For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Key Text is Titus 2:11-12
Intro
Paul states that it is grace that teaches. Grace teaches? (v.11)
1.)'Grace of God' means?
a.) A personification for "Christ's work on our behalf"
2.) "teaching" mean?
a.) The word means "Instruct -train - discipline".
i.) More than information (instruction) but not less.
ii.) More than punishing (discipline) but not less.
iii.) Like training a child - more an art than sciences.
iv.) Like training an athlete - training in a skill - life skills.
3.) Grace that saves also trains us.
a.) Saving grace is also training grace
ILL: When you buy a suit - you get pants with the jacket. If you want just a jacket you don't buy a suit. You get a sports coat. When it comes to a suit you always get pants with it. The two always come together. Same is true of saving grace and sanctifying grace.4. ) Study Outline - Two questions we will look at:
I.) What does grace teach us?
II.) How does grace teach us?
I. What does grace teach us?
1. Say No to ungodliness - v.12
a.) when we think ungodliness we think wicked people
b.) ungodliness means having no regard for God
c.) it may lead to wickedness but it means without God.
i.) It could be a banker or business man (anyone)
ii.) it describes those that do not think about God.
iii.) this ungodliness can have a morality.
ILL: poem that shows moralism of Ungodliness
The Man In The Glass - Peter Dale Wimbrow
When you get what you want in your struggle for self
And the world makes you king for a day
Just go to the mirror and look at yourself
And see what that man has to say.
For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,
Whose judgment upon you must pass
The fellow whose verdict counts most in your life
Is the one staring back from the glass.
He’s the fellow to please – never mind all the rest
For he’s with you, clear to the end
And you’ve passed your most difficult, dangerous test
If the man in the glass is your friend.
You may fool the whole world down the pathway of years
And get pats on the back as you pass
But your final reward will be heartache and tears
If you’ve cheated the man in the glass.
iv.) a moralism based on authenticity.
v.) Christians can be ungodly as well. We may have a God of the boundary - only depend on him in extreme moments. When we compartmentalize life - never take God into account.
d.) Two Examples of ungodliness
1. Due 8:17-18 - do it all by ourselves attitude.
i.) No dependance on God.
2. James 4:13-15 - Condemns for leaving God out of the equation.
2. Say no to worldly passions - v.12
a.) Wordily desires is not just lust but all unhealthy desires -
b. ) Grace teaches us to restraint and moderation.
i.) We desire things to much. - possessions- position - power- physical wants - even loving good food to much.
Important Transitional Point - explain Paul's "put on and pull off" style of teaching. Many make this into an over focus on taking off sin. Paul's point is to have a form of replacement therapy.
Now we move to the Positive aspect of what Grace teaches us.
3. Live God centered lives - v.12
a.) Paul gives all sphere of the moral life. (Self-Other-God)
b.) Self-control - the self sphere of the moral life.
i.) skill to direct your life towards Godly ends.
c.) Upright - the other sphere of the moral life.
i.) a just and fair dealings with other men.
ii.) Matt 7:12 - golden rule
iii.) Lev 19 - case laws expounding neighbor love
d.) Godly life - the God sphere of the moral life.
i.) taking seriously all he did & depended on him.
ii.) v.11-1a godly life is a gospel life - god centered life
II. How does grace teach us?
a.) Key Text - Rom 7:4-6
i.) Purpose of death to Law to bear fruit. v.4
ii.) We are free from the Law to sever to new way. v. 6
Five distinctions between; "The Old Way of the Law" and the "New Way of the Spirit".
From Jerry Bridges Book - "Transforming Grace - Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love"
1. External code vs. internal desire
Old Way of Law - External Code: The moral precepts of God are only an external code of conduct. The law commands obedience but provides no inclination or desire to obey.
New Way of Spirit - Internal Desire: The moral precepts of God are written on our hearts as well as being an external code. The Spirit inclines our hearts and gives us a desire to obey. Ezekiel 36:26-27
2. Commanding vs. Enabling
Old Way of Law - Commanding:The law commands but gives no enabling power for obedience.
New Way of Spirit - Enabling: The Spirit enables us to obey the law's commands. Phil 2:12-13
3. Hostility vs. Delight
Old Way of Law - Hostility: Because of our hostility to God's law before our conversion, the commands of the law actually provoked and incited us to sin.
