“The grace that does not change my life will not save my soul.”- CH Spurgeon

AW Pink writes concerning GRACE- “There are three principal characteristics of Divine grace. First, it is ETERNAL. Grace was planned before it was exercised, purposed before it was imparted: “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to His own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began” (2 Tim. 1:9). Second, it is FREE, for none did ever purchase it: “Being justified freely by His grace” (Rom. 3:24). Third, it is SOVEREIGN, because God exercises it toward and bestows it upon whom He pleases: “Even so might grace reign” (Rom. 5:21). If grace “reigns” then is it on the throne, and the occupant of the throne is sovereign. Hence “the throne of grace” (Heb. 4:16). Just because grace is unmerited favor, it must be exercised in a sovereign manner. Therefore does the Lord declare, “I will be gracious to whom I will be gracious” (Ex 33:19).”- {AW PINK.}.  Paul writes in Titus 2:11-14  of Grace PERSONIFIED in the Person of the Lord Jesus! “The Grace of God has appeared bringing salvation to all men.” SAVING grace!

“The grace of God has appeared.” Lit. “The Saving Grace of God.” “Appeared,” which means to bring to light.

In the Greek, “has appeared,” stands emphatically at the beginning of the sentence, stressing the manifestation of Grace as a historical fact. It refers to the entirety of the Life of Jesus, His coming, living, death and resurrection. The verb “epephane” from where we get our word, “epiphany,” means,“to become visible, make an appearance,” and gives the idea of GRACE SUDDENLY BREAKING in on our spiritual moral darkness. In Acts 27:20 it is used of the Sun. Jesus broke in over the darkness of moral decay in this world and revealed God’s grace, personified in the Person of Jesus in His birth and atonement to manifest grace to us as! “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.”-{John 1:14} HE..IS…AMAZING GRACE!

THE 7 EFFECTS OF THE SAVING GRACE OF GOD.

Indeed Titus 2:11-14 shows 7 EFFECTS of saving grace. Grace that saves, change, TRANSFORMING lives of the saved!

The 7 effects are that the Grace of God “instructs, teaches, educates.” The word was used of training a child. Grace instructs firstly with a DOUBLE RENOUNCING and ABANDONING by saying “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions.” This attitude must be maintained, guarded and implemented, choice by choice and then “live” consistently as the aim of life to what some call…

“The THREE LOOKS.”- EFFECTS OF SAVING GRACE!

A.) INWARD.- Look inwardly to self-control.

B.) OUTWARDLY- to deal with others honorably and upright.

C.) THE UPWARD LOOK-to live Godly, reverently with loving obedience in light of and motivated by the blessed hope- The appearing of the Lord who has redeemed us for good deeds, to show forth His saving work in a life He puts on display.

THE 7 EFFECTS OF SAVING AND LIFE EMPOWERING GRACE.

1. – NO TO “UNGODLINESS.”  Or “Deny,” It is a definite Renouncing and abandoning  initially and a continuous breaking of the old life of “ungodliness.” The word, “ungodliness” speaks of  “a lack of reverence for God.” A person not right with God is irreverent as Rom 1:18-32 reveals one aspect. A break from “old patterns” of irreverence that characterized your life before your conversion. Ungodly, irreverent attitude towards God! Ungodly thinking, motives, actions must be recognized, renounced abandoned! All that is unlike God! A break from the irreverence of God, a lack of honoring God!

2.-NO TO “WORLDLY PASSIONS.”– Renouncing and abandoning continually the old life of “worldly passions,” which characterizes a world that is estranged from God, where anything goes and is acceptable. You now have the power to renounce such living. “… but worldly desires,” kosmikos epithumias, it means “lusts which are characteristic of the godless human system, desires that reflect ungodly culture.” Peter calls them “fleshly lusts”; Paul calls them “foolish lusts”; he also calls them “hurtful lusts.” And writing in 2 Timothy he speaks of “youthful lusts.” But here you have “worldly lusts” – the stuff, the “foolish, hurtful, youthful, fleshly, worldly passion.” At the point of salvation, there is a clean break with wrong ideas about God, and there’s a clean break with patterns of living that were dominated by lust. There’s a renouncing. There’s a transformation. There’s a reprogramming. And in Colossians 3, I think, speaks of this in verses 9 and 10, “Do not lie to one another.” Why? “Since you laid aside the old self with its evil practices, and have put on the new self which is renewed to a true knowledge.” And there the apostle Paul is recognizing that salvation not only deals with the future, but it deals with the present – not only deals with the penalty of sin but deals with the power of sin. You were no longer under its dominion. So don’t give in to it.’-{John Mac Arthur}

