The Motivation Of Grace

 

"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

 

 

In Titus chapter two, the Spirit of God calls for all who have experienced God’s saving grace in Christ, in every aspect of our lives, to “adorn the doctrine of God our Savior.” How will he induce us to obey this admonition? How will he persuade us? How will he motivate us?

 

            Read the chapter carefully. Several inducements used by men, incorporated into religious creeds and church covenants, and commonly preached from the pulpits of almost all religious denominations are absent. There is not a word in this chapter about the rule of the law. There is not a single threat of punishment, or loss of reward if we fail to obey. There is not so much as a hint of reward, in this life or in the life to come, conditioned upon our obedience. The only motive by which believers are induced, the only motive which can effectually induce believers to honor God in their lives, is the grace of God itself.

 

                We are admonished to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present, evil world, to live constantly upon the tip-toe of faith, looking for Christ’s glorious advent, because he "gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”

 

            What could possibly be a more powerful inducement to godliness? The Lord Jesus Christ “gave himself.” He gave us himself, all of himself. He freely, voluntarily, laid down his life as a sin-atoning sacrifice, as a Substitute “for us.” Imagine that! The Son of God came into this world, lived in perfect obedience to God’s holy law as a man, endured all the temptations and trials of life in this world, and suffered all the wrath of God specifically and exclusive “for us,” the people of his love and choice.

 

Christ gave himself for us that he might redeem and deliver us from all iniquity, from all sin and all the consequences of it. The Lord Jesus died for us, under the penalty of the law for our sins, to deliver us from the penalty of sin by his blood atonement. He died, “the just for the unjust, that he might bring us to God” (1 Pet. 3:18).

 

The Son of God gave himself “as ransom for many,” a ransom for us, the many chosen to salvation in everlasting love, that he might deliver us from the reigning power and dominion of sin, by the effectual, irresistible grace of God the Holy Spirit in regeneration.

 

The Lord of glory gave himself for us that he might deliver us from the very being of sin and all its evil consequences in resurrection glory. And, blessed be his name, it shall be done!

 

The Lord Jesus Christ gave himself to be our Savior that he might purify (by blood and by grace) unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works. God’s saints are a peculiar people. That does not mean that believers are strange looking, weirdly dressed, funny acting people. Rather, it means that God’s elect are distinct from all other people, being distinguished from all other sons of Adam by God’s distinguishing grace (1 Cor. 4:7).