More Than Forgiveness

11 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.

Text: Titus 2:11; For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

Introduction:

Today we want to talk about the wonderful grace of God. Grace is one of the defining gestures of God’s love. It is through grace that before the foundations of the world he conceived of this wonderful plan of salvation.

Without grace, there Jesus

Without grace, we are enemies of God

Without grace, there is only expectancy of judgment

Without grace, mankind is helplessly and hopelessly lost

Faith has been defined as the “Unmerited favor of God”

This simply means that we are undeserving. If you work 40hrs a week you are expecting a paycheck. You’ve done something to earn it, so you have right, you are entitled. It is owed to you.

But that is not how grace works. There is nothing that we can do to earn favor with God. No amount of giving, no amount of deeds can earn favor with God. Isaiah 64:6 But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.

There is only one price that could be paid for sin, and that price is death. Paul declared in Rom 5:12; Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:

But through this work of love (John 3:16) This means that God allowed His Son, Christ Jesus. Conceived of the Holy Spirit, Born of a virgin, made of a woman, made under the law. A man who knew no sin. Committed no transgression. Heb 4:15; …..but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin.

He allowed Christ to die to pay the price for ALL sin. He paid the price, he did the work.

BUT THROUGH GRACE, HIS WORK IS APPLIED TO OUR ACCOUNT. Jesus put in the work, but we got the paycheck!

But Grace is more than forgiveness

Grace – GK χάρις Kha-res

The merciful kindness by which God, exerting his holy influence upon souls, turns them to Christ, keeps, strengthens, increases them in Christian faith, knowledge, affection, and kindles them to the exercise of the Christian virtues

The salvation and grace that God gives us is MORE THAN FORGIVENESS

I. It is Salvation

Eph 2:8; For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God.

Salvation is more than forgiveness. It is liberation.

When the Allied soldiers freed the prisoners from the Concentration camps they were no longer enslaved. They weren’t just out of prison and still living under oppression. They were liberated.

Romans 8:2; For the law of the Spirit of life in Christ Jesus hath made me free from the law of sin and death.

This salvation saves us from judgment, the harsh penalty for sin.

This salvation saves us from death and hell.

This salvation doesn’t just save us from these things, but it SETS US FREE!

We are no longer in bondage to sin.

IN CHRIST WE DON’T HAVE TO SIN EVERY DAY!

In the Salvation of Jesus Christ it is not just an endless cycle of sinning, and asking forgiveness. There is no victory in that! But he has given us the victory over Sin! THROUGH HIS GRACE!

II. It is a teaching grace.

Tit 2:12; Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

What is teaching us? Is it God? No, the Grace that is in us!

Grace doesn’t just forgive, it doesn’t just save, but it also Teaches!

This word teach comes from the word that means, train, instruct, learn, molding of character, even chastisement.

The Grace of God can get on our case!

I’m thankful for a teaching grace!

I’m thankful for a living grace!

I’m thankful for a grace that teaches me what I need for today!

A. Grace steers us away from Danger.

Paul tells Titus, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. The Grace of God warns us to stay away.

God’s love, God’s mercy, God’s Grace, begs us NOT to go down the path of sin.

The path that brings destruction, the path that brings pain, the path that brings regret.

Grace teaches us to DENY – SAY NO!

Say NO TO SIN

SAY NO TO DRUGS

SAY NO TO BAD INFLUENCES

SAY NO TO LYING

SAY NO TO STEALING

SAY NO TO ADULTERY

SAY NO TO FORNICATION

If the grace of God is living in you, then you’ve been empowered to SAY NO!

If you don’t have the power within you, THEN INVITE THIS GRACE INTO YOUR LIFE!

B. Grace steers us toward Righteousness,

Teaching us that……we SHOULD live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.

There is more to Christianity than just a daily struggle of saying NO to Sin, but it is allowing the Holy Spirit and righteousness of God to work in us.

It’s not a matter of I CAN’T DO THIS ANYMORE, It’s I don’t want to live that way anymore!

The goodness and life of God that is living in us is FAR BETTER than the temporary pleasures brought by sin.

John 10:10; The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.

It is an abundant life.

The world offers Happiness, but JESUS BRINGS JOY

The world offers lust, but JESUS BRINGS LOVE

The world offers security, BUT JESUS BRINGS PEACE

Grace is more than forgiveness, it lives in us and guides us.

III. Grace brings Hope.

V. 13; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;

Grace gives us something to look forward to!

Grace not only transports us to Heaven when we die, but brings Heaven close to us while we live!

1 John 3:2,3; 2Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. 3And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.

We have HOPE!

Conclusion

Grace is more than forgiveness. He doesn’t just forgive our past and leave us enslaved to sin. But Grace liberates, Grace breaks the chains! This Grace lives inside and Guides us, steering us away from sin and ungodliness, and toward the goodness of God. IT’S A GRACE THAT IS “MORE THAN FORGIVENESS”

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