Scripture Reading: Titus 3:1-8
The Christian's Relation to Grace
Intro.
1. Grace is God’s favor toward sinners; Undeserved, without merit, and abundant in Jesus Christ, 2 Tim. 1:9.
a. Jesus is the source of divine grace, Jno. 1:14, 16-17.
b. Justified freely by God’s grace through Christ, Rom. 3:24.
c. Saved by grace, through faith, Eph. 2:4-5.
2. God’s grace is greater than sin, Rom. 5:19-21.
a. The Law did not provide grace, it magnified guilt, Rom. 3:19-20.
b. The faith (gospel) provides grace, Rom. 3:23-24.
3. We honor the grace of God, and never ignore the danger of sin.
a. “We are all broken people desperately in need of God’s grace.”
(A subtle way of not challenging sin in our lives and in others.)
b. Yes, we were broken by sin. But, we are made whole in Christ (by grace, through faith).
c. Grace never minimizes sin. Grace overwhelms sin, through faith.
I. CHRISTIANS STAND IN GRACE, Rom. 5:1-2; 1 Pet. 5:12.
A. Grace is Accessed by Faith, Eph. 2:8-9; Rom. 3:21-26.
1. Justified by grace (source is God), Rom. 3:24 (Eph. 1:6-7).
2. Justified by (the) faith (not the law), Gal. 2:16.
a. The faith (the gospel) produces personal faith, Rom. 1:16-17.
b. Personal faith includes obeying the gospel, Acts 10:34-35.
B. We Stand in Grace by Continuing to Live by Faith, Rom. 5:1-2; 6:14-16 (1-2).
1. Standing in grace is not “in spite of” sin; Forgiven of sin.
2. Live by faith: Believe and obey the word of faith, Rom. 10:8, 17.
3. Living by faith does not invalidate God’s grace, Gal. 2:20-21.
-The promise to Abraham was “of faith that it might be according to grace,” Rom. 4:13-16. Faith magnifies God’s grace.
II. WE MUST CONTINUE IN GRACE, Acts 13:43.
A. By Humble Obedience to Christ, Jas. 4:5-7.
B. By Submissive Service to One Another, 1 Pet. 5:5-7.
C. By Not Continuing to Practice Sin, Rom. 6:1-2, 5-6.
1. Born of God; Practice righteousness, 1 Jno. 2:29-3:3.
2. Abide in God; do not practice sin, but righteousness, 1 Jno. 3:4-10; 1:6-7.
III. WE MUST GROW IN GRACE, 2 Pet. 3:18.
A. Increase in the Image and Favor of God. (Adam Clarke)
1. Grow in our knowledge of His word.
2. Love Jesus sincerely, Eph. 6:24.
3. Humbly remove sin from our lives, Jas. 4:5-8.
4. Serve God with reverence, Heb. 12:28.
5. Serve others with singleness of heart, 2 Cor. 8:1-2, 5, 9.
6. Worship God with thanksgiving, Col. 3:16.
IV. WE ARE TO BE STRONG (STRENGTHENED) IN GRACE, 2 Tim. 2:1.
A. By Teaching Others, 2 Tim. 2:2; Heb. 5:12.
B. By Enduring Hardships, 2 Tim. 2:3.
C. By Not becoming Entangled with the World, 2 Tim. 2:4.
D. By Living According to Truth (by the rules), 2 Tim. 2:5.
E. By Being Diligent to Labor for the Lord, 2 Tim. 2:6.
Conclusion
1. Grace does not prevent us from being tempted by sin; but, God’s grace gives us ways of escape when we are tempted to sin, 1 Cor. 10:13.
2. God’s grace justifies us, giving us sure hope that we are heirs of eternal life, Titus 3:7.
By: Joe R. Price
Posted: December 5, 2017