The moments when I have failed to act with grace are the moments when the Gospel is the very best news to me. When I find myself needing forgiveness, a do-over, or a fresh start to the day, I come face to face with the reality that I am not equipped to construct a moral life that makes me self-sufficient.
That’s where the grace of God comes to the rescue. He graciously forgives my failures, and he makes it possible for me to start over. Most Christians are very clear on the role of grace in our salvation, but do we really grasp the crucial role of grace in our sanctification process? Paul made it clear in his letter to Titus:
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.”
(Titus 2:11-12)
The word training here means enabling or equipping. I can’t do it without that support!
In his gospel, John chimed in with the reassurance that Jesus is “FULL of grace and truth.”
He has enough.
He has extra.
His perfect obedience led him to the cross, where he not only took my sin, but also imputed his righteousness to me. The truth is that our lives are shaped from beginning to end by the grace of God shown to us in Jesus Christ.
So when my day reads a different story: “Michele is EMPTY of grace and truth,” Christ transfers his perfect record of grace-soaked living and adherence to the truth to my account!
He alone is full of grace and truth, and I will only ever begin to move toward living in that way as I abide in Christ.
Jesus alone is full of grace and truth, and I will only ever begin to move toward living in that way as I abide in Him.
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We Are Transformed by Grace
In her latest addition to the Flourish Bible Study series, Lydia Brownback invites women into a faith rooted in grace, and she does it with a deep dive into Paul’s letter to Titus. She begins by admitting, “Some women find the idea of studying Titus about as appealing as a roll in broken glass.” I smiled when I read that sentence because it brought to mind how the church has, historically, snatched verses out of context to define a corseted and claustrophobic understanding of biblical womanhood.
Fortunately, Brownback assures us, “when we see what’s really here, we can’t help but delight in what we see, and never again will we find ourselves scared away” from the true applications of the teaching in this brief but essential epistle. Titus: Transformed by Grace incorporates her sound teaching with charts, lists, sidebars, and spot-on graphics that make the most of the learner’s time in the text. With the expertise of a seasoned teacher, she opens up every passage with probing questions and just the right amount of investigation of parallel passages throughout the Bible to clarify Paul’s teaching.
Christians at every stage of life need the reminder that grace transforms, empowers, and imparts hope to the heart committed to looking for transformation in the right place. The study leaves learners with a clear understanding that our actions are the best measure of how thoroughly we have allowed God’s grace to lead the way in our dealings with others and in our personal holiness.
With the expertise of a seasoned teacher, @LydiaBrownback opens up every passage of Titus with probing questions and just the right amount of investigation of parallel passages to clarify Paul’s teaching. @crossway
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Holding You in the Light,
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This seven-day devotional plan affirms that perseverance is so much more than simply hanging on. Those who follow Jesus Christ are familiar with the dogged patience of waiting, because we have read the words of Scripture about eternal rewards for those who endure. So we persevere—sometimes just because God has commanded us to. When the newness wears off, when we don’t feel like it, when everything just feels too hard, we press on, and we press in to Christ. He is the prize.
As you know, I’m committed to the truth that women can become confident followers of God and students of his Word, and it’s my goal to help you along that path. At Living Our Days, I provide biblical content and resources to encourage biblical literacy and faithful living, and now I’m sharing devotional content on the YouVersion app. Visit my profile page to get free access to all the reading plans!
Disclosure: I am an Amazon Associate, which means that whenever you purchase a book I’ve shared here through the link I provide, I’ll receive a very small commission. It doesn’t cost you more, and I only share books here that I can wholeheartedly recommend.
Many thanks to Crossway for providing a copy of this book to facilitate my review, which is, of course, offered freely and with honesty.
Our ladies’ Bible study is going through her book on James. I’m thankful God’s grace isn’t just for salvation, but for our growth as well.
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I’m sure it’s wonderful! I used her Habakkuk study for a Sunday school class, and really liked her book on loneliness.
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‘I am not equipped to construct a moral life that makes me self-sufficient.’
This becomes more evident the older I get. Maybe we get more honest about ourselves? As ever, I am so grateful for His grace that visits me over and over again.
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I think we have become obsessed with the notion of being independent. That probably follows from our radical individualism that’s behind so much of our loneliness.
Dependence is hard to accept, but it’s a reality. Even the most ardent atheist is dependent upon God for her next breath.
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Thank you, Michelle.
I’m currently participating in a year-long Titus 2 program with my church. It’s been an amazing experience.
Eyes on Jesus and Shine,
Lisa
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That’s wonderful, Lisa. I can just imagine how formative a program based on TItus 2 must be!
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Thank you for sharing this. Life can be quite challenging, and it’s so important to find inspiration and wisdom.
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How glorious that “Christ transfers his perfect record of grace-soaked living and adherence to the truth to my account!” I shake my head in wonder. / Thank you for introducing me to Lydia Brownback–for future reference. We’re currently studying Daniel in our women’s Bible study at church, written by one of our members. (One-hundred sixty of us are participating!) In between semesters of these church-studies, I’m always looking for worthy materials to study on my own.
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You’ll appreciate Lyda’s scholarly and yet very accessible approach to studying the Bible.
I just ordered Nancy Guthrie’s Beholding Christ, an accompaniment to reading through the Bible. I’m wondering how it will compare with The Bible Recap…
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