost without it. God has shown us all mercy beyond what we can understand and far beyond what we deserve.
B. Grace is offered to all people
1. God has made His grace completely inclusive
a.) Paul states the grace of God “appeared to all men” which means that God has extended His call of grace to every person. There is not a single person that God does not desire to see saved and redeemed.
b.) Since God is gracious, he allows every person a choice to accept this grace or decline it. God does not force us to follow Him.
2. The grace of God
a.) God’s grace is a gift. It cannot be earned in any way. Salvation is a gift and it is one that we do not deserve. Ephesians 2:4-5
b.) God has given you a marvelous gift – now is the time to accept it.
II. Grace that leads to Enlightenment
It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope--the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,
A. Grace opens the door to enlightenment
1. The grace of God assists us to leave the old life
Paul specifically mentions two areas that have to be dealt with:
a.) Ungodliness: Essentially ungodliness can be defined as having a lack of love for God or having no regard for God at all. This accurately describes our modern culture.
b.) Worldly passions: These are the desires or wants of the world that has no regard or love for God. Literally these desires or passions flow from godless mind set or way of thinking
2. The grace of God instructs us in living the new life
a.) God’s grace gives discipline. The grace of God helps us to live a life that brings glory and honor to Him. The grace of God gives us the fortitude to resist the ungodliness of this world and live a life that pleases God
b.) God’s grace gives direction. The grace that God gives to us directs in how we should live. In His grace, God has supplied His Word to give us instruction and His Holy Spirit to give us personal direction
B. Grace brings us hope
1. Grace teaches hope
a.) What is a blessed hope? Paul uses the Greek word makarious, which we have translated blessed in English, and this word conveys a sense of happiness or joy. Literally, Paul is saying that the hope of Christ’s return should make us happy and joyful.
b.) Three key reasons for this happy hope
1.) Christ’s personal presence: There will come a day when we will be face to face with Christ and dwell in His presence
2.) Redemption from our sinful nature: When Christ returns the battle with sin will be completely won. There will be no more sin.
3.) Restoration of creation: The promise of God is that there will be a new heaven and a new earth. This means that God will make all things new and the entire world will be redeemed.
2. The grace of God is complete in Christ’s return
a.) God will redeem this lost world completely when Christ returns. Nothing will be left undone. This is the final work of Christ
b.) Notice also that Paul gives proper divinity to Jesus: “our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Paul is clearly qualifying the reality of our hope with the fact that Jesus is God.
III. Grace that leads to Empowerment
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.
A. Grace opens the door to empowerment
1. The grace of God brings us redemption
a.) Christ was the sacrifice for our sin: Christ gave Himself willingly to be the sacrifice for our sins. Christ died so that you could be redeemed.
b.) The reality of redemption: The term redeem literally means “to purchase release from captivity with a ransom.” What Paul is telling us is that we were slaves to our own selfishness and Jesus bought us to set us free.
2. The grace of God brings us purification
a.) The results of redemption: Not only does Christ buy us back from the results of sin but he also purifies us from the influence of sin.
b.) The supply of grace: The redemption supplies grace for your past and the purification gives us grace today and for all of our days.
B. Grace brings new purpose in life
1. Grace gives us a place with God
a.) We are God’s people: By God’s grace we become, “His own special people.” Throughout the Bible we see God at work to bring His people back to Him and set them for a special purpose, service in His Kingdom
b.) The reality of sanctification: The term sanctified refers to something being set aside for special use. It was specifically used for items used in the temple.
2. Grace gives us a proper motivation
a.) The realization of Christ’s work: When we realize all that Christ has done for us it stirs a passion in our souls to serve him. We are called to serve Christ to share the news of all that he has done for us.
b.) The rationale for service: Our motivation for serving Christ does not come from some duty or obligation but rather it should flow from a grateful heart. Our service comes from an understanding of what Christ did for us
Conclusion
Charles Spurgeon and Joseph Parker both had churches in London in the 19th century. On one occasion, Parker commented on the poor condition of children admitted to Spurgeon’s orphanage. It was reported to Spurgeon however, that Parker had criticized the orphanage itself. Spurgeon blasted Parker the next week from the pulpit. The attack was printed in the newspapers and became the talk of the town. People flocked to Parker’s church the next Sunday to hear his rebuttal. "I understand Dr. Spurgeon is not in his pulpit today, and this is the Sunday they use to take an offering for the orphanage. I suggest we take a love offering here instead." The crowd was delighted. The ushers had to empty the collection plates 3 times. Later that week there was a knock at Parker’s study. It was Spurgeon. "You know Parker, you have practiced grace on me. You have given me not what I deserved, you have given me what I needed.
Moody Monthly, December, 1983, p. 81.
All that God has given to us is by his grace. His grace gives us what we need and not what we deserve. Today is the day to admit the simple fact that you are in need of God’s grace and He will pour it into your life.
