A TEACHER NAMED GRACE  

Grace is a gift – not earned and not deserved. It is given to us because God is good, not  because we are. For those who are reading this who have already received this grace, we  realize that our salvation depends wholly upon it. For those who may have never understood  or received the grace of God, I want you to know that God’s love, mercy, and grace are  available to you because of the kindness and sacrifice of Jesus Christ.  

“That in the ages to come he might shew the exceeding riches of his grace in his kindness  toward us through Christ Jesus. For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of  yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any many should boast.” (Ephesians 2:7- 9)  

“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us…”  (Titus 2:11-12)  

The same grace that brings us salvation also wants to give us an education.  Grace is a teacher - a kind and good teacher.  

Grace is a teacher who always speaks the truth (John 1:14, 17).  

Grace is a teacher who will help us to gain the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus  Christ (II Pet. 3:18).  

Grace uses one lesson Book – the Word of God (II Tim. 3:13-16).  

There are many who do not recognize, or perhaps even ignore, this vital role of grace in our  lives. There are others who pervert or twist the teachings of grace. But if we are to grow in  Christ, and to stand in grace (Rom. 5:2; I Pet. 5:12), be stablished in grace (Heb. 13:9; I Pet.  5:10), and be strong in grace (II Tim. 2:1), we must learn the lessons of grace.  

So, after Grace brings us salvation, what lessons does this teacher named Grace want us to  learn? While there are many, here are ten of the teachings of Grace that are clearly spelled  out in the Word of God:  

1. Grace teaches us that we are not sufficient, but God is.  

This world wants to tell us that “we are enough”, but Grace teaches us that we are  not.  

“Not that we are sufficient of ourselves to think any thing as of ourselves; but our  sufficiency is of God.” (II Cor. 3:5)  

This world wants to tell us that we can just be strong and power through, but Grace  teaches us that God’s strength is made perfect in weakness, and that our weakness  and infirmities are opportunities for the power of Christ to rest upon us. (II Cor. 12:9- 10) 

2. Grace teaches us to deny ungodliness.  

“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;” (Tit. 2:14)  

This word “ungodliness” carries the idea of impiety - no reverence, no respect for  God. Grace teaches us to deny this mindset, and to have the proper reverence and  fear of God. This is the beginning of knowledge and wisdom.  

“…let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and  godly fear.” (Heb. 12:28b)  

3. Grace teaches us to deny worldly lusts.  

“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;” (Tit. 2:14)  

Many today who claim to teach “grace” proclaim that grace means we need not deny  ourselves or our desires. They promote worldliness and self-fulfillment; yet this verse  clearly tells us that grace teaches us to deny worldly lusts. The Word of God warns of  those who would “turn the grace of God into lasciviousness”.  

(Jude 4) “…ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and  denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ.”  

Lasciviousness means “filthy, unbridled lusts, shamelessness, and wantonness”, and  the Scriptures warn of it often (Mark 7:22; Gal. 5:19; Eph. 4:19; I Pet. 4:3). Those who  teach that, because we are the children of God and have the grace of God, we can live  

in worldly lusts with no shame and no restraint, are not teaching grace. They are  turning grace – twisting and changing it from something godly and good into  something perverted and evil.  

4. Grace teaches us not to continue in sin.  

Grace does not excuse us to continue in sin. Grace empowers us to overcome sin.  

“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.” (Romans 6:1-2)  

5. Grace teaches us to live soberly.  

We are to live with a sound mind, discreetly, with temperance (I Thes. 5:6, 8; Tit. 2:4; 

I Pet. 1:13; 4:7).  

6. Grace teaches us to live righteously.  

We are to live justly, properly, and uprightly before God (Rom. 6:16-19; 14:17; I Cor.  15:34; Phil. 1:11; I Thes. 2:10; I Tim. 6:11; II Tim. 3:16).  

7. Grace teaches us to live godly.  

We are to live piously, reverently, appropriately for one who is following God (I Tim.  2:2, 10; 4:7-8; 6:3-6; II Pet. 3:11).  

8. Grace teaches us that God’s ways and holy living are never outdated. We are to reject  wrong, and live right, in this present world.  

In every generation, in every culture, grace will teach and enable us to live soberly,  righteously, and godly (Tit. 2:14; Phil. 2:15).  

9. Grace teaches us that there are acceptable, and unacceptable, ways to serve God.  “…Let us have grace that we may serve God acceptably…” (Heb. 12:28)  

10. Grace teaches us to look for the return of our Savior, and to live with the hope,  assurance, and expectation of His appearing.  

“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our  Savior 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.” (Titus  2:14)  

May each of us be willing and eager students of this teacher named Grace!