In Grace’s Classroom – Titus 2:11-15

Titus verse by verse. This lesson looks at what the grace of God teaches us. Quiet a contrast to many ‘grace’ philosophies in the 21st century.

This chapter: The Apostle emphasizes the things that “become sound doctrine”. Our lives are to be an adornment to the truth (note 10b)

This lesson: The Apostle anchors the exhortations of the passage in the grace of God.

‘teaching’ = to instruct, educate or discipline (e.g. train a child). Also translated ‘chasten’, ‘chastise’, ‘instruct’, ‘learn’ and ‘teach’.

The Grace of God working in our lives will teach us three things…

What to Leave (12a)

Ungodliness

1. The opposite of a ‘godly’ life
2. ‘ungodliness’ = irreverence towards God, disrespect
3. Illustration: Ungodliness is the breaking of the first table of the 10 commandments which all have to do with our relationship to God.

Worldly Lusts

1. ‘lust’ = strong desire/craving
2. How can we love the things that nailed Jesus Christ to the cross?
3. Note: This exposes the false teaching of ‘grace’ amongst some believers that advocates the idea that God’s grace gives me license to live in a loose, worldly fashion.
4. Many will say, “we’re not under the law but under grace!” (Rom. 6:14) Let’s read the whole verse in context
5. Romans 6:14-15 “For sin shall not have dominion over you: for ye are not under the law, but under grace. What then? shall we sin, because we are not under the law, but under grace? God forbid.”
6. 1 John 2:15-17 “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.”
7. James 4:4 “Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? Whosoever therefore shall be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.”
8. Illustrations: My wife’s grandparents left the dance floor after they were converted

How to Live (12b)

Soberly

1. Key theme of this chapter
2. Definition: To be of a sound mind, to be alert and vigilant. “That self- restraint that governs all passions and desires, enabling the believer to be conformed to the mind of Christ.”

Righteously

1. To live justly and uprightly!
2. To live right!

Godly

1. This means “to live piously and godly in our manner of life. It denotes that piety which, characterized by a Godward attitude, does that which is well-pleasing to Him (Vines).
2. 1 Peter 1:`15-16 “But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation; Because it is written, Be ye holy, for I am holy.”

Immediately

“in this present world”

Where to Look (Vs. 13-14)

The Event (Vs. 13)

1. The blessed hope
   1. ‘hope’ = a confident expectation
   2. 1 Thessalonians 4:16-18 “For the Lord himself shall descend…”
2. The Glorious appearing
   1. How glorious it will be to see the King in His glorified beauty
   2. Rev. 1:12-17 “And I turned to see the voice that spake with me…”

The Person (Vs. 14)

1. His Name
   1. The Great God = clear reference to the deity of Christ. He is God!
   2. The Saviour
2. His Work
   1. He gave Himself = our substitute
   2. Two-fold purpose
      1. To Redeem us from all iniquity (save us)
      2. To purify us unto himself (sanctify us)
      3. ‘peculiar’ = one’s special possession
      4. Jim Elliot: “God I pray Thee, light these idle stick of my life that I may burn for thee. Consume my life, my God, for it is thine. I seek not a long life, but a full one, like You, Lord Jesus.”

Conclusion

Are you submitting to the instruction of grace in your life?

Sermon 7 of 9 in Titus Series

Sermon Audio Id: 8201755503