Professor Grace

Dr Larry Halsey
Titus 2:11-15

A grandmother gave generous Christmas checks to her several grandchildren. But the kids never, ever sent ‘thank you’ notes, even though their parents scolded them and reminded them each year of how important it was. Then one year it all changed. Grandma sent a $100.00 Christmas check to each child and the next day every one of them came over to her house to thank her in person.She was telling this story to one of her friends, who said, “That’s wonderful, but what was different this year? What caused them to be so polite?”

”Well,” she said, “it’s easy. This year I didn’t sign the checks.”

Few things are more important than what motivates you.Psychologists tell us there are two basic categories of motivation:

Extrinsic motivation is provided by personal benefits. A mom says, “Honey, you stay in bed until 6:00 o’clock and we’ll let you watch some
television when you get up.”

“You know, if you do a good job on this, we’ll give you a $2,000
bonus.”

Intrinsic motivation appeals to the heart. You address something much deeper. You go to the conscience; you ask people to remember their core values, beliefs and purposes. You sometimes hear it said, “He’s a motivating leader.” Research, however, shows that just the opposite it true.Leadership expert, Kenneth Gangel, says, “Motivation is never implanted; it’s unleashed.” He goes on to cite studies showing that motivation comes from within the person…His wants and desires.“Motivation is not something [a leader] brings to the party,” he concludes.

Motivation relates to emotional and spiritual maturity…you can motivate a child with a trinket, but an adult wants to know how he can make a difference.
You know you are growing when your primary concern isn’t success, but significance.

All of this shows the importance of Proverbs 4:23:

“Keep your heart with all diligence, for out of it spring the issues of life.”

“The Message” reads:

“Keep vigilant watch over your heart; that’s where life starts.”In the opening verses of this chapter, Paul has appealed to five specific groups in any NT church…First……older men (followed by)
…older women
…young women
…and young menIn contrast to some self-centered, sinning professors identified in the last verses of chapter one, he says, “But as for you…”“Jesus has saved us,” he says, “not only so we would belong to Him, but also that we would live like we belong to Him.”Where does the motivation come from to live for Christ in a…Where does the motivation come from to live for Christ in a……materialism-soaked,
…me-first,
…pleasure-addictedWhere does the motivation come from to live for Christ in a……materialism-soaked,…me-first,…pleasure-addictedsociety?

Where does the motivation come from to live for Christ in a……materialism-soaked,…me-first,…pleasure-addictedsociety? Let me repeat the question: Where do you as a Christian find motivation to seek first the kingdom…and to model kingdom principles?

Paul doesn’t appeal the immature or the complacent. He doesn’t say, “If you will do this you will be happy, fulfilled and prosperous.”

The motivation for walking the talk is: GRACE.

“For—For this reason— the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared…”— What follows is the motivation for all that he has just said.

You’ve heard that grace means, “unmerited favor,” “God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense.” But it goes far deeper than quick definitions and well-worn acrostics.

The mention of “salvation” riveted the mind, and moved the heart, of every hearer in the congregations on Crete…they were 1st generation believers…recently saved from pagan darkness and empty religion.People who are saved run the risk of forgetting what it means to be lost.Grace takes you back to who you were BC— Before Christ. It exposes your…your position of condemnation and eternal death before God
…your hopelessness
…your slavery to sin, self and circumstances.

John Phillips writes:

“Our sin amounts to rebellion against an all-wise, all-seeing, all-powerful
God. His omnipresence places Him on the scene of our misbehaviors. His
omniscience makes Him aware of our every thought, word, and deed (and
all of its ramifications). His omnipotence can overwhelm all opposition. In
stead of pouring out His wrath upon us, however, God extends His grace
toward us. He does not offer to overlook our sin because that would violate
His holiness. Nor does He simply offer us forgiveness; He offers us
complete justification. He declares us to be righteous. He removes our sins
from His memory by an act of mercy and grace.”

When El Nino’s rain deluged Southern California one recent winter, the potential danger became, for one family, a dreaded reality. The family was at home when, without warning, a torrent of mud tore through the house, bull dozing it into a ravine and sweeping their sleeping baby into the night.The panicked, desperate parents began searching through the darkness for their lost child. Trudging through the deep mud and mire that engulfed their entire neighborhood, they searched and called for their child throughout the long night.The next morning a rescuer, himself covered with mud, approached them with a mud-caked bundle in his arms—the baby, filthy but alive.You know what the mother did. She clung to her child despite its filth, washed the muck away, and determined—right on the spot— that whatever the cost, the child would never be exposed anything like this again.

When the filth of my sin was sweeping me in helplessness to eternal death, my God covered Himself in the muck of sin to rescue me, embraced me in love, and now has purposed that I never be exposed again to the dangerous, damaging mud of sin!

Friend, when you understand what God in grace in Christ did for you, it will enviably motivate you to a life-style that honors and pleases Him.

John writes:

“and everyone who has this hope in Him purifies himself, just as He is
pure…whosoever abides in Him does not sin. Whoever sins has neither
seen Him or known Him.”

