Marvelous, Infinite, Matchless Grace

First, I would like to reintroduce myself to the group. Perhaps some are new and do not remember me. Perhaps some who have gone before have forgotton about me. I left the youth group in 2001 when I graduated HS and attended NBBC for 4 years. In the summer of 2003 I interned under Pastor Scott Olson. In the summer of '04 I was a youth sponsor. In 2005 I graudated and moved to Minneapolis, got married and started work on a MDiv from Central Baptist Seminary. If you don't remember me, I'm the guy that used to write the devotionals for camp/camps.

Now I am writing to respond to a post by Billy a few weeks ago. Billy posted some great theology on the topic of grace. I completely agree with what he said, but I feel that more must be added to the post to give a fuller exposition of grace. The reason that I feel that I must post this fact, is that I have had several friends, roomates, and peers (whom I previously ministered with in different ways) focus so strongly on grace, that they took grace as a license for what could be perceived as sinful behavior (drinking, etc.). Of course Romans 6 lays out the fact the we should not sin in order for grace to abound. I actually believe that there is a stronger set of verses in Scripture that give a fuller explanation of the function of grace in the life of a Christian.

Titus 2:11-15 states:
11) For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
14) Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
15) These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.

Billy has already explained v. 11 in his post, so that I have no need to repeat his statements.

This passage really gives to us one point on what grace teaches the believer. Grace teaches the believer that we ought to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world. The word "teach" is the verb form of the word that was used by the ancient Greeks (both classical, such as Plato, and contemporary with the New Testament, such as Plutarch) for education. Grace formally educates us as in a school.

Grace educates us to live:
Soberly - look at all of the uses of the word "sober" in Titus 2. You would think that Paul had a serious point to make with the word "sober." Sober, simply put, is right thinking (orthodoxy) that leads to right feelings.

Righteously - Our judicial (legal) position before God the father through the imputation of the righteousness of Christ. We are to live in the light of the righteousness that has been given to us.

Godly - Piety - speaking of our personal relationship with God.

"in this present world" - literally "in the now age" - Speaks of in this present time, or in this dispensation of the church. Here's how we ought to live in the church age because of Grace.

But how do we live in a manner that thinks right, that works in its legal position of righteousness, and in a pious relationship with God? Paul tells us two ways:

1. By means of denying ungodliness and worldly lusts. Ungodliness is a negative word with the same root word as "godliness" in v 12. That is to say, "impiety," or that which causes a rift in the relationship with the father. Worldly lusts are lusts and temptations that lead us away from the relatioship. Deny anything that gets in the way with your relationship with God.

2. By means of looking for Christ's return. Jesus is coming again! He is coming to take His glorious church, without spot or wrinkle, with Him into the clouds, to wed to His beloved Bride! This is the blessed hope of the believer. He is also returning bodily to the earth to set up His kingdom which will last for a thousand years, and then ushering in the eternal age. This is the glorious appearing. Are you looking and waiting earnestly for Christ to return? Are you living your life in a manner that if Christ would return today he would find you watching and waiting?

(As an interesting side note: There is a grammatical construction in the original that makes "God" and "Savior" describe the same person: Jesus Christ - thus giving a clear reference that Christ Jesus is God/Deity.)

Are you living in the lessons of Grace? Are you living while thinking right with right affectiosn towards God? Are you living in light of your legal position before God? Are you living in a right relationship with Him? Have you denied yourself everything that gets in the way with a relationship with Him? Are you looking and waiting and living in a manner that if Christ returned TODAY he would say, "Well Done?"

I hope you are. The grace that brings salvation is wonderful! The lessons that we learn from that grace lead us to live more piously day by day before God.