Sister Karen Sunday School 7/31/11
The Grace of God: Titus 2:11-14
Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
Tit 2:13 Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
Tit 2:14 Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
Appeared translated is ‘as the sun that shines’. As the sun shines to all the world, so the grace of God appears to all men.
The definition of Grace :
1.
1. The influence of the Divine upon the soul and its reflection in the life
2. Unmerited favor of God
3. Gift
4. Gratitude
5. Gracious
6. Joy liberality
7. Thankfulness
8. Pleasure
9. Benefit- takes in the beneficence of God.
10. Acceptable
The first week we studied of the unmerited favor of God, this takes in salvation.
The grace of God brought us the wonderful gift of salvation; we couldn’t merit it or in any way earn it. This wonderful gift should produce in our heart an attitude of such care and appreciation that we take care of this gift.
Ungodliness is anything that is unlike God, contrary to His commands and will lead us to doubt His being, His attributes, His providence, and His governance of the world. Anything that is opposed to true worship is ungodly.
Worldly lust, drunkenness, revenge, immoderate appetite… all of these are ungodly.
Soberly means to live with a sound mind, avoiding the use of anything that would intoxicate us personally. It means having every temper, appetite and desire under the government of reason.
It means we live soberly; this is doing right by ourselves, having a sound mind. This is a benefit for us. It also means we live righteously is in our reactions with others and that we live godly which deals with our relationship with God.
Righteous, right, righteously, righteousness – all mean equitable which means justice according to natural law or right, impartiality
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Just is the same Greek word as right. Having a basis or confirmed according to fact or reason.
- Equitable, innocent, holy and righteous
- Equity of character or act, specifically justification.
Righteousness comes from ‘right wiseness’ which combines justice and right and the word, to know. The righteous man knew justice and right and acted according to their dictates. ‘The righteous man is he who knows most and acts best.’
Righteousness is: The acts of distributing to each man his due and living a holy life.
Luk 1:74 That he would grant unto us, that we being delivered out of the hand of our enemies might serve him without fear,
Luk 1:75 In holiness and righteousness before him, all the days of our life.
This is one of the reasons that Jesus came that we might serve Him with holiness and righteousness. It signifies a holy life, liberality, alms giving. We are only stewards ofGod’s bounty. Take heed that you do not your alms or righteousness before men.
Rom 3:5 But if our unrighteousness commend the righteousness of God, what shall we say? Is God unrighteous who taketh vengeance? (I speak as a man)
Rom 3:6 God forbid: for then how shall God judge the world?
2Co 9:10 Now he that ministereth seed to the sower both minister bread for your food, and multiply your seed sown, and increase the fruits of your righteousness;)
2Co 9:9 (As it is written, He hath dispersed abroad; he hath given to the poor: his righteousness remaineth for ever.
He provides for everything for the seed to grow, the oxygen, the water, the light, everything.
2Co 9:8 And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:
2Co 9:11 Being enriched in every thing to all bountifulness, which causeth through us thanksgiving to God.
Righteousness signifies the whole collection of graces that constitute the Christian character.
Mat 5:6 Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.
Those that hunger desire their righteousness to far exceed self righteousness. Seek the kingdom of God first and His righteousness.
Heb 11:7 By faith Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house; by the which he condemned the world, and became heir of the righteousness which is by faith.
Righteousness signifies faith in God and submission to His will exemplified by obedience to God. So with us, we need to have the desire to hear and obey the word of God. We need to hear and read, and be prepared to reach out to others. To be moved by God with the fear of God puts a carefulness in us.
It becomes us to fulfill all righteousness. We can only do this following salvation.
Righteousness signifies the favor or pardoning of God.
Rom 4:6 Even as David also describeth the blessedness of the man, unto whom God imputeth righteousness without works,
Rom 4:7 Saying, Blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Rom 4:8 Blessed is the man to whom the Lord will not impute sin.
Rom 4:9 Cometh this blessedness then upon the circumcision only, or upon the uncircumcision also? for we say that faith was reckoned to Abraham for righteousness.
Rom 4:10 How was it then reckoned? when he was in circumcision, or in uncircumcision? Not in circumcision, but in uncircumcision.
Rom 4:11 And he received the sign of circumcision, a seal of the righteousness of the faith which he had yet being uncircumcised: that he might be the father of all them that believe, though they be not circumcised; that righteousness might be imputed unto them also:
Rom 4:12 And the father of circumcision to them who are not of the circumcision only, but who also walk in the steps of that faith of our father Abraham, which he had being yet uncircumcised.
Rom 4:13 For the promise, that he should be the heir of the world, was not to Abraham, or to his seed, through the law, but through the righteousness of faith.
Rom 4:14 For if they which are of the law be heirs, faith is made void, and the promise made of none effect:
Rom 4:15 Because the law worketh wrath: for where no law is, there is no transgression.
Rom 4:16 Therefore it is of faith, that it might be by grace; to the end the promise might be sure to all the seed; not to that only which is of the law, but to that also which is of the faith of Abraham; who is the father of us all,
We cannot become righteous without being saved. It is not of ourselves or our works. Without getting saved, doing the works will not make us righteous. After repenting of our sins, out of a heart of love to others that wants to help others, out of a heart that once was selfish, we can do the works. Once the selfish heart is changed we are concerned about the needs of others.
Abraham’s righteousness came by obedience and faith and not the works of circumcision. After circumcision came, he was required to be circumcised. It in its self was never intended to bring salvation but the representation of the separation of the filth of the flesh. They twisted this and made it a way to salvation.
That we might become the righteousness of God.
Rendering to each what they are due is a part of righteousness.
Mat 22:17 Tell us therefore, What thinkest thou? Is it lawful to give tribute unto Caesar, or not?
Mat 22:18 But Jesus perceived their wickedness, and said, Why tempt ye me, ye hypocrites?
Mat 22:19 Shew me the tribute money. And they brought unto him a penny.
Mat 22:20 And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription?
Mat 22:21 They say unto him, Caesar's. Then saith he unto them, Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's; and unto God the things that are God's.
Rom 13:7 Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour.
Mat 7:7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
Mat 7:8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
Mat 7:9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Mat 7:10 Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
Mat 7:11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
Mat 7:12 Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.
If we will do this we will harm no one in their body, their possessions, or their property. How do I want to be treated in the rest home? How would I want to be talked to? How would I want to be handled? Righteousness causes us to treat others like we would want to be treated. If we do this, we will please God and do that which is right.
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