Gtcotr/ss120708
Christmas is about life and life is all about relationship.
Without healthy and productive relationships, life as we understand it cannot continue.
Life was designed by God to be a positive experience, mutually beneficial, a two way street if you will, a series of giving and receiving by everyone in a relationship. However, this is not always how our lives are lived.
Have you ever seen a relationship between two individuals in which one person felt entitled and was functionally selfish, demanding or self absorbed? I am talking about relationships between friends, siblings or spouses, even parent-child relationships where one person makes most things all about them, what they want, how they feel, a ‘what’s in it for me’ kind of thing, more motivated to get than to give?
God did not design life to be lived like this. It’s sad to imagine people, perhaps some of you listening today, who are burdened with the frustrations and disappointments which come from being in partnership with a selfish and uncaring person. Sadder still is the thought that someone listening this morning might be that self absorbed individual who makes life hell for others whenever they feel like it. God resists us when we are proud and self absorbed but He gives grace to the humble.
Life is designed to be a two way street and even God, though He is Sovereign and therefore accountable to no one, yet He offers us relationship based upon mutual respect and mutual benefit.
Keep that in mind while we turn to our text for today and take a fresh look at faith and grace.
Titus 2 NKJV
11 ¶ For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
12 teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
13 looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.
It is the grace of God which brings salvation.
What is grace? Grace is unmerited or undeserved favor. I’m not nice because I have to be but because I choose to be. God does not bless us because He has to but because He wants to. That’s grace …
Mentioned 159 times in the Bible, grace is the constant reminder of God’s goodness and God’s hope for man. The first time we see the word grace appear in the Bible is in:
Genesis 6:8 But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.
In a time when wickedness permeated the whole world and men lived according to their own evil lusts and selfish desires, God brought salvation and hope of a new day through His grace. God offered Noah a partnership. What this partnership required was Noah’s trust in God in return for God’s trust in Noah.
You see, not only was Noah being required to put his future in God’s hands, God was requiring Himself to put His Own future into Noah’s hands.
God required Noah to trust Him however, God was also requiring Himself to trust Noah.
Remember I told you earlier that relationship is a two way street. God did not ask Noah to do anything that God was unwilling to do Himself!
I told you about the first time that the word grace is mentioned in the Bible in Genesis 6:5, let me also show the last time the word grace is mentioned in the bible. It just so happens … well that’s not actually true … nothing ‘just so happens’ in the Bible … it’s a plan, a very well thought out, well laid out and very purposeful, strategic, and revealing plan … anyway … the last time grace is mentioned:
The last thing He wanted to leave with us was just the same thing He had given to Noah that helped Noah get to his new day … grace … So, let’s turn to the very last book of the Bible, the very last chapter, the very last page, the very last scripture … the last word God gave to us:
Revelation 22:21 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
This is the final thought God wanted to leave with us – the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ.
How can I explain grace in such a way that you are likely not to forget? Well, let’s look at another scripture that will help.
Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God:
Grace is that gift which saves us and, we access grace through faith.
Romans 5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
Remember I told you that relationships are meant to be two way streets, even our relationship with God? Well, that is what these scriptures are trying to teach us. Simply put:
Faith is man believing in God.
Grace is God believing in man.
Faith is man trusting God.
Grace is God trusting man.
Faith is what you offer God hoping to change your world.
Grace is what God offers you hoping to change His world.
Do you trust in God? Well He trusts in you too!
Do you trust your life and future to Him?
He trusts His life and future to you.
So once again, what is Christmas all about?
Christmas is about life and life is all about relationship.
Just like we first read in Titus 2:11, I pray that the grace of God which brings salvation appears to all men this Christmas season and … may this grace appear to others through you. May you find both faith and grace for your relationships, faith that they will be all God wants them to be and the grace to do your part in every relationship.
Decide that you are going to be a greater reflection of God this Christmas season and fight every temptation to think, act or be self absorbed. Remember, life is a two way street, it’s not all about you, so give at least as much as you hope to receive.
I pray you find the grace to give to others.
Merry Christmas!
