Grace and Discipline Explained Through Titus

Grace and Discipline Explained Through Titus

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.  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

Grace can be defined as the sovereign grace bestowed upon a man when he accepts the gift given by God through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ for our sins.  Grace is a free gift given to all men.  However, true grace is the grace that leads to sanctification.

“Teaching” (2:12) in the Greek is defined as “to raise up, educate, or discipline.”  The grace of God is evident through God’s discipline.  Heb 12:8 says “If you are not disciplined (and everyone undergoes discipline), then you are illegitimate children and not true sons.”  In discipline, there is hope (Provers 19:18).

What is true grace?  Many in the Christian church falsely acknowledge that they have received the grace of God by saying “yes” to Jesus Christ.  But James 2:19 says “you believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that–and shudder.”

Therefore, grace does not come from the acknowledgment that Jesus Christ is the atoning sacrifice.  The demons know this and this is why they shudder.  Grace is given to the one that loves the Lord’s discipline.  For the one that loves the Lord’s discipline has weighed the costs of being a believer.  The spirit of grace is poured out on the one that love’s discipline and since he is a true believer, the true believer that received true grace will be sanctified.  Grace disciplines us and teaches us to say no to sin.  And as Galatians 5:24 says “Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires.”

Those that deny grace are rejecting the discipline that comes from God.  Proverbs 5:23 says “He will die for lack of discipline, led astray by his own great folly.”  If grace is what saves us, then the man that dies lacks it.  Similarly, the man that dies lacked discipline.  The bible teaches that faith plus sanctification is how we are saved.  And again, if by grace we are saved, then by grace we have faith and by grace we are disciplined to become sanctified.

Readers, test the spirits.  You will know a man by his fruit.  The modern church is preaching a message of once saved, always saved, and never sanctified.  This is false.  Do not be caught into this trap, but strive to attain sanctification!  Only then will true grace be poured out.  Am I saying that it is by our doing that we receive grace?  No.  But as we accept the Lord’s discipline, we are witnessing God’s love for us.  As we reject His discipline or shy away from it, we are denying God’s grace.

-Mark