By the Grace of GodBy the Grace of GodTitus 3:4-8

Grace and WorksGrace and Works• Grace is a Grace is a giftgift, undeserved and unmerited, undeserved and unmerited• Grace and works greatly misunderstoodGrace and works greatly misunderstood– Grace and works designed to merit salvation Grace and works designed to merit salvation

do not coexistdo not coexist– Grace and faith at work do coexistGrace and faith at work do coexist

• Works are of two sorts:Works are of two sorts:–Works of Works of meritmerit, Rom. 11:5-6 (4:4); Eph. 2:8-9, Rom. 11:5-6 (4:4); Eph. 2:8-9–Works of Works of faithfaith, Tit. 2:11-12; Gal. 5:6 (4), Tit. 2:11-12; Gal. 5:6 (4)

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False Doctrines about Grace

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• Give comfort and cover to sin, Jude 4• Example: “You can never be good

enough to earn yourself a home in heaven.” (Nobody here says you can!)

– False comfort to a Christian: “Sin no longer affects your eternal life in Christ.”

– False cover for sin: “Nobody’s perfect” and “everybody sins…”

– Truth: Sin brings death! Rom. 6:21-23

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Some False Doctrines

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• Saved by grace alone (irresistible), Josh. 24:15; Matt. 11:28

• Cannot fall from grace, Gal. 5:4• Continuous cleansing, Rom. 6:1-2;

1 Jno. 1:7-9– Imputation of the righteousness of Christ

• Truth: Christians stand in and rejoice in the “true grace of God” through obedient faith, Lk. 17:9-10 (Rom. 5:2)

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By the Grace of God

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• Sinners are saved, Eph. 2:1, 4-7, 8-9–By grace: God is the source, giving

the gift of salvation (mercy and love)–Through faith: The sinner’s faith,

produced by the gospel (Rom. 10:17)–Not of yourselves: Salvation is God’s

gift, not man’s meritorious expectation

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By the Grace of God

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• We are justified, Rom. 3:24 (Tit. 3:7)– Condition: “through the redemption

that is in Christ Jesus”• Redemption through His blood, Eph. 1:7• His blood is shed in His death• By faith, the sinner is baptized into His

death, Rom. 6:3–Access into grace: By faith (not the law

of Moses), Rom. 5:1-2• Baptism is a “work of faith” (faith at

work) that save sinners by God’s grace!

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By the Grace of God

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• We are accepted in the Beloved, Eph. 1:6– Grace is only granted in Christ– By God’s grace we are made gracious• “In the Beloved” we are encompassed

with favor, Eph. 1:3 (1:7; Rom. 3:24)• Only accepted in Christ: Baptized into

Christ, Gal. 3:26-27– Grace is applied when the sinner is

baptized, Titus 3:4-5, 7

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By the Grace of God

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• I am what I am, 1 Cor. 15:10–Paul was appointed to be an apostle

(gift, Eph. 4:7-8, 11)• Note that grace labors (it works)!–Abundant grace saves the lost,

1 Tim. 1:12-16; Eph. 1:7

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Not by the Grace of God

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• Make it impossible to fall away, Gal. 5:3-7; 1:6-9– Grace is greater than sin (Rom. 5:20-

21)– But, grace does not prevent the

choice of sin, Rom. 6:1-2; Jas. 5:19-20– Trusting God’s grace means

continuing to live by faith and keeping away from sin, 1 Cor. 10:11-13

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DDOOEESS

NNOOTT

Not by the Grace of God

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• Turn sin into righteousness, Rom. 6:1-2–Trusting in God’s grace means you

make a choice that sin will not reign over you, Rom. 6:11-14; Gal. 2:17-18

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DDOOEESS

NNOOTT

Not by the Grace of God

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• Turn sin into righteousness–Grace does not…•Turn vain worship into true worship,

Lev. 10:1-2 (Jno. 4:24)

•Turn immorality into purity, 1 Cor. 6:9-11

•Turn error into truth, Acts 20:32; Gal. 2:20-21

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DDOOEESS

NNOOTT

Not by the Grace of God

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• Sanction fellowship with sin or with those who endorse it– Heart is established by grace, not by

doctrines that bind where God does not, Heb. 13:9

– Going beyond what the Lord has bound forfeits grace, 2 John 9

– Those who stand in grace will choose not to have fellowship with those who go beyond the doctrine of Christ, 2 John 10-11

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DDOOEESS

NNOOTT

By the Grace of GodBy the Grace of God

• Grace will not save you Grace will not save you in spite of in spite of your sinsyour sins• Grace has appeared and offers salvation Grace has appeared and offers salvation

to every sinner (Tit. 2:11)to every sinner (Tit. 2:11)• The gospel of the grace of God calls the The gospel of the grace of God calls the

lost to salvation by grace through faith, lost to salvation by grace through faith, Col 1:5-6Col 1:5-6

• Believe and obey to be saved, Mk. 16:15-16Believe and obey to be saved, Mk. 16:15-16

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