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Scripture Reading: Titus 3:4-8
By the Grace of God
Intro.
1. Grace and works of salvation (designed to merit/earn salvation) do not coexist, Rom. 11:5-6.
2. But, grace and works of faith do coexist, Tit. 2:11-12; Gal. 5:6 (4).
3. False doctrines about grace give comfort to and cover for sin, Jude 4.
Example: You can never be good enough to earn yourself a home in heaven, therefore, sin no longer affects your eternal life. Grace becomes cover for the sins that are committed ("nobody's perfect" and "everybody does it"). Rom. 6:21-23
4. These false doctrines include:
a. Saved by “grace alone” (irresistible grace), Josh. 24:15; Matt. 11:28.
b. “Cannot fall from grace”, Gal. 5:4.
c. “Continual cleansing”, Rom. 6:1-2; 1 Jno. 1:9. (Imputation of the righteousness of Christ so that God does not see your sin.)
5. Christians stand in and rejoice in "the true grace of God" as we follow the gospel, which commands obedient faith from us in order to be blessed by God in Christ, Lk. 17:9-10.
I. BY THE GRACE OF GOD...
A. Sinners are Saved, Eph. 2:1, 4-7, 8-9.
1. By grace: the source, the gift of mercy and love.
2. Through faith: the sinner's faith, produced by the gospel.
3. Not of yourselves; Salvation is God's gift (charis, cf. 1 Cor. 16:3).
B. We are Justified, Rom. 3:24 (Tit. 3:7).
1. Condition: Through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus.
2. Access into grace through faith (not the law of Moses), Rom. 5:1.
C. We are Accepted in the Beloved, Eph. 1:6.
1. Only in Christ is grace bestowed; by grace we are made gracious!
a. charitoo: To make graceful; to honor with blessings.
b. By means of Christ (grace) we are encompassed with favor (1:3).
2. Saved freely by His grace, Rom. 3:24.
3. Only when baptized into Christ, Gal. 3:26-27 (action of faith).
4. Grace is applied and blessings are bestowed when the sinner is baptized, cf. Tit. 3:4-5, 7.
D. I Am What I Am, 1 Cor. 15:10.
1. Paul was appointed to be an apostle (gift, Eph. 4:7, 11).
2. Note: grace labors (works)!
3. Abundant grace saves the lost, 1 Tim. 1:12-16; Eph. 1:7.
Part 2
II. NOT BY THE GRACE OF GOD.
A. Grace does not make it Impossible for Christians to Sin and Fall Away (to be lost), Gal. 5:3-7; 1:6-9.
1. Grace is greater than sin, but it does not prevent Christians from choosing to sin and losing our souls! Jas. 5:19-20
2. Trusting in God's grace means keeping oneself from sin.
3. Trusting God's grace is not ignoring sin as if it has no power to cause you to be lost! 1 Cor. 10:11-13
B. Grace does not Turn Sin into Righteousness, Rom. 6:1-2.
1. Trusting in God's grace means you make a choice that sin will not reign over you! Rom. 6:11-14; Gal. 2:18
2. Grace does not...
a. Turn vain worship into true worship (as if how we worship does not matter), cf. Lev. 10:1-2 (Jno. 4:24).
b. Turn immorality into purity (as long as we are sincere), cf. unscriptural divorce and remarriage without repentance and ceasing the sins, Rev. 9:20-21.
c. Turn error into truth (word of His grace is true, Acts 20:32); Gal. 2:20-21.
C. Grace does not Sanction Fellowship with Sin or with those who Condone the Practitioners of Sin.
1. The heart is established (founded upon) grace; not upon false doctrines that bind where the Lord has not bound, Heb. 13:9.
2. Nor is grace extended to those who loose where the Lord has not loosed (going beyond the doctrine of Christ forfeits God's grace), 2 Jno. 9.
3. Those who stand in the grace of God will not have fellowship with those who go beyond the doctrine of Christ, 2 Jno. 10-11.
Conclusion
1. God's grace does not and will not save you in spite of your sins.
2. God's grace has appeared and offers salvation to every sinner.
3. The gospel of the grace of God calls the lost to salvation by grace through faith, commanding a willing faith that obeys the Master, Heb. 5:8-9.