Will the true Church Arise: Titus Series Part 4
A Church Saved by Grace
Pm October 4th 2009
Titus 2:11-15
Introduction
In our series on Titus, “will the true church arise” we have already learned some great things about how we should do church from a biblical perspective. In the first part we learned five calls of the church, called to serve, called to Godliness, called to hope, called to uphold the Bible, and called to make disciples.
Secondly we learned what an obedient church looks like, an obedient first fulfills its God-given purpose, it calls and appoints obedient leaders, it teaches sound doctrine, and has members who are obedient in how they live.
Third, we learned what a “sound or healthy church looks like”, a sound or healthy church teaches sound doctrine, it not only reaches out to the younger crowd, but to the older also, the membership is made up of old and young Christians, were the older more mature, can teach the younger more immature. A healthy sound church makes the gospel look attractive to a lost and dying world.
Tonight from this passage of scripture we will learn about a church saved by grace, and what that really means for us. Grace means unmerited favor, I could never earn it or deserve it, it was given to me.
When Billy Graham was driving through a small southern town; he was stopped by a policeman and charged with speeding. Graham admitted his quilt, but was told by the officer that he would have to appear in court.
The judge asked, "Guilty, or not guilty?" When Graham pleaded guilty, the judge replied, "That’ll be ten dollars -- a dollar for every mile you went over the limit."
Suddenly the judge recognized the famous minister. "You have violated the law," he said. "The fine must be paid--but I am going to pay it for you." He took a ten dollar bill from his own wallet, attached it to the ticket, and then took Graham out and bought him a steak dinner! "That," said Billy Graham, "is how God treats repentant sinners!"
Now that is grace! Paul describes God’s grace in a unique and wonderful way in his letter to Titus. From this passage I want us to see what Grace has done for us as a church, because truly we are a church saved by Grace, if we teach any other doctrine other than the doctrine of grace, then we are not a biblical church.
Read Scriptures: Titus 2:11-15
I. Saved from the Penalty of Sin.
Vs. 11“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.”
This is absolutely amazing, when we are saved by the Grace of God through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ; we are saved from the penalty of sin.
2 Corinthians 5:19 “That God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins against them.”
2 Corinthians 5:21 “He who knew no sin, became sin for us, so that in Him we might become the righteousness of Christ.”
The great news of the gospel is that Jesus took my place on the cross, and took the penalty of sin on my behalf, and because of that, I can go to heaven.
II. Saved from the Power of Sin
Vs. 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,”
As important as salvation from the penalty of sin is, Paul’s major emphasis in this passage is salvation from the power of sin. In Jesus Christ, God’s redeeming grace breaks sins power and dominion in our lives and gives us a new nature that desire holiness. (John Macarthur, New Testament Commentary Series, Titus)
1 Corinthians 2:12 “We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us.”
When we are saved by Grace, we are saved from the power of sin in our lives, as the apostle Paul tells young Titus, it teaches us to say “No to ungodliness”.
We now have the power to resist, and stand firm and say no to sin all because of God’s amazing grace.
III. Saved from the Presence of Sin
Vs. 13 “while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ,”
One of the great truths implied in this passage is that one day when our salvation is perfected, we will be glorified, made fully like our Lord in purity and righteousness.
The future encounter with our Lord will bring permanent and total removal of sin from our lives. Not even a trace will remain.
1 John 3:2 “Dear friends, now we are children of God, and what we will be has not yet been made kown. But we know that when he appears, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is.”
Safe in the arms of God, free from the presence of sin.
IV. Saved from Possession by Sin
Vs. 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.”
The unregenerate or unsaved person is in total bondage to sin. Sin possesses them.
When we come to faith in Jesus Christ, we are God’s possession.
1 Peter 2:9 “But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.
Just as we were once enslaved and possessed by sin, now we are possessed by and enslaved to Jesus Christ. That happens only because of God’s Grace.
Conclusion
This passage concludes with verse 15 “These then are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.”
We should be a church that teaches Ephesians 2:8-10 “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this not of yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.”
