Sermon #1404 Miscellaneous Sermons

Title: SEVEN WONDERS OF GRACE

Text: Titus 2:11-14

Subject: The Grace of God

Date: Sunday Morning – May 14, 2000

Tape # V-82b

Reading: Titus 2:1-14

Introduction:
The ancient Greeks loved to categorize things, much like we do. You have all heard of the seven wonders of the world. Over the years, the list has been modified, because other things come along which supercede previous wonders. Though we all had to learn what these wonders were, where they were located, and when they were built, I doubt anyone here remembers them. That is precisely my reason for mentioning them.

We are a fickle race. We all, like the Athenians, are most naturally impressed by and ever look for something novel or unusual (Acts 17:21). But the novelty soon wears off. The new quickly becomes old; and the unusual soon becomes common. The seven wonders of the ancient world have been forgotten by most, because other wonders have surpassed and replaced them.

I want to talk to you today about seven wonders which will never be surpassed or forgotten by those who are privileged to see them. The title of my message is Seven Wonders of Grace. You have my text before you in Titus 2:11-14.

Titus 2:11-14 "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, (12) Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; (13) Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; (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."


The Word of God is itself an abiding wonder. Everything about this blessed Book is superhuman and divine.

    • Its Origin

    • Its Message

    • Its Power

    • Its Existence

But of all the wonders revealed in this Sacred Volume, nothing is more wonderful than the grace of God, of which our text speaks. Newton described it well…

Amazing grace! How sweet the sound!

That saved a wretch like me.

I once was lost, but now am found,

‘Twas blind, but now I see!


Note: As the word "grace" is used in our text, it refers not to the attribute of God, or the work of God in our hearts, but to the gospel and the doctrine of the grace of God revealed in the gospel.

  1. The first wonder of grace spoken of in our text is its exhibition. – "The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men."


During the days of the Old Testament, it was hidden in the types and shadows of the law. During the days of our Lord’s humiliation, the grace of God was like a light in one small corner of the universe, the land of Israel. But now, with the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon all flesh and through the preaching of the gospel, the light of the glory of God in the gospel shines everywhere. It has appeared to all men. Grace is exhibited not to one nation or one segment of humanity alone, but to all men everywhere. -- "The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." What a wonderful exhibition it is to those who have eyes to see!

Notice: The Holy Spirit does not tell us that the grace of God offers salvation, or merely provides salvation for us to take if we will. That would be meaningless. Of what use is an offer or even provision of salvation to helpless, dead sinners? Preachers talk about grace that way; but such is not the grace of God. The grace of God is that grace "that bringeth salvation" by the almighty, effectual, irresistible operations of God himself!

I will make no effort to exhaust this inexhaustible theme. Let me just show you four great exhibitions of the grace of God.

  1. The grace of God is displayed in election.


How we rejoice in the gospel doctrine of election! What a delight it is to hear the Son of God declare, "Ye have not chosen me; but I have chosen you."


God chose the hosts of His elect In Jesus Christ their Head,

Chosen to all eternal good Before the worlds were made:

Chosen know the Prince of Peace, Chosen to taste His grace,

Chosen to be conformed to Christ In perfect righteousness.

Chosen to life, and faith, and hope, Chosen to know God’s love,

Chosen to be the sons of God, Heirs to all things above.

Chosen, we prove salvation sure, (Made sure by God’s decree!),

Chosen to reign with Christ our Lord For all eternity!

Nothing but grace, free grace, appears In God’s eternal choice,

Free grace to charm poor sinners’ hearts, And make all saints rejoice!

In God’s electing love we see His glory shine so bright,

It makes obedience to Him A matter of delight!

Our hearts, and minds, and wills control, Constrain us by Your grace,

In all things, Lord, to honor You, And magnify Your grace.

Oh, lift our hearts above the world To Christ and things above,

And cheer our hearts midst earthly woes With Your electing love.

Let unbelieving, reprobate men deride it as they may, we will rejoice in God’s election!

1 Corinthians 1:26-31 "For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: (27) But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; (28) And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: (29) That no flesh should glory in his presence. (30) But of him are ye in Christ Jesus, who of God is made unto us wisdom, and righteousness, and sanctification, and redemption: (31) That, according as it is written, He that glorieth, let him glory in the Lord."


  1. We see the grace of God exhibited gloriously at Calvary.


Romans 5:5-8 "And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. (6) For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. (7) For scarcely for a righteous man will one die: yet peradventure for a good man some would even dare to die. (8) But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us."


