Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!

THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION

Introduction

Titus was like young Timothy in that he needed some encouragement to continue taking the right stand on the things that God would have him to stand on!

There were things that were wanting that needed to be set in order. Leadership was needed!

There were surrounding cities that needed some pastors.

Discernment was needed!

There were some mouths running that needed to be stopped.

Courage was needed!

There were some folks who needed to be rebuked for false doctrine. Boldness was needed!

Paul mentions in 1:16 that there were some who “. . .profess that they know God; but in works they deny him, being abominable, and disobedient, and unto every good work reprobate.”

“abominable” – means “detestable and even idolatrous.”

“disobedient” – means “unpersuadable” and “literally swelling against or haughty such as they become obstinate; perverse; stubborn; unyielding; and disobedient.”

“reprobate” – “unapproved or rejected or worthless.”

These were not backsliders, but rather they were unbelievers according to verse 15.

Then, Paul tells Titus to be careful to teach sound doctrine. (2:1)

              1.         Aged men. (2:2)

              2.         Aged women. (2:3)

              3.         Young women. (2:4-5)

              4.         Young men. (2:6)

              5.         Servants. (2:9-10)

              6.         His own example. (Live the doctrine you teach!) (2:7-8)

Listen, It has never been easy to serve the Lord!

Then Paul tells Titus that the Grace that truly brings salvation in a person’s life teaches us some things.

Understand that our God is the God of all grace according to 1 Peter 5:10

“But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you. To him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.”

Because He is the God of all grace, that means that there are different types of grace:

Saving Grace–Securing Grace–Sanctifying Grace–Serving Grace

Suffering Grace–Sustaining Grace–Satisfying Grace–Sufficient Grace

We could go on and on about God’s grace but look at 2:11.

This is specifically speaking about a particular grace of God–“the grace of God that bringeth salvation.”

I want us to see some things that the Scripture says that this grace teaches us:

I.           THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION TEACHES US TO LEAVE. (VS 12)

              A.        It Teaches Us To Leave Wrong Deeds.

“denying ungodliness” means we are to reject wickedness in our lives.

              B.        It Teaches Us To Leave Wrong Desires.

“denying. . .worldy lusts” means we are to reject the worldly “longing for the forbidden.”

There are too many people who name the name of Christ who have not left their wicked deeds or wicked desires behind!

The Bible says that the grace of God that brings Salvation teaches us to “deny ungodliness” and “worldly lusts” in our lives! Why is that?

James 1:14-15–“But every man is tempted, when he is drawn away of his own lust, and enticed. Then when lust hath conceived, it bringeth forth sin: and sin, when it is finished, bringeth forth death.”

                          1.         There Are Some Things That Christians Should Flee From.

To “flee” from something means to run away from it. (Exp–Gen. 39:12–Joseph and Potiphar’s wife)

                                      a.         Paul Told The Corinthians To Flee Fornication. (1 Corinthians 6:18)

                                      b.         Paul Told The Corinthians To Flee Idolatry. (1 Corinthians 10:14)

                                      c.         Paul Told Timothy To Flee Covetousness. (1 Timothy 6:11; Colossians 3:5)

                                      d.         Paul Told Timothy To Flee Youthful Lusts. (2 Timothy 2:22)

                          2.         There Are Some Things That Christians Should Abstain From.

1 Thessalonians 5:22–“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

1 Peter 2:11–“Abstain from fleshly lusts which war against the soul.”

                          3.         There Are Some Things That Christians Should Shun And Refuse.

2 Timothy 2:16–“But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness. 17And their word will eat as doth a canker:”

1 Timothy 4:7–“But refuse profane and old wives’ fables, and exercise thyself rather unto godliness.”

                          4.         There Are Some Things Christians Should Abhor.

Romans 12:9–“Abhor that which is evil, cleave to that which is good.”

                                      “Abhor” means to “detest.”

THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION TEACHES US TO LEAVE.

                          Leave Wrong Deeds.

