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Simply Grace

Read Titus 2:11-3:8

The grace of God is not without its critics. These critics drone away about taking grace too far and using it as a license to sin. They fail to understand the power of grace in a believer’s life.

Grace is Jesus Christ living his life in and through the believer. He is a proactive force working within. As someone once said, Jesus Christ has been raised from the dead and he is on the loose. He is on the loose in you.

As the writer of Hebrews wrote, Jesus is the the author and perfecter of faith. One way he perfects our faith is by teaching us to say “no” to sin and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives. The end result is a person “eager to do what is good” (Titus 2:14).

Many try to achieve this goal the wrong way. They rely on will power and sheer grit to withstand sin’s onslaught. It’s a strategy that will never work. Saying “no” is the result of the Holy Spirit’s work in a believer’s life. And his work on this front never ends. Through the resurrection, he has proven that sin and death are no match for him. He won the battle. His victory is now our victory as we learn to abide in Him.

So what is the Holy Spirit doing in your life right now? Maybe he is putting a desire in you to forgive someone who hurt you. If so, step out in faith and forgive. Keeping in step with the Spirit—learning the lesson of grace—means you will not carry out the desire of the flesh to get even or seek revenge.

Perhaps he is teaching you to speak honestly and to build others up instead of tearing them down. If so, step out in faith and tell the truth, encourage others with your words. When you do, you will not carry out the desire of the flesh to use your tongue to cut someone down.

God is at work in the believer to will and to do of his good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). This is grace in action, teaching us to say “no” to sin and “yes” to Jesus Christ.

For further study, read these passages: Galatians 5:13-6:10; Ephesians 4:17-32.

In what ways has the grace of God taught you to say “no” to sin?

Adapted from Simple Gospel, Simply Grace by Bob Christopher.