Could we with ink the oceans fill, And were the skies of parchment made,

Were every stalk on earth a quill, And every man a scribe by trade,

To write the love of God above Would drain the oceans dry,

Nor could the scroll contain the whole, Though stretched from sky to sky!

The grace of God cannot be known, understood, or appreciated by anyone until it is seen streaming to poor, needy sinners in Calvary’s crimson tide. The word "grace" cannot be read, until it is written upon the heart in the blood of Christ by the finger of God the Holy Spirit.

Yonder – amazing sight! -- I see Th’ incarnate Son of God

Expiring on th’ accursed tree, And weltering in His blood.

Behold, a purple torrent run Down from His hands and head.

The crimson tide puts out the sun; His groans awake the dead.

The trembling earth, the darkened sky, Proclaim the truth aloud,

And, with th’ amazed centurion, cry, "This is the Son of God!"

So great, so vast a sacrifice May well my hope revive:

If God’s own Son thus bleeds and dies, The sinner sure may live.

Oh, that these cords of love divine Might draw me, Lord, to Thee!

Thou hast my heart, it shall be Thine! Thine it shall ever be!

    • Samuel Stennett

The meaning of the cross is grace, grace displayed in the satisfaction of justice for guilty sinners by the blood of Christ.

Mercy there was great, and grace was free!

Pardon there was multiplied to me!

There my burdened soul found liberty. – At Calvary!


  1. The grace of God is exhibited in election and at Calvary; but we know nothing about that grace until it is exhibited to us in conversion.


Grace is known only when it is experienced. It is perceived only by the eye of faith.

‘Twas grace that taught my heart to fear

And grace my fears relieved!

How precious did that grace appear,

The hour I first believed!


Every heaven born soul traces his salvation back to the well-spring of grace, and says with the Apostle Paul, "By the grace of God I am what I am."

  1. The second wonder of grace revealed in our text is its teaching. – "Teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world."


The grace of God that brings salvation, teaches (effectually teaches) us to reject (deny and say "no" to) all idolatry, ungodliness and worldly lusts. Grace teaches sinners, every sinner who experiences it, to live uprightly, temperately and in a godly manner in this present world!

Believers are not rule, motivated, and governed by the law, but by grace. The mercy, love, and grace of God in Christ are the strongest arguments and motives for obedience that can be presented to thankful hearts.

Romans 12:1-2 "I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. (2) And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God."

1 Corinthians 6:19-20 "What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? (20) For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's."

2 Corinthians 5:14 "For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead."


It is our business to live for God, to serve and honor him "in this present world," in the world in which we now live. It matters not what others do, how they think, or how they live. We are to live for the honor of our God.

  1. Look at our text again. The third wonder of grace described here is its prospect. – "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ."


This is what the text is telling us. – We ought to constantly live upon the tiptoe of faith, looking for Christ and the resurrection glory of the last day. I do not know whether the sun will rise tomorrow or not; but I do know this – "The Sun of Righteousness" will soon arise and never sit again! Christ is coming again.

  1. This is a thing to be desired. – "Even so, Come, Lord Jesus!"


1 John 3:1-3 "Behold, what manner of love the Father hath bestowed upon us, that we should be called the sons of God: therefore the world knoweth us not, because it knew him not. (2) Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be: but we know that, when he shall appear, we shall be like him; for we shall see him as he is. (3) And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure."


  1. The believer’s hope of glory is a blessed (happy) hope, because it is a confident hope.


    • Job was confident concerning it. – "I know… In my flesh shall I see God!"

    • David was confident about this matter. – "I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever!"

    • Paul was confident regarding this hope. – "I know whom I have believed."


This is what I want you to see. If you are born of God, if you trust Christ, you have every reason to confidently anticipate the glorious appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ. His coming shall be the consummation of your salvation. – Now is our salvation nearer than when we believed!"

    1. This is your Father’s gift, laid up in heaven for you from eternity.

    2. Christ has gone as your Forerunner to take possession of it in your name. He has gone to prepare a place for you by his blood, his mediation, his intercession, and his presence.

    3. You have been begotten again unto this hope, and a lively (living) hope it is!

    4. You have been called to it, called to glory!

    5. In Christ you have every right to it.

    • You are a child of God, and an heir to glory.

    • The blood of Christ purchased it for you.

