Everyone likes the subject of Grace. Grace as defined by today’s contemporary church that is. The grace we know, encourages a comforting, relaxed, non-threatening feeling when contemplating the character and nature of a God, who has a reputation for being harsh and judgmental, especially in light of the Old Testament stories.
Grace might well be one of the most misunderstand concepts of Biblical theology, or at the very least, people have an incomplete view of what it’s all about. What then is your definition of Grace? Do you have one?
Some people see the Grace of God as something like the benevolent love of a senile old grandfather. He just loves us so much, because we’re so lovable, and He just sort of forgets about our sin. To be sure, there is some small element of truth in that. God does indeed love us, though it’s not because we’re so lovable. Grace does not cause Him to ignore our sin, as if Grace were an acquired condition, like a pill or a wonder drug that inoculates us against all future sin. Grace is a costly thing... it is a just, holy and righteous reprieve resulting from the sacrifice of His Only Son... manifested in the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus, the Christ. Grace is the ultimate extension of the sacrificial actions of a Holy and Righteous God, preserving both His justice and His mercy towards sinful humanity.
Others focus on the grace of God as nothing but fire insurance. And certainly it is about providing for our most basic need, which is forgiveness and reconciliation with a Holy God. But that’s where most of us stop. It’s about getting saved. It’s about escaping the flames. It’s about the forgiveness of sins... we've been inoculated and that’s it. While grace does relate to those things, there’s much more to it than simplistic aspects of insurance.
Unfortunately, such perspectives seem to be the prevailing views of God's Grace. We have misunderstood God’s intention toward us by virtue of His Grace. We think God by extension of His Grace, has changed, softened, become more amenable... adapting to man’s needs.
We have redefined God’s true love based on worldly, conditional love and then we connect that to the concept of Grace. We like to think of God as love rather than deal with His righteousness, justice and holiness which is fully expressed in the concept of “Grace”.
We have been lured and mollified by a dysfunctional system of religion that doesn’t promote holy living to sustain a holy relationship with God. If we don’t see Him as Holy, then how can we expect to act and live holy lives?
Grace by definition is simply this... God’s unmerited favor. That means, from God’s perspective... no person deserves His grace. Unmerited favor sounds generous indeed, however it does not mean there are no serious conditions for receiving and sustaining His Grace in our lives. Try this... when you read the word “grace” in any Bible passage, substitute the phrase... “unmerited favor” or “undeserved kindness” or “a second chance” and you will begin to get the true meaning of what God is really providing by His “Grace”.
Reading through Titus we are reminded of God’s ongoing purpose of Grace in our lives as portrayed with these words:
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14, ESV)
So Grace is about bringing salvation, but it is also about training. It’s about disciplining us, educating us, teaching us to do several things:
1. To Purposely Avoid Sin. Titus 2:12... training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. Other translations say... denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. One paraphrase says... to turn our backs on a godless, and a self-indulgent life. (MSG)
However you translate it, the point is the same. God’s Grace at work in our lives should cause us to come to hate sin, to turn from it, to abhor it, to do all in our power to abstain from it; have nothing to do with it. If God is at work in you, if you have come to Christ by Grace through faith, submitting in obedience to His plan for your salvation, if the Holy Spirit is truly at work in your life, then one of the noticeable effects of His presence should be a growing hatred of sin and an ever increasing passion to avoid it.
2. To Progressively Seek Holiness. Again in Titus 2:12... training us…to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Kings James says soberly, righteously, and godly. It’s not enough that we turn away from sin, we also need to actively, and progressively turn toward God in pursuit of holiness, holy living. We must separate ourselves from the thinking and influences of a sinful world, things contrary to Godliness and align ourselves with the Holy God.
That doesn’t just mean the “big” sins vs. the “big” acts of holiness. It goes to the little things. If our Christ-likeness does not show itself in the little things, then we are deceiving ourselves. Learn to be consistently faithful in small things first... then when faced with the bigger challenges of life, we will have the power to withstand temptation and sin. Remember this every day... “the devil is in the details.” He attacks Christians in the smallest areas of our lives. He lures and traps you with the seemingly minor things, the small things.. before moving up to the biggies. So we ought to be focused on seeking godliness and holiness and self-control and righteousness in the little things all day, every day.
It means seeking to live godly lives not only out in public where everyone sees us; but at home with our wives and children. It means seeking holiness in those everyday moments when we’re alone, driving in the car, when we think no one else can see us or know our thoughts. It means seeking to honor and glorify Christ with our every breath.
3. To Patiently Anticipate His Return. I know that we don’t often put patiently and anticipation together in the same statement, but that’s exactly what’s required of us. Verse 13 says... we are to be waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
We should be... “looking for Christ’s return… to be desiring it with the heart with our affections set upon it, longing to be in the enjoyment of it, and yet waiting patiently in the exercise of faith and hope.”
Scripture tells us we are strangers and aliens in this sinful world. When Christ returns, He will make all things new and in that time of a “new earth” will be the time and the true home we long for... that better country Hebrews talks about. We have yet to see it, we really don’t know that much about it, but we know who’s going to make it happen, we know His promises are righteous and true and that makes us long for it.
4. To Passionately Serve Christ. Verse 14 says that part of God’s purpose in Grace is “to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” God wants a people who are zealous for good works. Not just willing to work, but zealous for His work.
And this isn’t the only place in Scripture where the work of Grace in our lives is associated with God’s desire for us to serve Him. Probably the most well known verses on Grace are in Ephesians 2 where Paul writes: “For by Grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.”
We know that well. It’s one of the cornerstones of Grace. But we often overlook the very next verse where Paul completes the thought. Verse 10 of Ephesians 2 says... “For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.” God’s purpose of Grace [our second chance] is that we passionately, zealously serve Him because we were created for this very purpose.
Okay, its time to ask ourselves: Is the “unmerited favor”, the “undeserved kindness” the “second chance” granted by God at work in your life? First and foremost, have you experienced that “unmerited favor” through faith in Jesus Christ and submission to His plan for your eternal salvation? Read Acts 2:38 for an initial glimpse into what God is offering and your participation in His “undeserved kindness.”
Once onboard with His Grace... you must change your attitudes and your life course. Are you purposely avoiding sin; progressively seeking holiness; patiently anticipating His return; and passionately serving Christ? Can you say a yes to all four?
Our forgiveness, our justification, is only the first step. God wants to continue His sanctifying work in your life. What a gift... Grace truly is. Grace and all that it brings to your life will lead you to stand one day before Him and hear these glorious words from His mouth... Well done, my good and faithful servant.
