March 23, 2025

THE SCHOOL OF GOD’S GRACE -- Titus 2:11-15

38 minutes

Paul is writing to Titus about the duties of a pastor. Titus was led to the Lord by Paul (1:4) and labored with him. He had been left in Crete by Paul to “set in order the things that are wanting, and ordain elders in every city . . . ” In this letter he is giving instruction to Titus how to carry out the things he was instructed to do and to faithfully serve God. By the way, good instruction for preachers is good instruction for the congregation. In Titus 2:1-10 Paul tells Titus to speak “the things which become (are becoming to) sound doctrine . . . ” and then he names some of those things. Just “holding” sound doctrine is not enough. We must live it as well, thus adding a reality and a beauty to those things we preach. In our text Paul states that God’s grace teaches us these things and how to live them daily. In short we can go to the school of God’s grace. The grace of God cannot be easily defined. II Corinthians 8:9 gives us one of the best illustrations of grace I can think of: “For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.” And Philippians 2:5-8 describes this grace in action: “Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: (6) Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: (7) But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men: (8) And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross.” Grace is the wonderful, unmerited favor of God. Someone came up with this acrostic: God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. The word that is translated “grace” is “charis,” or a gift. In that day it implied a favor freely done without claim or expectation of return. It finds its motive in the bounty and free-heartedness of the giver. In the New Testament it refers to an act that is beyond what might ordinarily be expected. Grace is getting what we do not deserve. (Mercy is not getting what we do deserve.) But does all this actually and accurately define God’s grace? I believe one of the reasons it is so easy to take God’s grace for granted is that we truly cannot fathom the great degree of grace that has been shown us “while we were yet sinners.” When we see ourselves as we once were -- lost, doomed, condemned sinful beings, destined to hell and helpless to save ourselves -- we begin to get a picture of our need -- Ephesians 2:1-5: “And you hath he quickened, who were dead in trespasses and sins; (2) Wherein in time past ye walked according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: (3) Among whom also we all had our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and were by nature the children of wrath, even as others." But now grace enters: (4) But God, who is rich in mercy, for his great love wherewith he loved us, (5) Even when we were dead in sins, hath quickened us together with Christ, (by grace ye are saved;) . . . ” When we see the Lord Jesus willingly stoop down, lift the cross, and begin to carry it to Calvary, and there submit to crucifixion, the cruelest death Rome could imagine, and do it in our stead, maybe we will begin to get a picture of God’s great grace. (“Wonderful Grace Of Jesus”) It was grace that caused Him to offer Himself. It was grace that caused Him to die for us -- that caused Him to remain on the cross. According to vv. 11-12 God’s grace that brings salvation also teaches us some things.