What God’s Grace Teaches Us
What God’s Grace Teaches Us January 30, 2022
“What shall we say then? Are we to continue in sin that God’s grace might increase? May it never be! How shall we who died to sin still live in it?” (Romans 6:1-2)
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. (Titus 2:11-14)
When an individual is baptized into Christ for the forgiveness of their sins they are making a statement to God, others and themselves that they no longer want to participate in sin but rather live & dedicate their life for God. In essence they are saying that they have decided to die to sin in order to live for God. Read Romans 6:1-11.
The apostle Paul is quick to remind the brethren at Rome that God’s grace is not a permit or license for one to continue sinning. In fact it is exactly the opposite. When one becomes a Christian they are to become a different person; an individual that emulates Christ. It seemed that some brethren thought that once they were under God’s grace then it wouldn’t matter if they sinned – God would just forgive them. Paul’s response to that kind of thinking was an emphatic “May it never be!”
When Paul wrote to Titus he explains, in detail, why God’s grace has appeared to us. Actually there are a number of reasons for its appearance. The first is to bring salvation to all mankind. Regardless of race or color God wants all mankind to be saved. All have sinned and fallen short of God’s glory (Romans 3:23). In order to save the world God everything He had – His only begotten Son (John 3:16). Secondly, it teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires. What this means is that when sin knocks at the door of our heart we need to deny its entrance. In other words, say “No!” to its enticing desire. In only the fourth chapter of the first book of the Bible God said these words concerning sin to Cain, “If you do well, will not your countenance be lifted up? And if you do not do well, sin is crouching at the door, and its desire is for you, but you must master it” (Genesis 4:7). Thirdly, God’s grace teaches us to live sensibly, righteously and godly. God’s grace wants to see a change in the way we conduct ourselves and in the way we speak so that our thoughts, deeds and words are worthy of God’s grace (I Thessalonians 2:1-12; Ephesians 5:1-2). We should never want to relive our life of sin but rather desire to live a life that is patterned after our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Fourthly, God’s grace brings us hope for the future. In being a Christian one is under God’s grace and their sins are continually forgiven as long as they walk in God’s light (I John 1:5-10). Their hope will be fully realized when Jesus appears for them that He might take them home to God, the Father. Fifthly, God’s grace reminds us of our purpose in becoming a Christian. That is, to be purified and redeemed from every lawless thing we have ever done so that God could dwell within us and that, in turn, we could become zealous for every good deed.
What effect has the grace of God had in your life? Hopefully it is much more to you and I than just a lovely quality of God. God’s grace is His means of teaching & instructing His children so that they can be redeemed and receive eternal life.
What a blessing to be a student of God’s amazing teacher – His grace!!
Brian Thompson