Sermon by William E. “Bill” Henry, based on Titus 2:11-14, transcribed from his last Bible by his daughter (me). All scripture is from the NASB1995 on Bible.com.

“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 to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” https://bible.com/bible/100/tit.2.11-14.NASB1995

Many errors in our world come from one-sided messages. We tend to see one side of a truth and proclaim it as a whole. An interesting illustration concerns one of the most common, and at the same time, most beautiful words in the Christian vocabulary: the word “Grace.” Bishop [Richard] Trench [said] “It is hardly too much to say that the Greek mind has in no word uttered itself and all that is within its heart more distinctly than in the word “Charis” – Grace.

We testify to it – sing about it – write definitions of it, yet too often understand it little.

The word “Grace” has significant and particular beauty.

It is the word “Charis” – it was used in classical Greek to mean “Beauty,” “Charm,” “Attractiveness.” By easy extension it came to mean “Favor,” “Kindness,” and “Gratitude” as felt by the beholder or receiver.

When New Testament writers took over the term, they used it to describe the spontaneous, unearned Love of God at work in Jesus Christ through the Holy Spirit. “Grace” means primarily the “the Free Forgiving Love of God in Christ to sinners and the operation of that Love in the lives of Christians.”

We can learn something about grace by using the letters of the English as an acrostic.

G – stands for GOD, the Source of Grace. 1 Peter 5:10 “After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

R – means REDEMPTION, the Purpose of Grace. Ephesians 1:7 “In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of His grace”

A – is for ABUNDANCE, the Measure of Grace. 2 Corinthians 9:8 “And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed; “

C – points to CHRIST, the Mediator of Grace. 2 Corinthians 8:9 “For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He became poor, so that you through His poverty might become rich.”

E – speaks for Eternity, the Duration of Grace. Romans 5:20-21 “The Law came in so that the transgression would increase; but where sin increased, grace abounded all the more, so that, as sin reigned in death, even so grace would reign through righteousness to eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.”

Yet with all these truths many still stumble over its meaning because they only see one side.

Grace is usually defined as “the unmerited favor of God.” It is indeed that! Salvation is ALL of Grace and NONE of our works.

But to stop with Justification, as wonderful as that is, is to miss the total thrust of the Gospel. We are justified by God’s Grace in order that we may be Purified in Grace – Full living – Abundant Life.

Grace not only provides Pardon, it also provides Power for Righteousness. It is not only Saving Grace for a Forgiven past, it is Sanctifying Grace for a transformed present and future.

One of the finest Biblical statements of this side of Grace is Paul’s great declaration to Titus (2:11-14). Here is the Whole of Grace:

1. It is Grace that SOUGHT us when we were far from God – Grace that PURSUED us – “It has appeared to all men,” the Grace that comes to the Heart before the Heart turns to the Saviour.
2. It is Grace that SAVED us, Grace that PARDONED us from all our sins.
3. It is Grace that SANCTIFIED us, Grace that PURIFIES us to renounce “ungodliness and worldly lusts,” and enables fallible human beings to “live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.”
4. It is Grace that SUSTAINS us, Grace that PRESERVES us to be “zealous of good works” and keeps us “looking for that Blessed Hope and Glorious Appearing of the Great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.”

In Luke 21:33, Jesus said: “Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words [shall abide forever] will not pass away.”

All His words are eternal, but none more precious than these He spoke to Paul and through Paul to us: 2 Corinthians 12:9 “And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” “

To GOD be the Glory!