What Is Grace? Series

What is Grace?

Grace Sermon Series, Part 1

Titus 2:11-14

- We have two baptisms after the service … A GREAT DAY!

Introduction

- The word translated "grace" in the New Testament comes from the Greek:

-- It is the word “charis”, which means “favor, blessing, or kindness”

- When grace is used in connection with God, it takes on powerful meaning

-- Grace is God choosing to bless us rather than curse us as our sin deserves

-- When we realize what we’ve been given, we can all extend grace to others

-- IMP: We do NOT want what we deserve … the penalty for sin is DEATH!

--- Rom 6:23, “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

- Bottom line: Grace is His benevolence to the undeserving (you and me)

- Read Titus 2:11-14 / Pray

∆ Point 1 – Grace was given to us (11-12)

- The bible tells us that God’s grace appeared; it was literally revealed to us (v11)

-- God literally gave us His grace in the most spectacular event in history

-- John 3:16, “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.”

- Because of what God did; we now have access to grace IN our salvation

-- Salvation is first dependent on God, and then on our acceptance of it

-- This is what normally trips people up; it’s where it gets really cloudy for some

-- Why? The thought is: “It cannot be that simple, there has to be more!”

- Why do we need to try to make God’s desire for us to be His so difficult?

-- God had to make it simple for us, so that so many could come to Him

-- 2 Peter 3:9, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”

- APP: In our acceptance of Christ; we receive GRACE because He’s given it

- Challenge: Have you ever tried to explain it that way to someone?

-- We accept, and then we receive all that God has to offer

-- Caution: It’s not a magic pill … but it is God’s favor IN our lives

- It is this grace that empowers us to turn from sin; to desire Him (v12)

-- It calls us to live holy, to live above the noise/distractions of the world

-- Paul (v1:1) knew about living worldly; now he’s dramatically changed by God

- Why? Because he has received God’s grace into His life; forgiveness for sin

-- He’s chosen (willingly, freely) to live for God, rather than himself

-- APP: Pharisee’s were always about them; not really about God’s ways

-- Pharisaical laws are perfect example: 600+ rules on top of 10 commandments

- Re: It’s God that gives us the power to say “No” … it’s through His grace

-- How? We’ve received all that we need from Him through the Holy Spirit

-- Because of that, we are able to CHOOSE to live for Him and not our desires

- TRANS: So what do we do while we are choosing to live for Him?

∆ Point 2 – We should be waiting for God (13-14)

- We are to be anxiously awaiting His appearing (v13)

-- “While we wait” is an active phrase for us to learn and appreciate

-- It means that we are actually doing something, we are living and waiting

-- In v12 we saw that we are actively saying “No” to the world’s desires

-- We are: “living self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age”

- And while we are doing that … we are WAITING for Him to return; promise

-- It is His approval we should desire, He is what completes us; so we wait for Him

-- While we wait while God gives others the ability to come to Him also

- Caution: In this waiting though, we must remember what we’ve been given

-- APP: We are not called to act snobby to others, but to give freely what we have

-- 1 Corinthians 6:9-11, “Or do you not know that wrongdoers will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived: Neither the sexually immoral nor idolaters nor adulterers nor men who have sex with men nor thieves nor the greedy nor drunkards nor slanderers nor swindlers will inherit the kingdom of God. And that is what some of you were. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God.”