THE GRACE OF GOD

“The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all. 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: 11 – 12.

The grace of God is that undeserving favour that God shows on all creation. Given the history of the world from when it existed, creation has tended to turn against its Creator. Through Adam’s disobedience the sin nature came upon humanity. Along with that came decay and death which runs through the entire creation, not just human beings (Gen. 3: 1 – 7;  Rom. 5: 12). That was the Fall. It brought creation to its knees and turned it against God the Creator.  The holy God actually responded in what we saw in the antediluvian world when, because of prevailing universal wickedness, God wiped the entire world with a flood (Gen. 6 – 7). But if God were to continue to respond to human failure this way all of us would long have ceased to exist. But God’s grace upholds the entire creation, humans inclusive. That shows that grace is favour we do not deserve.

Despite human failure God did not give up on His creation. He devised a solution. That solution is grace. John 1: 17 says grace came through Jesus Christ. While the sin of Adam brought death on all, the grace of God brought salvation to all. Universal grace causes God’s rain to fall on both the good and the bad, and His sun to shine on all irrespective of whether they worship Him or not. Universal grace brings about good to the entire creation as long as life continues on the earth.

Some readily admit they are sinners, and continue in sinful living while claiming to be under cover of grace. By that attitude we seem to say that grace is a license to sin. It is an age-long problem, for, the apostle Paul seemed to have had the same problem with the believers in Rome. After explaining to them the difference between the universality of the Fall through Adam and of grace through Christ, he then put the question to them: “Shall we continue in sin that grace may abound?” (Rom. 6: 1).

Our text in the book of Titus answers that. Grace is not a license to sin. It is rather the power to reject ungodliness and worldly passion, and live upright and godly lives. The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all. Fallen humanity has been presented with a solution to their problem. Grace is that solution. Grace will bring life, God’s own life to any individual who believes. It will set the person free from the power, dominion and consequences of sin. It will give eternal life and peace for ever. Grace will right wrongs between brothers and sisters. It will bring domestic peace to warring homes. Grace, when accepted and applied, will eliminate corruption in our nation and bring industrial peace and harmony between employers and employees. It will eliminate rivalry and bring international peace among nations. Ultimately, it is grace that will bring about the eternal world order that God originally intended for His creation.

Accept grace today. Apply it by doing according to the text above. Celebrate it. Grace is what you need for the now and tomorrow. Peace be with you!