We started looking at what ‘grace’ is (and isn’t) ... and ‘how it works’, in yesterday’s message. I made the point that grace was NOT...some canopy to cover your sins, hiding them from God’s sight, nor is it some ‘get out of jail for free -card’. So let’s examine what Paul wrote to Titus there...
“The grace of God...that brings salvation has appeared to all men...” (11). Don’t ask me to explain how that happens, but it would seem to me that we are all without excuse if it has been made known to ‘all men’. And let’s not forget what ‘salvation’ is - It is deliverance and freedom from the wrath of God, which is what Jesus came to save us from. (Rom. 5:9; John 8:32-36)
And what does this ‘grace’ do? Read on: “teaching (instructing, disciplining, educating) us, that by DENYING ungodliness and worldly lusts...we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age...” (12). So. Much. Here....to unpack.
IF... we are ‘denying ourselves’, which is what all disciples are called to do (Luke 9:23), then we are not continuing to give in to our flesh nature, which is what sin is. Any and all ‘works of the flesh’, which are carnal, are just the opposite of God’s nature and likeness. Those who remain carnal are ‘hostile’ towards God. (Rom. 8:7-8) We ‘no longer live that way, according to the flesh’...(Eph. 2:1-3) ...IF...we are abiding in His grace having been made alive in Him. IF we continue to live according to the flesh, what does Rom. 8:13 tell us what we can expect?
Paul tells us exactly how we ought to be walking and living if we are abiding in God’s grace: ‘soberly, righteously and godly. [or ‘like God’] (1 John 2:6)...In THIS PRESENT AGE!” For all you who have been taught you won’t...or can’t live like that...’until you get to heaven’...you’ve been lied to.
He continues on talking of how we are to be looking for the ‘glorious appearing of our Great God and Savior Jesus Christ’ (13)... who “gave Himself for us that HE might redeem us from EVERY LAWLESS DEED...and purify for Himself His own special people...”(14). I hope you know by now what those ‘lawless deeds’ are, yes? (Gal. 5:19-21). And next to that word ‘redeem’, could you write the word- ‘liberate’, please?
Do you recall what Jesus said about ‘whoever commits sin is a slave to sin’? (John 8:34) He even included- “I say to you most assuredly” to that statement, adding that a ‘slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever”. (35)
Now, did Paul say Jesus liberated us from ‘most of the big sins, but not all those little pesky sins’...or did he imply EVERY LAWLESS DEED’? So that He (Jesus) could do ...what? “Purify” us for Himself? Do you know why this is not some ‘holy option for super saints’? Because without this ‘holiness, this purification, this ‘sanctification’...”NO MAN SHALL SEE THE LORD! (Heb. 12:14). Now that...should get our attention which is probably why Paul exhorts us with this statement: “Therefore having these promises, beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from ALL filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” (2 Cor. 7:1)
If you think or believe that ‘grace’ is some magical wand that exempts you from having to do this, then you have been greatly deceived. But “everyone who has this hope in Him ...Purifies himself...just as He is pure.” (1 John 3:3). Now don’t think for a moment that you could ever accomplish this in your own power or strength or ability. It is “only by His grace’...that you can truly ‘do all things through Christ Jesus’. (Phil. 4:13)
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