Bishop Creek Community Church 12-21-14
For the Grace of God Has Appeared
Ed Duran
We celebrate the Birth of Jesus (prayer)
For the Grace of God has appeared, bringing Salvation to ALL Men
Bible text Titus 2: 11- 14
Scripture Reading Luke 1: 26 – 38
1. We celebrate the birth of a child
A. No ordinary child, but the Son of God
2. Today we are living in a time when many are attempting to spiritualize the Bible by considering as distortions, corruptions or allegories anything that does not come easy for the human mind to accept or comprehend as a reality. EPIDEMY OF PRIDE
A. Incarnation, virgin birth, miracles, bodily resurrection, trinity, word.
B. However these things are essential to Christianity.
C. The KEY principle upon which these truths rest is the fact that Nothing is Impossible for God. O.T. and N.T. teachings validate this principle.
D. Jeremiah 32: 17, 27 Matthew 19: 26
E. Isaiah 55: 8, 9 Matthew 11: 25 Romans 11: 33-34
F. Over 300 O.T. prophecies were given regarding Jesus coming.
-Jews (experts in O.T.) did not recognize Jesus. Isaiah 53:3 John 7:5, 48
G. John 1:14, 17
3. 2 Timothy 1:8–10 Titus 2:11–14 Notice TWO appearings
A. One is history (through the birth, the cross, resurrection)
-Christmas to Easter Morning-
B. Second appearing we call the Blessed Hope (2000 yrs later)
C. This is the only good solution for a war-torn, weary, troubled world.
D. For many students of scripture this Blessed Hope, appearing of glory is drawing near
4. v. 12 What grace leading to salvation teaches
A. Salvation is transforming and transformation (new birth) produces a new life in which the power of sin has been broken. 2 Corinthians 5:17 Ephesians 2:8–10
B. Altered allegiance to self, those important to us, and the world.
C. When we give in intellectually, emotionally and will fully to God and His word we can be set free from slavery to sin and the opinion to of others. Romans 12:2
D. Living responsible, honorable and God-fearing Titus 2:6–8
5. v. 13 2 Distinct Appearings
A. The first appearing is called the appearing of the GRACE of our Lord Jesus.
B. The second is the appearing of His Glory
C. In between comes what has been called the Age of Grace -What the Jews saw- John the Baptist
D. Appearing (grk. Epiphany) means a shining forth.
E. NEB Titus 2: 11 The grace of God has dawned upon the world.
-beautiful description of Christmas
-first subject on God’s agenda is not judgment, but LOVE
-v. 11 is not that all men will be saved, but that all men can be saved
6. v. 14 The KEY is a people of God for His own possession.
A. The mystery of the Christian message is that the God who became incarnate in Bethlehem is willing and able to become a living God inside of us as individuals.
B. Salvation is not an empty creed that we blindly follow, but a living Lord at work in us.
C. It is a transformed heart and life.
7. This what Christmas means.
A. An altered allegiance
B. Beginning of a lawful life
C. He came to be a Savior: to give a salvation right where you are in your place of need and to accept you as you are, and to cause change in you.
