“For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” Titus 2:10-12
Did you catch that? Read it again.
How about now? If you didn’t I will give you a little hint: grace.
Now read the first part again, and think on it.
Now, finish the rest.
Wow.
Grace does two amazing things. Firstly, it offers us salvation through faith in Jesus. God has made it perfectly clear that His offer for salvation (forgiveness of sins, new life in Christ, adoption into the family of God etc.) is free. How free you might ask? Completely. It is so free that those who have recognized their sinful state and trusted in Jesus’ finished work for salvation are totally and completely right with God. They are even as righteous as Jesus Himself.
“God made him who had no sin to be sin for us, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.” 2 Corinthians 5:21
Did you catch that? The righteousness of God. That’s right. Those in Christ are as innocent and “right” as God. As a completely free offer of Grace, God gives us all a chance to enter into relationship with Him. Undeserved? Yes. But that’s grace.
Secondly, Grace instructs us with Holy Living. This is truly mind-blowing. To think that it is not a set of religious duties, church attendance, or any other “spiritual check lists” that we may create that leads us to Holy living, but that it is merely the underserved favor of God, is truly revolutionary.
So many Christians today think that you cannot simply teach grace because people will just end up abusing it. They will “go on sinning” as Paul clearly speaks against in Romans. But is this Biblical?
We need to understand first and foremost that grace is God’s deal with mankind through Christ. It is His promise of the New Covenant (agreement, testament) with His creation. By grace He promises to save us, and forget all of our sins.
“For I will forgive their wickedness and will remember their sins no more." Hebrews 8:12
God, in His love, has made a pact with mankind. Those who enter the New Covenant through Christ are totally forgiven. Is this offer too free? Will people simply abuse it? Suffice it to say, God took a chance. Grace by definition is not only undeserved but can be rejected and abused. Because God’s relationship with His children is no longer a conditional one based on our Holy performance (like the Old Testament) but based on Christ’s Holy performance, it can be used as license to sin. But is this what a true understanding of grace is supposed to do for us? No.
Let’s say that you were a poor and VERY indebted graduate from college, and that you desperately needed a car to drive to and from your new job. To make matters worse your parents did not offer any help, and you had absolutely no money of your own. That is until one day you are at home making your daily dose of rice and water, and the door bell sounds. You put everything down, and walk to the door. When you open the door, there is no one there. But there is an envelop at the base of your feet. As you pick it up, you can tell that it is not merely a letter, but that it contains something.
You close the door and open it. Inside is the letter. But as you unfold it a key drops to the ground. Confused, you read.
Mr. John Doe,
It has come to our attention that you owe a loan amounting to $75,000 to our institution. For an early graduation present, we have decided to pay your expenses for you. Your balance is now $0.00.
In addition, it has come to our attention that you need a car. So, it has been our great pleasure to give you this cobalt blue BMW 6 Series. We trust that you will find it sufficient for your needs. Included is a gas card for your personal and convenient use. This you will find in the glove compartment beneath the free wax.
Sincerely,
Financial Aid
WOW! Can you imagine?!?!?!? No debt. Free car (super cool car at that) and a free gas card? BENEATH THE FREE WAX????!?!?
Now, granted a few people (crazy people) may treat that new car recklessly. But the vast majority would take the best care of it imaginable. This is how it is with the grace of God. It is freely given. Yes. But, the gift is so full of love, so needed, that only a fool would turn around and abuse it.
Grace, God’s undeserved favor, does not teach us to go out and sin. It teaches “us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age…” Those who truly understand grace will find it extremely hard to abuse. Those who live lives completely surrendered to the finished work of Christ (and I mean totally) will find the love and encouragement that they have always needed to live rightly. But those who do not understand grace, will either abuse it OR fall into the temptation to create their own lists of “spiritual dos and don’ts” to keep their lives in check.
God knew what He was doing through His Son. Let’s believe Him.
