Grace's Simple Promise...and It's Expectation

Salvation is grace's first work. If it were not for grace, there would be no salvation as we know it. The question looms, then, if grace is so costly, then what should I do to obtain salvation? Jesus answered that question in general, and Peter defines those terms of salvation for us in scripture specifically. Jesus' words to Nicodemus are in John 3.

John 3:3-7 Jesus answered and said unto him, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God. Nicodemus saith unto him, How can a man be born when he is old? can he enter the second time into his mother's womb, and be born? Jesus answered, Verily, verily, I say unto thee, Except a man be born of water and of the Spirit, he cannot enter into the kingdom of God.That which is born of the flesh is flesh; and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit. Marvel not that I said unto thee, Ye must be born again.

So in order to be born again, one must be born both of the water and the Spirit. How does this happen? Peter stands on the inaugural day and sermon of the New Testament church, and declares the answer to being born both of water and of Spirit...

Acts 2:38-39 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. For the promise is unto you, and to your children, and to all that are afar off, even as many as the Lord our God shall call.

Peter's words incorporate both baptism of water and Spirit, and are the key to eternal life.

Yet there is more to grace's work in our lives in our lives. Grace demands something of you and I.

While grace is a gift that demands no payment, and further, cannot be repaid, there are some things that grace will bring to our lives. Change is one of them. If we aren’t changed, then grace has been wasted. The expectation of grace is that our lives will change and we will no longer live or do the same things that we have done before.

Paul, in his discourse to the Romans would have this to say (it is a short excerpt from a chapter that covers it well).

Romans 6:1-6 What shall we say then? Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein? Know ye not, that so many of us as were baptized into Jesus Christ were baptized into his death? Therefore we are buried with him by baptism into death: that like as Christ was raised up from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been planted together in the likeness of his death, we shall be also in the likeness of his resurrection: Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin.

Grace as a Teacher

Denying Ungodliness

In denying ungodliness, this subject is one that will be aimed at dethroning anything that would presume to the throne of your life over the things of God. We must be careful that things do not become functional saviors in our lives. What I mean by this are things that we would look to in times of duress to provide relief spiritually. Things such as….
• A position in life. What you do is not who you are….
• A thing…a house, a car, travel, etc
• An award, a friend, a place
The word ungodliness is one that means “wickedness.” Wickedness is a concept that gains feet as we read the Scriptures. The verse that precedes this tells us to study to show ourselves approved. .

II Timothy 2:16 But shun profane and vain babblings: for they will increase unto more ungodliness.

Ungodliness is connected quite clearly to the tongue. It is no wonder, then, that James would say the tongue is set on fire of the flames of hell. The list of ungodliness can be lengthy, and proves the point that we must study scripture with an eye toward ourselves, and for us to be a just judge of ourselves, however hard and distasteful we might find this search to be.

Wordly Passions

It is the desires that are mistakenly placed in this world that is going to fade away that we find that Paul takes to task here in the things that we must lay aside. Often, distraction plays a heavy role in the development of the passions. If Satan can distract you from purpose, he can replace that purpose with misplaced passion.
What constitutes a worldly passion, then? The deciding factors revolve around God mandated roles in scripture, and further, misplaced passion. Meaning, anything that takes away from the mandates of scripture and places them ahead of relationship with God constitutes a worldly passion.

Often deciding what is worldly and what is not is known within our own lives, but occasionally (wink) we do not want to be that honest with ourselves.

Things that we must embrace.

The sharp idea of discipline comes into mind when Paul begins to instruct in those things that should be lain aside, or further, outright rejected. Of all of the things in life to overcome that is perhaps hardest is being disciplined. Discipline comes from denying yourself things that are available. In some sense, this is the price of success. Denial of self is one of the more important parts of our walk.


Herein lies the difference in the test of poverty and prosperity: One is passed through dependence and the other is passed through sacrifice. Paul would begin explaining this to us in this passage, inferring the idea of sacrificing what we can have and only we control the outcome.
Titus 2:12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, ESV

Self control
It is in those two carefully constructed words that we find much to dislike. Self control is a discipline of both the body as well as the mind.
• Self control of the tongue leads to a perfect man, the goal of our Christian walk.
• Self control of the appetites will lead to a more perfect man, and the only way to accomplish this is to deny our flesh what it wants.
• Self control of our minds is the key to winning the battles. “Bringing every thought into captivity….”

Self control is a self imposed limitation of the things that we certainly can have. It is difficult to bring ourselves to this point in life, however it is essential that we do so. It is consumed in the act of fasting, both of food and other things that we normally enjoy. Self control of the tongue is biting it, keeping the mouth shut when it wants to open up

Some don't want to grow up...but the truth is that in your walk with God, you are either growing or dying. Judge for yourself which it is in your own life...