This grace “has appeared to all men…”

Before we move on, let me warn you against universalism. It is a teaching popularized today by that Universalist Church and New Age Movement that says, “ultimately all people will be saved; hell, if it exists, will be empty for all eternity.”One New Age writer tells about a near-death experience in which she crossed the line between life and death; she was met by Christ, who took her on a walk. He explained that all the religions of the world were paths to the same destination. There was a Buddhist path, a Hindu path, an Islamic path and, of course, a Christian path. But, like spokes in a wheel, all of them led to the central hub of heaven. In other words, everyone will be saved.“Being a God of love, He has ‘brought salvation to all men.’” What He has brought is the opportunity to be saved. It refers, not to universal salvation, but the universal opportunity for salvation. Would Hitler have been saved, If he had trusted Christ as personal Savior? Yes, of course!Grace rescues from the past.

In the present, Grace RequestsGrace (now personified) becomes our teacher; instructing us as to how to live in this “present age.”…a reference to the world as a system organized and sustained by men in opposition to God; society as an arena in which the ungodly express their lusts, their lostness, and their lawlessness.Grace (now personified) becomes our teacher; instructing us as to how to live in this “present age.”…a reference to the world as a system organized and sustained by men in opposition to God; society as an arena in which the ungodly express their lusts, their lostness, and their lawlessness.This present age began and will conclude with two “appearances.”Grace (now personified) becomes our teacher; instructing us as to how to live in this “present age.”…a reference to the world as a system organized and sustained by men in opposition to God; society as an arena in which the ungodly express their lusts, their lostness, and their lawlessness.This age began and will conclude with two “appearances.” …In verse 11- There is Jesus’ appearance to save us from the penalty and
power of sin. (His incarnation and death on the Cross.)

Grace (now personified) becomes our teacher; instructing us as to how to live in this “present age.”…a reference to the world as a system organized and sustained by men in opposition to God; society as an arena in which the ungodly express their lusts, their lostness, and their lawlessness.This age began and will conclude with two “appearances.” …In verse 11- There is Jesus’ appearance to save us from the penalty and power of sin. (His incarnation and death on the Cross.) …In verse 13- There’s His coming to save us from the presence of sin.

“appeared” (V11) and “appearing” (V13) gives us the word “epiphany,” (epiphaino), meaning “something, previously hidden, that is now—at a point in time— coming into clear view.”Grace “teaches”—The word mean, “the training of a child through discipline.” It gives us the term “pedagogue,” the teacher. It has overtones of chastening. Grace “teaches”—The word mean, It gives us the term “pedagogue,” the teacher. It has overtones of chastening. Professor Grace, says, “Renounce that old way of life and live a new one. Turn from the things you once loved to do that were wrong and start doing the things I love for you to do that are right. Become a trophy of grace for all to see.” Grace “teaches”—The word mean, It gives us the term “pedagogue,” the teacher. It has overtones of chastening. Professor Grace, says, “Renounce that old way of life and live a new one. Turn from the things you once loved to do that were wrong and start doing the things I love for you to do that are right. Become a trophy of grace for all to see.” It brings back a memory of your 4th grade teacher saying, “Straighten up.”

Grace “teaches”—The word mean, It gives us the term “pedagogue,” the teacher. It has overtones of chastening. Professor Grace, says, “Renounce that old way of life and live a new one. Turn from the things you once loved to do that were wrong and start doing the things I love for you to do that are right. Become a trophy of grace for all to see.” It brings back a memory of your 4 grade teacher saying, “Straighten up.”There have always been down through the years people who abuse grace. They would sing the old hymn another way…

Free from the law,
O happy condition,
sin all you please,
for there is remission.

They want to say that because that’s the lifestyle they want to live.

Grace is a disciplinarian; the curriculum includes both the negative and the positive:

“…teaching us that, denying…”

Literally, “to disown…”— It carries the idea of a conscious, purposeful action of the will. Grace, like a good parent, teaches us to say “no.”

In the 1930s, as the European democracies drifted weakly toward war, Winston Churchill often quoted Alexander the Great to sound the alarm. “The Persians will always be slaves,” Alexander said, “because they did not know how to pronounce the word ‘no.’

Grace reminds us that each day we are confronted with choices with far-reaching implications. There are two areas to be avoided:

“ungodliness”— It has the idea of lacking true reverence for and devotion to
God…activity and attitude that is unlike God.“worldly lusts”— Refers to strong desires, and cravings that characterize
natural men. It’s a view of life that the “now,” is all there is.Get all the gusto you can; he would dies with the most toys wins. Ravi Zacharias astutely observed:

“One might cynically observe that the essence of Western culture is its
willingness to die for a higher standard of living.”

Even the secular culture is recognizing that something is alarmingly askew.Newsweek magazine had a cover story on the effects of permissive parenting. They cited a survey that showed that children expect to ask their parents nine times for something new before they give in. And parents are spending unprecedented dollars for nonessential items for their children—$53.8 billion in 2004, $17.6 billion more than in 1997.”Most of which ends up in a yard sale, to make room for more new stuff.How would you answer this question: “Who am I?” The culture blares at you in a thousand ways: “You are a body.”—The physical, tangible is all that matters.

