The Work Of Grace

“For the grace of God that brings salvation hath appeared to all men” -- Titus 2:11

As Paul uses the term here, “the grace of God” refers to “the doctrine of God our Savior.” “The grace of God” in this verse means “the gospel of the grace of God.” The gospel we preach, “the doctrine of God our Savior,” is the gospel of “the grace of God.”

Grace Alone

The doctrine of the gospel is the message of grace. It is not a message about man’s imaginary “free will,” but a message about God’s free grace in Christ. It is not a message about man’s so called “good works” for God, but a message about God’s gracious works for and in men. The gospel is not a mixture of work and grace, but a message of pure, free, unconditional sovereign grace alone. Grace is the origin of the gospel.Grace is the message of the gospel. Grace is conveyed by the gospel. It is what the Holy Spirit calls “the Word of Life,” by which he conveys life to dead sinners (1 John 1:1; 1 Pet. 1:23-25). Grace is the rule of the gospel (Rom. 6:12-14; 2 Cor. 5:14-15). Any mixture of merit with mercy destroys mercy. Any mixture of works with grace destroys grace.

Brings Salvation

This gospel, the grace of God, brings salvation. The gospel does not save. That is God’s work alone; but God does not save without it (1 Cor. 1:21). I know that salvation is by God’s operations of grace, that it is an act of free and sovereign grace, grace that is almighty and irresistible. But in this context, “the grace of God” is used as a synonym for “the gospel of God.” The Holy Spirit is telling us that the gospel is the means by which salvation is brought to and wrought in chosen, redeemed sinners. The gospel of the grace of God shows us the way of salvation (Isa. 45:20-22). Sinners are saved by trusting the crucified Christ, the sinner’s Substitute, by whom righteousness and justice has been fully satisfied. The gospel proclaims the person and work of Christ, who is salvation. It is the announcement of salvation accomplished by Christ. And the gospel of the grace of God is the means by which God the Holy Spirit brings salvation to elect sinners (Rom. 10:13-17). There is no spiritual life, no faith in Christ, and no salvation for anyone without the Gospel.

Appeared To All

This gospel of the grace of God has appeared unto all men. Certainly, Paul does not mean for us to understand that every person in the world has heard the gospel. Obviously that is not so. There are people in Danville, Kentucky many of them, who have never heard the gospel. What Paul is telling us is that the gospel has been and is preached freely to all men and women, people of every rank, race, and region (Rom. 16:25-26). God has his elect among all people. It is our responsibility to preach the gospel to all men (Matt. 28:19-20). The message of God’s grace and salvation is no longer a message for a single nation or race. It is God’s message of grace and salvation in Christ to sinners everywhere. And this message, the gospel we preach, brings salvation to all who believe. “It is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth” (Rom. 1:16).