GRATEFUL FOR GRACE

Titus 3:1-7

  1. Intro
    1. in the latter part of verse 2, we are told to show "all meekness to all men"
      1. not some to all people, or all to some people, but all meekness to all men
      2. we who have experienced the grace of God are called to show that same grace to others
    2. remember that we could be just like them, if not for the grace of God in our life
  2. how God found us – Titus 3:3
    1. we were sometimes foolish
      1. we thought we could live without God, we thought we could sin without paying a price
      2. we thought things would satisfy, we thought we could bully or buy our way to happiness and success
    2. we were disobedient
      1. we broke God's laws
        1. God said, "Thou shalt not lie," we did
        2. God said, "Thou shalt not covet," we have
      2. not only did we break God's laws, we did so knowing it was wrong
    3. we lived in malice and envy, being hateful and hating one another
      1. hateful and hating one another is an accurate description of our times
      2. how often have we said hateful things, or hurt others out of spite, or acted with a mean spirit
    4. Paul's words remind us that there was nothing in us to cause God to love us, but He did
      1. "But after that" – after all that foolishness, rebellion, and hatred – Titus 3:4
      2. after all that, "the kindness and love of God, our Savior, toward man appeared" – Titus 3:4
  3. what God has done for us – Titus 3:4-7
    1. the appearance of God’s grace – 4
      1. the word "appeared" means to shine upon
      2. after we had lived in the darkness of ignorance and sin, God lit up our world with His loving kindness
    2. the abundance of God’s grace – 6
      1. He didn't do it in a small way, but abundantly – richly, generously, plentifully
      2. He offered more grace than we might ever need
    3. the avenue of God’s grace [through Jesus Christ our Saviour] - 6
      1. God's abundant grace comes to us from Calvary and the empty tomb
      2. God has shown us kindness, not because we deserved it, but because Jesus died for us
      3. God reached into our corrupt, Hell bound world and gave us the hope of eternal through Jesus
    4. God chose to use the words kindness, love, mercy and grace to explain His actions
      1. these words do not reveal a grudging attitude, this is not something God was forced to do
      2. God delights in making sinners the objects of his unconditional love and acceptance
      3. Paul is reminding us that when we needed the kindness of God, He poured it on
      4. in return, He calls us to show His grace to others
  4. what God expects of us - Titus 3:1-2
    1. all that Paul said in verses 4-7 was to explain why we were to do the things mentioned in verses 1-2
      1. because we have received kindness, grace and love from God; we are to show the same to others
      2. to be ready to every good work – 1
      3. to speak evil of no man, to be gentle
      4. to show ALL meekness to ALL men
    2. Let's see how this is done by looking at an example from the Old Testament
      1. a promise made – I Samuel 20:11-17
        1. David and Jonathan had formed a deep and lasting – 17
        2. Saul was jealous of David's successes, and plotted to take his life
        3. when Jonathan heard of it, he warned David, giving him a chance to escape
        4. David and Jonathan meet one last time, and Jonathan calls for a promise from David – 14-15
        5. "The kindness of the Lord" that is what David promised to show Jonathan and his house
      2. the promise remembered – II Samuel 9:1
        1. many years have passed since David made his promise to Jonathan
          1. David was now king
          2. Jonathan had died in the battle that put David on the throne
        2. now with peace throughout the land, David remembers the promise he made to Jonathan
          1. as David counts his blessings, he remembers that the price of his success was the fall of Saul's kingdom, and his friend Jonathan
          2. had it not been for Jonathan's kindness, Saul may well have murdered David
          3. realizing this, and remembering his promise, David asks the question – II Samuel 9:1
        3. this is the gracious question of a grateful man
          1. he doesn't ask, "Is there another like Jonathan
          2. is there one of good stature that would look good in my court
          3. is there someone deserving of my favor
          4. No! He asks, "Is there anyone" (grace)
        4. having posed the question, David begins seeking an answer
      3. the promise kept – II Samuel 9:2-8
        1. David questions one of the former servants of Saul – 2-3
        2. Ziba replies, "I know of one, a son of Jonathan, but he's a cripple"
        3. just a cripple, not the kind of person a king would be interested in, but David called him
        4. it's exactly the kind of person God is interested in, we were "foolish, disobedient, deceived .."
        5. imagine how Mephibosheth felt when servants of David came to his place of hiding – 5-7
        6. David saw his fear, and told him to "fear not" – 7
        7. it was the fear of this king that had caused him to be handicap
          1. he was CRIPPLED, and he was an OUTCAST because he belonged to the wrong family
          2. he should have lived out his days in the darkness of obscurity
          3. after all that had gone wrong in his life, the kindness and love of the king shone upon him
          4. the rest of his days, Mephibosheth would eat at David's table as if he were one of David's sons
        8. Mephibosheth couldn't understand it – 8
          1. this kindness wasn't shown because of anything he had done or could do
          2. it was all of grace, based upon a promise made between David and Jonathan
    3. the principle applied
      1. put yourself in Mephibosheth's place
        1. like him, we were moral cripples, our handicap is described in verse 3
        2. we had no right to expect anything less than death - "The wages of sin is death"
        3. because of a promise that God made before the world began, God made us the objects of His grace
        4. we don't deserve it, no one deserves a place in God's heaven, but that's not the issue
        5. it's a matter of grace, God offers salvation to ANY who will accept it as a GIFT – Titus3:5
        6. He saves us, and He gives us a place at His heavenly table for eternity: Will you let Him save you
      2. if we are saved, we need to put ourselves in David’s place
        1. where would you be if it were not for the kindness of God
        2. how often do you display that same kind of grace to others
        3. ask yourself this question, when was the last time you showed ANYONE the kindness of God for Jesus' sake
        4. in gratitude for the grace of God in your life, you showed His kindness to them
        5. God desires grateful Christians to "show the kindness of God for Jesus' sake"
        6. it's what being a disciple of Jesus Christ is all about