Great Grace

For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,

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

Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ -Titus 2:11-13

In this day and age, a popular belief is that grace excuses sin. Nothing could be further from the truth! Grace does not excuse sin, rather it delivers us from sin, it brings salvation. Grace is for the guilty, the helpless, the speechless; not the proud and self-sufficient. We have the responsibility to receive it.

But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble.

Submit yourselves therefore to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.

Be afflicted, and mourn, and weep: let your laughter be turned to mourning, and your joy to heaviness.

Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.

Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and he shall lift you up.

-James 6:7-10

Grace is not a "once and done" thing. Daily we need God's grace in our lives.

The grace of God does not allow us to continue in our sin. As our heavenly Father, He does what is best for us; He rebukes and chastens those whom He loves. The word "teaching" in Titus 2:12 includes chastening.

Grace proclaims truth and teaches us to deny ourselves what is dangerous. Lack of a reverence for God results in sin and living in the flesh. Resisting the truth means resisting grace and the Father. Are we open and submissive to the truth; are we speaking the truth in our hearts?

Grace produces life - it teaches us how we should live. Everlasting life begins with salvation. "He that hath the Son hath life." Victorious, Spirit-filled, joyful, revived Christian living: are we squandering our "everlasting life," or are we living it?

Going down to verse 13 of Titus 2 we read that we are to live soberly, righteously, and godly. They address how we live with respect to ourselves, to others, and to God. Living soberly means exercising restraing, moderation, and rational thinking. Living righteously means living rightly with respect to others; being honest, just, and true. Living godly lives entails great reverence for God; having the fear of God instilled in our hearts.

Grace produces hope for Christ's return. 1 Thess 4; 1 Cor. 15

For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first.

What will YOU do with grace?