AmazingGrace

GOD'S AMAZING GRACE

11-16-08 Titus 2:11-15

I11 For gthe grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 hlooking for the blessed ihope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 jwho gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed kand purify for Himself lHis own special people, zealous for good works.

15 Speak these things, mexhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

[1]

ntro: Grace is defined as the "underserved love and favor of God toward fallen man." When you take a moment and consider all that that means, it is an awesome thought! It means that any sinner can be saved! Any storm can be weathered. Any situation can be faced. When we sing Amazing Grace, we are telling the truth. This passage is one of the clearest in the Bible on grace and its results. Notice three facts about God's amazing grace.

Many buy a cell phone to use it as a phone, but in reality They are just not that motivated to find out how all the bells and whistles work. Many are still too lazy to save people’s numbers in the address book. As for texting? Some struggle forever trying to respond. I’m sure WE could get a lot more out of phones if We would apply ourselves to learning and using all of its features.

A lot of Christians respond the same way when it comes to God’s grace. They perceive grace as what saved them and that’s pretty much it. And just as I could get more out of my phone if I put any effort forth, the average Christian could have a much more rich experience of God’s grace if they understood it better and availed themselves of it

I. v.11 GRACE SAVES US

11 For gthe grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men

A. Grace brings salvation –

We sing the song, “Amazing Grace”, which says in the first verse, “I once was lost, but now am found”.
o Or the song, “Grace Greater Than Our Sin”, which speaks about grace’s power to pardon us and cleanse us of our sins.
• These songs are absolutely correct from a theological standpoint. And this is the starting point for anyone who desires to live within God’s grace

When fully understood, it is the gospel of the grace of God which teaches Christians how to live. This grace has brought salvation to all men, i.e., it is universally available[2]

Ephesians2: 8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 "not of works, lest anyone should boast." (NKJV);

Romans4: 4 "Now to him who works, the wages are not counted as grace but as debt. 5 "But to him who does not work but believes on Him who justifies the ungodly, his faith is accounted for righteousness," (NKJV)

(Ill. Too great a sinner - Romans5: 20 "Moreover the law entered that the offense might abound. But where sin abounded, grace abounded much more," (NKJV))

B. Salvation Means: that the Christian has been:

1. Being Cleansed from sin by the blood of Jesus - Revelation1: 5 "and from Jesus Christ, the faithful witness, the firstborn from the dead, and the ruler over the kings of the earth. To Him who loved us and washed us from our sins in His own blood," (NKJV) (Ill. His blood) (Ill. v. 14 - Redeemed; Purified; Gave - it was 100% God)

2. Being Delivered eternally from the penalty of sin - Romans6: 23 "For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord." (NKJV);

John10: 27 "My sheep hear My voice, and I know them, and they follow Me. 28 "And I give them eternal life, and they shall never perish; neither shall anyone snatch them out of My hand. 29 "My Father, who has given them to Me, is greater than all; and no one is able to snatch them out of My Father’s hand. 30 "I and My Father are one.”" (NKJV) (Ill. Judgment, Hell and the awfulness of both)

3. Being Assured of Heaven when we die –

John14: 1 "“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (NKJV);

2Cor. 5:1-8;

John11: 25 "Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live. 26 "And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?”" (NKJV)

C. Do you know Jesus? Ill. The necessity of the New Birth -John 3:3,7 (Acts 16:31; John 3:16; John 6:47 - all teach the simplicity of it) (Ill. Rom. 10:9-10 - Confess and believe - You can be saved)

II. v.12 GRACE Teaches US (Teaches Christian Living)

12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,

A. Teaches : What to avoid!

1. Ungodliness - Anything that does not glorify God – 1 Corinthians10: 31 "Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God." (NKJV)

2. Worldly Lusts - James4: 4 "Adulterers and adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God? Whoever therefore wants to be a friend of the world makes himself an enemy of God." (NKJV)

; 1 John2: 15 "When He had made a whip of cords, He drove them all out of the temple, with the sheep and the oxen, and poured out the changers’ money and overturned the tables." (NKJV)

B. Teaches: What to do!

1. Live Soberly - Our Self - Colossians3: 5 "Therefore put to death your members which are on the earth: fornication, uncleanness, passion, evil desire, and covetousness, which is idolatry. 6 "Because of these things the wrath of God is coming upon the sons of disobedience, 7 "in which you yourselves once walked when you lived in them. 8 "But now you yourselves are to put off all these: anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy language out of your mouth. 9 "Do not lie to one another, since you have put off the old man with his deeds, 10 "and have put on the new man who is renewed in knowledge according to the image of Him who created him," (NKJV) (Ill. The big change 2 Cor. 5:17) (Il. Your Character - What you are when you are alone!)

2. Live Righteously - (Ill. Our method- Matthew22: 39 "And the second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’" (NKJV);

Our Motive - Matthew5: 16 "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven." (NKJV)) Ill. Your Reputation - What people think you are!; Not always true)

3. Live Godly - Our God - Col 3:15-17 (

All we do should be to please Him - Ill. 2 Corinthians10: 5 "casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," (NKJV))

(What you really are - Hebrews4: 13 "And there is no creature hidden from His sight, but all things are naked and open to the eyes of Him to whom we must give account." (NKJV))

III. v.13-14 GRACE SEPERATES US (Provides the Christian with Hope) Our hope as believers separates us from the rest of the world!

13 hlooking for the blessed ihope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 jwho gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed kand purify for Himself lHis own special people, zealous for good works.

Illus

Mercy and grace go hand in hand
While grace is getting what you don’t deserve
Mercy is not getting what you deserve
A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son
The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death
"But I don’t ask for justice," the mother explained
"I plead for mercy."
"But your son does not deserve mercy," Napoleon replied.
"Sir," the woman cried, "it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for."
"Well, then," the emperor said, "I will have mercy."
And he spared the woman’s son.
God’s grace had appeared to all men and brings salvation
Aren’t you thankful for God’s grace and mercy

Causes us to look for Christ - Jesus is coming! John14: 1 "“Let not your heart be troubled; you believe in God, believe also in Me. 2 "In My Father’s house are many mansions; if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you. 3 "And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself; that where I am, there you may be also." (NKJV);

(NKJV);

Revelation22: 20 "He who testifies to these things says, “Surely I am coming quickly.” Amen. Even so, come, Lord Jesus!" (NKJV).

(Be ready - Matthew24: 44 "Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect." (NKJV))

B. Causes us to be a peculiar people - (A people for His own possession) 1 Cor. 6:19-20

(This relationship promises us special blessings - Hebrews13: 5 "Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have. For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”" (NKJV);

Philippians4: 19 "And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus." (NKJV), etc.) (Hope now!)

C. Causes us to do good works – “zealous for good works”

Ephesians2: 8 "For by grace you have been saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it is the gift of God, 9 "not of works, lest anyone should boast. 10 "For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them." (NKJV);

James2: 17 "Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead. 18 "But someone will say, “You have faith, and I have works.” Show me your faith without your works, and I will show you my faith by my works." (NKJV)

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g [Rom. 5:15]

h 1 Cor. 1:7

i [Col. 3:4]

j Is. 53:12; Gal. 1:4

k Ezek. 37:23; [Heb. 1:3; 9:14; 1 John 1:7]

l Ex. 15:16

m 1 Tim. 4:13; 5:20; 2 Tim. 4:2

[1]The New King James Version. 1982 (Tit 2:11-15). Nashville: Thomas Nelson.