The Sermon Notes of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Titus 2:11-14
Christmas
1. This is the only place in the Bible where the term "saving grace" occurs,
vs.11. The first sentence reads: "You see, the saving grace of God has
suddenly appeared to all men." This text is fittingly appropriate for
Christmas. The grace and kindness of God caused God to send His Son as a
human being for all people.
2. That first sentence begins with "you see" because it looks back to vss.
1-10 where Paul gives young pastor Titus instructions on how the older
men, vs. 2, the older women, vs. 3, the young wives, vss. 4-5, the young
men, vs. 6, the young pastor, vss. 7-8, and slaves, vss. 9-10, should live
and conduct themselves. But that's not possible without the grace of God.
And so Paul says, "You see, the saving grace of God has suddenly appeared
to all men."
3. Then he proceeds to tell Titus and us what this saving grace has taught
us: To deny ourselves, vs. 12. That means to say no to our sinful selves
just as Peter said "no" to knowing Christ. We're explaining the meaning of
"deny". Vs. 12 tells us that this saving grace teaches us how to live in the
present age. Then in vs. 14 we read what this saving grace says about our
future. We are awaiting the blessed hope and the appearing of our glorious
God and Savior, Jesus Christ. That of course means everlasting life. At
this point we have covered both the first and second coming of Christ, the
first at Christmas, the second at the end of time. And so, in vss. 12 and 13
we are told that the grace of God teaches us how to live in the present age
and that we have the wonderful prospect of the blessed hope and
appearance of our glorious God and Savior, Jesus Christ. By the way, Jesus
is plainly called great God and Savior.
4. It's not the Law that causes us to live a godly life. The Law shows us
our sin. And after we've been absolved of our sin the Law acts as a guide
to lead us in our Christian living. Only the saving grace of God in Christ
can do that.
5. Then is vs. 14 Paul gives the basis for all of this: Christ gave Himself in
our stead to redeem us from all lawlessness and to cleanse for Himself a
people which belong to Him, making that people zealous of good works. "In
our stead" pictures Christ as our Substitute. He took our place. God made
Him to be sin for us. II Cor 5:21.
6. Vs. 14 covers the whole life of the Christian, his justification and
sanctification. Christ redeemed us from all lawlessness. The Lamb of God
took away the sins of the world. And Christ is also the cause of our
sanctification, our Christian living. The text says that He cleansed for
Himself a people belonging to Himself, zealous in good works. This
reminds us of thoughts like: "I am the Vine. You are the branches. He who
abides in Me and I in him bears much fruit. Because without Me you can do
nothing." Jn. 15. Or think of Eph. 2:1-10 that tells us that though we were
dead in sins Christ made us alive, forgave us and that now we are created
in good works which God has prepared so that we should walk in them.
7. To summarize: The saving grace of God has sent Jesus Christ as a man
to be our Substitute to forgive all of our sins and our Motivator to fight
sin and to live in good works. All the while He reminds us that we have the
wonderful prospect of everlasting life in heaven with Him.
8. Christmas is the best known festival and holiday of the calendar and
also of the church year. Even those who do not believe in Jesus look
forward to Christmas. They profit from the customs of Christians. They
take a day off, exchange gifts and have a good time. But Christians know
the true worth of Christmas, for the saving grace of God has suddenly
appeared in Christ Jesus for our eternal future. See also 3:4-7.
9. Preach this text in such a way that _every_ day is a Christmas for the
people of God, a day when they remember the saving grace of God for their
eternal future.
The Sermon Outline of Harold Buls
On the Epistle Lessons of the Ingrian Lutheran Church of Russia
Text from Titus 2:11-14
Christmas
THEME: The Saving Grace of God Has Appeared to all People
INTRODUCTION:
Merry Christmas! All people over the whole world stop for a moment today.
It's the birthday of our Lord Jesus. We give each other gifts but we
remember especially God's gift to all men. We greet each other but we
remember especially how God has greeted all in His Son. Behind all of this
is God's saving grace. His love wants none to be lost but that all should
come to the knowledge of the Truth.
I. What this saving grace of God has done for us.
A. It caused Jesus, His Son, to give Himself as our Substitute, in
our stead though He knew no sin, God made Him to be sin in our
stead. Vs.14 says that He gave Himself for us to ransom us, to buy
us back, from all lawlessness, from all iniquity, from all
wickedness. Look about you. What do you see? Lawlessness,
iniquity, wickedness. God's Son actually bought us back from all
of this with His blood. He took away the sin of the world. Jn. 1:29.
B. It caused Jesus to cleanse of for Himself, a people for Himself,
people who are zealous of good works. The blood of Jesus Christ,
God's Son, cleanses us from all sin. I Jn. 1:7. Not only does He
take away the guilt of sin. He also cleanses our life of sin.
Christians are still sinners. They feel their sins more than
unbelievers feel their sins. That's because Christians have learned
the Law of God which makes them conscious of sin. God
promised: "Though your sins be like scarlet they shall be white as
snow." Is. 1:18.
C. It caused Jesus to make us zealous of good works, vs. 14. He is
the Vine. We are the branches. Jn. 15. The person who abides by
faith in Him brings forth much fruit. See also Eph. 2:1-10. God
had prepared good works so that we should live in them.
II. What this saving grace of God teaches us. See vs. 12 It teaches us to
say "no" to ungodliness and worldly lusts. We still have sinful hearts and
desires. We see so much ungodliness all around us. But the grace of God
teaches us to say "no" to ungodliness and worldly lusts. God is not a God of
unhappiness. He wants us to enjoy His gifts in a godly way. It is not wrong
to have a good time at Christmas. But we must deny all ungodliness. It is
not wrong for a man and his wife to enjoy sex between them. But we must
deny all fleshly lusts, godless thoughts. The lust of the flesh, the lust of
the eyes and the pride of life are sinful. I Jn. 2:16. The grace of God in
Christ teaches us to say "no" to these things. The grace of God teaches us
to live soberly, justly and godly in this life. That means that we should
always be in control of ourselves. The grace of God gives us self-control
to drown our sinful flesh. The grace of God makes us live justly in a world
of injustice. We should let our light so shine before men that they may see
our good works and glorify our Father in heaven. When the world looks at
us it should see more than us. It should see the grace of God at work in us.
III. The grace of God makes us fit to await Jesus' second coming. Vs. 13 of
our text reads: "Looking forward to the blessed hope and glorious
appearance of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." There is a
connection between the first and second coming of Christ. His first
coming gives us the blessed assurance that He will come again. The angels
told the disciples at Ascension: "He will come as you've seen Him go." By
the way, this vs. plainly says that Jesus is true God. This man is also God.
He will rescue us from this valley of sorrows. He is preparing a place for
us.
CONCLUSION
Merry Christmas! We sing songs and exchange gifts today because the
grace of God has appeared in the person of Jesus Christ. He gave Himself
completely for us. Now He teaches us to give ourselves to Him. And the
best is yet to come, everlasting life.
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