New Way of Spirit - Delight: The Spirit by removing our hostility and writing the law on our hearts, actually causes us to delight in God's law. Rom 7:12-13
4. Fear vs. Gratitude
Old Way of Law - Fear: The law produces a legalistic response to God. We try to obey because of a fear of punishment for disobedience or in order to win favour with God.
New Way of Spirit - Gratitude: The Spirit, by showing us God's grace, produces a response of love and gratitude. We obey not out of fear or to earn favor but out of gratitude for favor already given!
5. Working vs. Relying
Old Way of Law - Working: Under the Law we perform in order to be accepted by God. Since our performance is always imperfect, we never feel completely accepted by Him. Thus in our Christian life, we always work from a position of weakness. We work to be accepted, but feel we never quite make it.
New Way of Spirit - Relying: The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are accepted by God through the merit of Christ. By relying solely on His perfect righteousness we feel accepted by Him. Thus in our Christian life, we work from a position of strength because we have been accepted through Jesus and through Him, we have "made it".
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v.) Christians can be ungodly as well. We may have a God of the boundary - only depend on him in extreme moments. When we compartmentalize life - never take God into account.
d.) Two Examples of ungodliness
1. Due 8:17-18 - do it all by ourselves attitude.
i.) No dependance on God.
2. James 4:13-15 - Condemns for leaving God out of the equation.
2. Say no to worldly passions - v.12
a.) Wordily desires is not just lust but all unhealthy desires -
b. ) Grace teaches us to restraint and moderation.
i.) We desire things to much. - possessions- position - power- physical wants - even loving good food to much.
Important Transitional Point - explain Paul's "put on and pull off" style of teaching. Many make this into an over focus on taking off sin. Paul's point is to have a form of replacement therapy.
Now we move to the Positive aspect of what Grace teaches us.
3. Live God centered lives - v.12
a.) Paul gives all sphere of the moral life. (Self-Other-God)
b.) Self-control - the self sphere of the moral life.
i.) skill to direct your life towards Godly ends.
c.) Upright - the other sphere of the moral life.
i.) a just and fair dealings with other men.
ii.) Matt 7:12 - golden rule
iii.) Lev 19 - case laws expounding neighbor love
d.) Godly life - the God sphere of the moral life.
i.) taking seriously all he did & depended on him.
ii.) v.11-1a godly life is a gospel life - god centered life
II. How does grace teach us?
a.) Key Text - Rom 7:4-6
i.) Purpose of death to Law to bear fruit. v.4
ii.) We are free from the Law to sever to new way. v. 6
Five distinctions between; "The Old Way of the Law" and the "New Way of the Spirit".
From Jerry Bridges Book - "Transforming Grace - Living Confidently in God's Unfailing Love"
1. External code vs. internal desire
Old Way of Law - External Code: The moral precepts of God are only an external code of conduct. The law commands obedience but provides no inclination or desire to obey.
New Way of Spirit - Internal Desire: The moral precepts of God are written on our hearts as well as being an external code. The Spirit inclines our hearts and gives us a desire to obey. Ezekiel 36:26-27
2. Commanding vs. Enabling
Old Way of Law - Commanding:The law commands but gives no enabling power for obedience.
New Way of Spirit - Enabling: The Spirit enables us to obey the law's commands. Phil 2:12-13
3. Hostility vs. Delight
Old Way of Law - Hostility: Because of our hostility to God's law before our conversion, the commands of the law actually provoked and incited us to sin.
New Way of Spirit - Delight: The Spirit by removing our hostility and writing the law on our hearts, actually causes us to delight in God's law. Rom 7:12-13
4. Fear vs. Gratitude
Old Way of Law - Fear: The law produces a legalistic response to God. We try to obey because of a fear of punishment for disobedience or in order to win favour with God.
New Way of Spirit - Gratitude: The Spirit, by showing us God's grace, produces a response of love and gratitude. We obey not out of fear or to earn favor but out of gratitude for favor already given!
5. Working vs. Relying
Old Way of Law - Working: Under the Law we perform in order to be accepted by God. Since our performance is always imperfect, we never feel completely accepted by Him. Thus in our Christian life, we always work from a position of weakness. We work to be accepted, but feel we never quite make it.
New Way of Spirit - Relying: The Spirit bears witness with our spirit that we are accepted by God through the merit of Christ. By relying solely on His perfect righteousness we feel accepted by Him. Thus in our Christian life, we work from a position of strength because we have been accepted through Jesus and through Him, we have "made it".
- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad
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