                          Leave Wrong Desires.

II.         THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION TEACHES US TO LIVE. (VS 12)

              A.        Live Undistracted Lives–“Soberly”

The word “soberly” means “with a sound mind.”

If your mind is not sound, you’ll be easily distracted from the truth.

A “sound mind” comes from having the right things going in your “mind.”

Too many Christians lack a sound mind because of what they allow into the avenues of their senses of hearing and sight!

Many Christians listen to what the world says and begin to live their lives molded by the world’s principles rather than God’s principles!

Many Christians watch how the world lives and begin to live their lives molded by what they see in the world rather than by what they see in the Word!

In order to live “soberly,” we must guard our eyes, our ears, and judge everything that we see and hear by the Word of God rather than by our own human reasoning!

James 1:8–“A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.”

                          Live Undistracted Lives–“Soberly”

              B.        Live Unblameable Lives–“Righteously”

1 Thessalonians 5:22–“Abstain from all appearance of evil.”

1 John 3:7–“Little children, let no man deceive you: he that doeth righteousness is righteous, even as he is righteous.”

We don’t become sinless when we get born again, but we should sin less!

I’m not speaking of a works salvation, but of a salvation that works!

When a person says that they have been born again and yet they don’t show any evidence of that in their lives, something is wrong!

              C.        Live Unselfish Lives–“Godly”

1 Corinthians 6:19-20–“What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”

                          Yet, there are too many who say, “Its my life!”

Galatians 2:20–I am crucified with Christ nevertheless I live, yet not I, but Christ liveth in me. . .”

Yet, there are too many who do not allow Christ to live His life and shine through!

Romans 12:1-2--“I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.”

Yet, there are too many who keep their bodies selfishly to themselves!

THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION TEACHES US TO LEAVE, TO LIVE,. . .

III.        THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION TEACHES US TO LOOK. (VS 13)

              A.        Looking For That Blessed Hope Means Looking For Deliverance From The Presence Of Sin.

                          Romans 8:23 calls it “. . .the Redemption of our body.”

              B.        Looking For That Blessed Hope Means Looking For Deliverance Into The Presence Of the Saviour.

                          The Judgment Seat of Christ.            I John 3:1-3

1 John 2:28–“And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming.”

THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION TEACHES US TO LEAVE, TO LIVE, TO LOOK. . .

IV.        THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION TEACHES US TO LEAN. (VS 14)

              A.        Lean On Him For Redemption.

                          No one else can save us!

              B.        Lean On Him For Renewal.

                          No one else can change us!

We don’t need the positive thinking gurus, we don’t need some self-help book! We have all we need in Christ!

              C.        Lean On Him For Righteous Living.

                          Christ is our purpose for righteous living!

                          Christ is our pattern for righteous living!

                          Christ is our power for righteous living!

V.          THE GRACE THAT BRINGS SALVATION TEACHES US TO LEAD. (VS 15)

              A.        Lead With Our Lips.

                          1.         Speak With All Authority.

                                      (i.e. “Thus saith the Lord”)

                          2.         Exhort With All Authority.

                                      “Exhort” means “to call near, invite, to invoke.” 

                          3.         Rebuke With All Authority.

              B.        Lead With Our Lives.

                          “Let no man despise thee”

Conclusion

Do you have the Grace of God that brings Salvation in your life? If not, you can have that Grace today!

If you say “Yes, I have that Grace,” is it teaching you anything? If not, you need to be checking to see if you got the right grace!

Better than that, if the Grace that you have is teaching you these things, are you learning anything? James 1:22–“But be ye doers of the Word, and not hearers only. . .”

May God help us so that when His Grace, the Grace that brings Salvation, teaches us these things, we will be teachable and learn these things in our lives!

Home Page   Contact Us    Service Times   Sermons   Are You Going To Heaven?

NOTICE:   THESE SERMONS ARE FREE TO BE USED BUT ARE NOT TO BE SOLD!