    • The Holy Spirit, by whom we are sealed in Christ, is the Earnest of it.

Illustration: Three things are required when travelling to another country: (1.) A Birth Certificate, (2.) A Visa, and (3.) A Clear Record.

  1. The fourth wonder of grace is its Mediator. – "The great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ."


All grace comes to sinners from the triune God through the mediation of Christ. He is the only Mediator between God and men. Yet, he is both God and man in one glorious person. Notice the regal title here given to him.

    • "The Great God" – God over all, blessed forever!

    • "And Our Savior" – Our Savior by covenant agreement!

    • "Jesus Christ" – Jesus, who is the Christ of God promised in Holy Scripture!


  1. Read on. – The fifth wonder of grace set before us here is its Gift. – "Who gave himself for us."


Now we have come to the greatest wonder of all wonders. The Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the great and glorious Creator, Sustainer, and Governor of the universe, he before whom the angels bow with august reverence, "gave himself for us!" Let Gabriel speak, not a man! How can I talk about such an amazing thing? I cannot even think of it with the reverence it deserves.


He did not give another, or what another had. He gave himself! -- Himself! -- Not just his own things, but his own self! -- Not the world, not even all the riches of the world, not silver and gold, not the corruptible things of the treasures of the earth, not the cattle on a thousand hills, not men or angels, but himself! "He gave himself for us!" -- All that belongs to him. -- All that is near and dear to him. -- His name – His fame – His credibility – His reputation – His honor -- His time – His strength -- His service! -- All the comforts of life, and life itself, -- His whole being, all his manhood, body and soul. -- And that in union with his divinity – All himself – The Son of God and the Son of Man! -- He gave into the hands of sinful men, and into the hands of divine justice! -- He gave himself up to death itself, the painful, shameful, ignominious death of the cross!

"Who gave himself FOR US!" – The Lord of Glory gave himself up to be a ransom for us, his people! -- To be a propitiation and sacrifice for our sins! To die in our room and stead, as our Substitute!

He did not give himself for everyone, hoping that someone might love him and make his love for them effectual! Oh, no! He gave himself for us, the people of his love, his elect, his bride, his church, his body! -- He gave himself for us and died for us, when we were yet ungodly, sinners, and his implacable enemies!

This was a free and voluntary gift. "Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift!" Who can imagine all that is contained in this word "HIMSELF?" Here the greatest love in the universe, love that passes knowledge!

God, because he could swear by no greater, swore by himself; and Christ, because he could give no greater gift, nor any greater instance of his love, gave himself for us!

1 John 3:16 "Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren."


  1. I must move on. The sixth wonder of grace described in our text is its object. "That he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto himself a peculiar people."


The object of grace from the beginning, the object of God’s everlasting love, the object of Christ in his death is the redemption, deliverance, and salvation of God’s elect. This is why he came into the world. Indeed, this is why he made the world. He came here that he might die here.

  1. Redemption by the Price of His Blood!

  2. Redemption by the Power of His Grace!


Illustration: Two Black Birds

  1. Redemption from All Iniquity!

    • Its Penalty

    • Its Dominion

    • Its Presence

    • Its Being

    • Its Consequences


  1. The seventh wonder of grace spoken of in Titus 2 is its people. -- "For 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 that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour 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."


We have already observed the wonder of the fact that God has chosen such things as we are to be the objects of his grace. Astonishing grace! But here are three things by which God distinguishes his people from all other people in this world.

  1. Those who are saved by the grace of God are a people purified by grace.


    • Imputed Righteousness

    • Imparted Righteousness


2 Corinthians 5:17 "Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."


  1. God’s elect, the objects of his grace, are here described as a peculiar people.


    1. The Objects of His Peculiar Love

    2. In Whom He has a Peculiar Delight

    3. To Whom He Grants Peculiar Blessings

    4. A People Under His Peculiar Protection and Care

    5. A People with Peculiar Ambitions, Motives, and Concerns


  1. Those to whom the grace of God has appeared, those who are chosen, redeemed, called, and taught by grace, are a people zealous of good works.


Saving grace is that grace which works by love. Good works are works of love. They are always associated with love.

    • Love for Christ

    • Love for the Gospel

    • Love for the Glory of God

    • Love for His People


1 John 4:7-11 "Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God. (8) He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love. (9) In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him. (10) Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins. (11) Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another."


AMEN.
Don Fortner