Transformative Grace: Living in Anticipation of Christ

 

Summary

In Paul's epistle to Titus, we find a profound message about the grace of God that brings salvation and its implications for our lives. This grace has appeared to all men, teaching us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. We are called to look forward to the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. This message is not just a historical account or a philosophical idea; it is a transformative truth that demands a personal response.

The gospel invites us to consider the two comings of Christ: His first coming in humility and His second coming in glory. The first coming was marked by His birth in a manger, His life of service, and His sacrificial death on the cross. This was necessary because of the desperate state of humanity, lost in sin and incapable of saving itself. The second coming will be a time of judgment and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. Understanding these events should lead us to examine our own lives and our standing before God.

The gospel is not merely an objective truth to be observed from a distance; it is a personal call to transformation. It challenges us to change our thinking and our way of living. A true understanding of the gospel changes our view of history, life, and the future. It reveals the present age as a temporary interval between Christ's two comings, a time of grace given for repentance and preparation for His return.

As we reflect on these truths, we must ask ourselves if we have truly received the gospel. Has it changed our views and our lives? Are we living in anticipation of Christ's return, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, and living soberly, righteously, and godly? The gospel calls us to a life of holiness and devotion, motivated by gratitude for what Christ has done and the hope of what is to come.

Key Takeaways:

- The grace of God that brings salvation teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, urging us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. This transformation is not just about moral improvement but a complete change in our worldview and lifestyle. [09:25]

- The two comings of Christ—His first in humility and His second in glory—are central to understanding the gospel. The first coming was necessary for our salvation, while the second will bring judgment and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. This understanding should lead us to examine our lives and our relationship with God. [14:38]

- The present age is a temporary interval between Christ's two comings, a time of grace given for repentance and preparation for His return. This perspective changes how we view history and our place in it, emphasizing the urgency of responding to the gospel. [26:43]

- A true understanding of the gospel changes our view of the future. Instead of fearing death and judgment, we look forward to the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. This hope motivates us to live in a way that pleases Him. [38:56]

- The gospel calls us to a life of holiness and devotion, motivated by gratitude for what Christ has done and the hope of what is to come. This involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living in a way that reflects our new identity in Christ. [52:48]

Youtube Chapters:

- [00:00] - Welcome
- [00:07] - Introduction and Apology for Audio Quality
- [00:21] - Scripture Reading: Titus 2:11-14
- [01:20] - Emphasis on Verses 12 and 13
- [02:33] - The First Coming of Christ
- [03:34] - The Second Coming of Christ
- [05:34] - The Gospel's Call to Self-Examination
- [09:25] - The Teaching of the Gospel
- [14:38] - The Significance of Christ's Comings
- [19:27] - The Urgency of the Gospel Message
- [26:43] - The Christian View of History
- [31:28] - The Day of Grace
- [38:56] - The Christian Hope for the Future
- [43:55] - The Call to Holy Living
- [52:48] - Conclusion and Invitation to Respond

Study Guide

Bible Study Discussion Guide

Bible Reading:
- Titus 2:11-14

Observation Questions:
1. What does the grace of God teach us according to Titus 2:11-14? How does this align with the sermon’s emphasis on transformation? [01:20]
2. How does the sermon describe the two comings of Christ, and what significance do they hold for believers? [03:34]
3. In what ways does the sermon suggest that the present age is a temporary interval between Christ's two comings? [26:43]
4. What does the sermon say about the personal response required by the gospel? How is this reflected in the passage from Titus? [05:34]

Interpretation Questions:
1. How does understanding the two comings of Christ change a believer’s perspective on their current life and future? [14:38]
2. What does it mean to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, as described in the sermon and Titus 2:12? [09:25]
3. How does the sermon explain the urgency of responding to the gospel in light of the present age being a time of grace? [31:28]
4. What role does gratitude for Christ’s sacrifice play in motivating a life of holiness and devotion, according to the sermon? [52:48]

Application Questions:
1. Reflect on your current lifestyle. Are there areas where you need to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts? What steps can you take this week to live more soberly and righteously? [09:25]
2. How does the anticipation of Christ’s return influence your daily decisions and priorities? What changes might you need to make to live in greater anticipation of His coming? [38:56]
3. The sermon emphasizes the transformative power of the gospel. Can you identify a specific area in your life where you have experienced this transformation? How can you continue to grow in this area? [11:36]
4. Consider your view of history and the present age. How does the understanding that this is a time of grace for repentance affect your interactions with others? [26:43]
5. How can you cultivate a deeper sense of gratitude for what Christ has done for you? What practical steps can you take to express this gratitude in your daily life? [52:48]
6. The sermon calls for self-examination in light of the gospel. What specific questions do you need to ask yourself about your relationship with God? How can you address any areas of concern? [05:34]
7. Identify one person in your life who may not understand the significance of Christ’s two comings. How can you share this message with them in a meaningful way this week? [14:38]

Devotional

Day 1: Embracing Transformative Grace
The grace of God that brings salvation is not merely about moral improvement but a profound transformation of our worldview and lifestyle. This grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, urging us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world. It is a call to a complete change in how we perceive and interact with the world around us. This transformation is not just a personal endeavor but a response to the divine invitation to live a life that reflects the character of Christ. The grace of God empowers us to live in a way that is countercultural, rejecting the fleeting pleasures of the world in favor of eternal values. [09:25]

Titus 2:11-12 (ESV): "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age."

Reflection: Identify one area in your life where worldly desires have taken precedence. How can you actively deny these desires and embrace a lifestyle that reflects God's grace today?