The Bible answers it like this: “I am a never-ceasing spiritual being with an eternal destiny in God’s universe.” (Say that with me.)

Professor Grace teaches us to say ‘no.’ But there is more to walking that talk than simply avoiding the negative:“…teaching us that we should live….

“soberly”— Sensibly, having a sound mind…thinking correctly. it means
having good sense in a world that’s lost its sense. It’s used of the young
men in verse 6.“righteously”— Soberly emphasizes your relationship to yourself; this word
has to do with your relationships with other people. You do what’s right.
You maintain truth, love respect in your relationships.“godly”—With proper respect for God. When you respect someone you honor
them, you consider them, you listen to them.Grace Rescues
Grace Requests

Grace Rewards—Verse 13 (Read)

“Looking for…”— Carries the idea of eager longing and expectation.“…the blessed hope”— Literally, “the happy confidence”“…and the glorious appearing…”— “The epiphany of the glory of…”In Paul’s day, the phrase was used with reference to a wedding party. It was similar to our custom of introducing the wedding party at the reception. And by the way, in the Near Eastern wedding, the focus was upon the bridegroom, not the bride.

The next phrase, “of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,” is one the most explicit statement of the deity of Christ in all the NT. Someone will tell you, “Jesus was a great prophet but he wasn’t God. This statement is about two persons, not one. There is the great God; second, there is Jesus Christ.”

I want you to tell them: “But you don’t understand the Granville Sharp Rule!”

The Greek text reads: “…of the (tou) great (megas) God and (no article “the”) Savior Jesus Christ…” The rule says that when there is only one article (“the”), the two (or more) persons in view are one and the same. You could translate it, “The Great God, who is the Savior Jesus Christ.”

The early church translated it this way.

Then notice verse 14— “who”— It’s singular! One person!

The Second Coming of Christ has been the “blessed hope” of the church through the ages. Can you imagine living without this hope!

The pattern through church history has been: The greater the suffering; the greater the impact of the prospect of the Savior’s epiphany. Conversely, the greater the comfort and prosperity, the more ineffective the Second Coming is in motivating and energizing believers to godliness and service.

Grace Rescues
Grace Requests
Grace Rewards

Grace Redeems

“Who gave himself for us.” There’s not a more concise statement of the salvation (highlighted in v 11) made available by Christ’s death on the Cross.

He was not the victim of Roman authority or Jewish hatred…”He gave himself for us.”— a substitute; Peter writes, “The just for the unjust that He might bring us to God.

Why emphasize that? He has already identified Jesus as “the Savior”? Because when you have been redeemed (set free by the payment of a price), you are eager to please Him!

Finally, Grace Relishes

“…that he might redeem us…and purify for Himself His own special people…”

The beloved KJV reads, “…and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous
of good works.” We use the word to speak of something odd or strange. In 17th century English it was used of private property. Hold that thought!The Greek word is composed of two words: one meaning “around”; the other, “to be.”— To be around. Scholar Kenneth Wuest pictured it as a dot within a circle. Who is the circle? God. Who is the dot? You!The original term reflects the wording of Exodus 19:5, where God identifies His covenant people, Israel, as ‘my treasured possession…’ God says, “Not only have I redeemed you by my grace, you are my unique, private possession.”

The value of even the most common things is enhanced if owned by someone significant……A book that once sat on Mr. Lincoln’s shelf.
…A desk where Churchill wrote his memoirs.
…A pipe owned by C.S. Lewis
…Sheet music handwritten by Beethoven.How would you begin to place a value on something owned by God!I think often of the way Max Lucado puts it: “God has your picture on his refrigerator.”

Did you ever stop to think that you are a blessing to God? You give Him indescribable satisfaction!

You are a person of high privilege, purpose and the object of His protection!

What is your response?
How difference should it make?

“…zealous for good works…”

Zealous for ministry!
Zealous to glorify Him!
Zealous to point Him out by your life!Literally, it says, “a zealot!” Paul used it in Gal 1:4 to describe his fanatical devotion to Jewish tradition before he was saved!During World War II, Winston Churchill’s governing coalition included a man named Sir Stafford Cripps. Known for his bent toward crabbiness, Mr. Cripps was a teetotaler and a vegetarian, which irked Churchill to no end.Cripps was also a strong Calvinist and, in Churchill’s eyes, Cripp’s sense for the providence of God has seeped across into his own sense of self importance. In the Prime Minister’s view, it was just plan arrogance.

One day, as Cripps left the cabinet room, Mr. Churchill turned to the others and said, “There but for the grace of God goes God.”

Professor Grace leaves no room for independence or pride, only humility, surrender and obedience.I want you to think about it: Motivation is never implanted; it’s unleashed.

There is no greater motivation that grace!Someone has telescoped the entire bible into a three second sound bite:God made us,
we blew it,
Christ paid for it,
We must receive Him!Have you received Him? Will you receive Him this morning? I pray that you will! God’s saving grace is available right now.