Grace the Teacher of How to Live

Wednesday, November 01, 2017 Bryan Hudson 0 Comments

Titus 2:11 For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, 12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works. 15 Speak these things, exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no one despise you.

In his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul personifies the grace of God as a teacher. We know that grace provided every good thing we have, including salvation. Paul shows that grace can teach us how to live.

Paul's letter to Titus was a pastoral letter designed to instruct, encourage, and establish some important Christian truths, especially for Titus and church leaders. Central to that task was recognizing the significance of the grace of God on a very practical level. As we know, we do not succeed through our own works, but through grace operating by faith (Eph. 2:8). From this text, let's look specifically at what grace teaches:

1. Denying ungodliness 
2. Denying worldly lust
3. Live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age
4. Looking for the appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ
5. Jesus gave His life to redeem us
6. Jesus gave His life to purify us
7. We are God's special people, eager to do good works
8. Leaders should not be timid

We do not lack a clear standard. Living for God is not like the old Burger King motto, "Have It Your Way." We all benefit from loving instruction and training. As a matter of fact, we learn to thrive and experience "good" success (Joshua 1:8) based on training because we are designed to learn, grow, and develop. Proof of that principle is shown in Proverbs 29:15, "...A child left undisciplined disgraces its mother." Also, Proverbs 22:6, "Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it."

Disgraceful and dysfunctional behavior develops in a child who is "left to himself" or otherwise neglected with respect to training. The principle applies to adults as well on a different level. Have you ever encountered a poorly trained, or untrained, worker on a job? 

Grace as Teacher provides the best way to be trained, learn, and grow. Not only do we receive instruction from the Source--our Creator, we also receive the power to become the instruction!