3.- SELF-CONTROL. -To live out your new life “In Christ” with all the power to live a life with an aim to live consistently characterized by self-control, sensibly. Exercising self-control over self. Control yourself. Grace gives you the power to do so. The natural man or woman cannot do this when it comes to the things of God! Self-control to make wise choices, by His Spirit. This has to do with you!

4.- UPRIGHT.-To live a new life aiming to consistently be characterized by living upright, righteously, honorably- towards others. Living right according in alignment with the Divine standard in His Word! Living in such a way it has an effect on those around you. It has to do with the way you live and treat others!

5.- GODLY. – This has to do with looking towards GOD. To live out your new life aiming to be Godly- reverentially before God in loving obedience to Him, honoring God, worshiping, respecting adoring GOD. Living in obedience to Him!

6.- RETURN OF CHRIST. – Looking for the return of the Lord Jesus. This “Blessed Hope” is to motivate to live the above-mentioned. To be looking with a warm welcome for Him. The word, “LOOKING” was used of a welcome that sought to meet the special needs of people, with kindness. We look to him. We look for Him! His return is the expectation things will be better and to live now in this “present age,” with eternal hope. He is coming back!

7.- ZEALOUS. -“Eager to do what is good.” {“zealotes”} Zealot, Eager,  “a zealot or an enthusiast,” is what the word means. Zealous for good works as a result of this saving grace that brings about change in an individual. To those who have been redeemed, brought out of the bondage of sin into a loving relationship with God the response is that they are those who are enthusiast to do good, for His sake, not for acceptance but out of loving appreciation to Him!

He who eagerly awaits the return of the Savior will eagerly be about His business in furthering His cause and  doing good until he returns!

Grace is not “static” or un-influential, but Saving grace from God brings about progressive change, Transforming so people SHOW FORTH the Grace of God! It is manifested in our attitudes and practices, denying ungodliness, worldly passions, exercising self-control towards oneself, upright in our treatment towards others and reverence, Godliness towards God, Living in light of His return, and eagerly doing good!

“And the Word became flesh, and dwelt among us, and we saw His glory, glory as of the only begotten from the Father, full of grace and truth. John *testified about Him and cried out, saying, “This was He of whom I said, ‘He who comes after me has a higher rank than I, for He existed before me.’” For of His fullness we have all received, and grace upon grace. For the Law was given through Moses; grace and truth were realized through Jesus Christ.”- John 1:14-17

GRACE has appeared-Jesus Christ- SAVES, SANCTIFIES- IS SEEN- if it is God’s Grace in a life that is saved!

Familiarize yourself again with the 7 EFFECTS OF THE GRACE OF JESUS CHRIST for yourself and seek to share with someone else!

APPLICATION;

READ- MEDITATE- MEMORIZE- PRAISE HIM- PRAY TO APPLY.

These verses in Titus 2:11-14 would be good to print out and place on some 3 by 5 cards and carry with you or put them in a prominent place to remind yourself of the truth. Think on it word for word, phrase for phrase, commit to memory with the intent to apply as an expression of love to Him. In these verses there “Blessed Hope” that motivates. Hope to overcome temptation, is hope for living. hope for the future.

JESUS CHRIST IS AMAZING GRACE. HIS GRACE TRAINS US TO LIVE IN THIS PRESENT AGE AND LOOK FOR THE BLESSED RETURN OF OUT GLORIOUS GOD AND SAVIOR, CHRIST JESUS!