Day 2: Understanding Christ's Two Comings
The two comings of Christ—His first in humility and His second in glory—are central to understanding the gospel. The first coming, marked by His birth, life of service, and sacrificial death, was necessary for our salvation. It addressed the desperate state of humanity, lost in sin and incapable of saving itself. The second coming will be a time of judgment and the establishment of His eternal kingdom. This understanding should lead us to examine our lives and our relationship with God, recognizing the significance of both comings in the grand narrative of redemption. [14:38]

Hebrews 9:28 (ESV): "So Christ, having been offered once to bear the sins of many, will appear a second time, not to deal with sin but to save those who are eagerly waiting for him."

Reflection: Reflect on how the reality of Christ's second coming influences your daily decisions. What changes can you make to live in anticipation of His return?


Day 3: Living in the Present Age with Purpose
The present age is a temporary interval between Christ's two comings, a time of grace given for repentance and preparation for His return. This perspective changes how we view history and our place in it, emphasizing the urgency of responding to the gospel. It is a period where we are called to live with purpose, understanding that our actions and choices have eternal significance. This time of grace is an opportunity to align our lives with God's will, preparing ourselves and others for the glorious future that awaits. [26:43]

2 Peter 3:11-12 (ESV): "Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of people ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness, waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God."

Reflection: Consider how you can use this time of grace to prepare for Christ's return. What specific steps can you take to align your life more closely with God's purposes?


Day 4: Hope in the Glorious Future
A true understanding of the gospel changes our view of the future. Instead of fearing death and judgment, we look forward to the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. This hope motivates us to live in a way that pleases Him, knowing that our future is secure in His hands. It is a hope that transcends the challenges and uncertainties of this world, providing us with a firm foundation and a reason to persevere in faith and obedience. [38:56]

1 Thessalonians 4:16-17 (ESV): "For the Lord himself will descend from heaven with a cry of command, with the voice of an archangel, and with the sound of the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive, who are left, will be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air, and so we will always be with the Lord."

Reflection: How does the hope of Christ's return shape your perspective on current struggles? What practical steps can you take to live with this hope at the forefront of your mind?


Day 5: A Call to Holiness and Devotion
The gospel calls us to a life of holiness and devotion, motivated by gratitude for what Christ has done and the hope of what is to come. This involves denying ungodliness and worldly lusts and living in a way that reflects our new identity in Christ. It is a call to be set apart, living not for ourselves but for the One who gave Himself for us. This life of holiness is not about legalism but about a heartfelt response to the love and grace we have received, leading us to live in a way that honors God and draws others to Him. [52:48]

1 Peter 1:14-16 (ESV): "As obedient children, do not be conformed to the passions of your former ignorance, but as he who called you is holy, you also be holy in all your conduct, since it is written, 'You shall be holy, for I am holy.'"

Reflection: In what ways can you cultivate a deeper sense of holiness and devotion in your daily life? What specific actions can you take to reflect your new identity in Christ?

Quotes


The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for the blessed hope and the Glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people zealous of good works. [00:39:00]

The gospel invites us to look at another appearing of the Son of God, the appearing that is yet to come looking unto me that blessed hope and the appearance of the glory of our great God and we contested the two comings how he came the first time in humility how he abased himself how he was born of a virgin in a stable and put in a Manger. [04:03:34]

The gospel is not complete until it is asked us to look at ourselves and it is because so many fail to realize that that they never experience the benefits of the Christian Gospel they're always looking out contemplating it in an objective purely and entirely and solely objective Manner and they have never looked at themselves at all. [05:44:52]

The gospel of Jesus Christ is not uh something which is simply meant to interest us or to entertain us its primary object is to teach us it's not something of a passing interest which we just are conscious of while we're in a church or a chapel and in the precincts perhaps no no its essential purpose is to teach us something. [09:34:48]

When we have truly and rarely heard this gospel it does two things to us the first thing it does is this that all our views and ideas and our thinking become completely changed and the second thing it does to us is this that because our way of looking at everything has become changed of necessity our way of living has become changed. [11:39:12]

The Son of God appeared for this reason that the whole world lith guilty before God that there is none righteous know not one but all have sinned and come short of the glory of God that's why he came he came because the whole of the human race have fallen in Adam and was under the wrath of God and under the condemnation of God's law. [18:12:44]

The present time it is simply this interval between the first time when he appeared and the second time when he'll yet appeared the Son of God have appeared the Son of God will appear and what is history it's just this Gap this interval between the the do and it has no meaning and no Valley whatsoever apart from that. [26:40:52]

The day of Grace began in a sense when he came and when he bore our sins in his own body on the tree he introduced he inaugurated the day of grace and the day of Grace is still continuing it will continue until he comes back again to judge and did you know the meaning of time it's this not that the dollar position May improve. [32:54:40]

The moment a man becomes a Christian the moment a man really understands the truth about the Lord Jesus Christ and his first coming and his second coming it gives him an entirely new view of History he understands the meaning of life in this world in an entirely new manner what is it well you know the view of the man who's not a Christian. [24:20:92]

The gospel teaches us it's not a sudden feeling it's not a sudden decision it's a man solemnly looking at the truth realizing its propositions seeing what it's saying and what it means and deducing the inevitable conclusion and immediately putting them into practice I ask you therefore on this last Sunday night of this old year. [53:21:52]

The grace of God that bringeth salvation has appear to all meant teaching us what that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts we should live soberly righteously and godly in this present world looking for that blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of the great God. [44:01:16]

The gospel is not just a matter of feeling it's not the preaching of the Gospel is not just designed to help us for an hour or so to forget our troubles and our problems and while we're singing our hymns or whatever it is we sing to feel a little bit happier than we've been there are many people who make use of it like that they use it as a drug. [10:04:59]

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Transcript
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