Looking For That Blessed Hope

Q: What does the Bible say about grace and salvation?

The Bible teaches that salvation is by grace alone, through faith, as a gift from God, not based on our works. The grace of God that brings salvation is central to the Christian faith as revealed in Titus 2:11-14. Salvation is by grace through faith, meaning it is an unearned gift from God rather than something we earn through our actions. This grace is not merely a doctrine but a dynamic, transforming power that teaches and leads believers away from ungodliness and towards a life that reflects Christ. Ephesians 2:8-9 emphasizes this further, stating, 'For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast.' This underscores the sovereignty of God in the salvation of sinners, emphasizing that it is His grace that enables us to believe and live righteously.

Q: How do we know that God's promises are true?

God's promises are secured in His character and fulfilled in Christ, who is our assurance. The assurance of God's promises is rooted in the unchanging nature of God and fulfilled through Jesus Christ. In Hebrews 6:20, we see that our hope is anchored in Christ, who serves as our High Priest and forerunner, thus securing God's promises. When Paul writes in Titus 1:2-3 that God, who cannot lie, promised eternal life before the world began, it assures us of the reliability of His promises. This security in Christ is essential for believers as we navigate our faith, reminding us that our confidence is not in our own ability but in the faithfulness of God. Therefore, the truth of God's promises is linked to His character, which is steadfast and sovereign.

Q: Why is looking for the return of Christ important for Christians?

Looking for Christ's return instills hope and purifies the believer, directing them towards holiness. The anticipation of Christ’s return is a profound hope for Christians, emphasized in Titus 2:13 where it describes believers as 'looking for that blessed hope.' This expectation is not passive; it actively shapes how we live. As 1 John 3:3 states, 'Every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.' The hope of Christ's return compels believers to pursue holiness and righteousness, understanding that our lives here are temporary and must reflect our identity in Christ. Furthermore, it reassures us of God’s promises and serves as motivation to endure challenges, knowing that our ultimate redemption and transformation into Christ’s likeness awaits us.

Q: What is the role of grace in the Christian life?

Grace enables believers to live godly lives, empowers good works, and fosters a spirit of love and mercy. Grace is foundational to the Christian life as it not only saves but also transforms. In Titus 2:12, we learn that grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts while encouraging us to live soberly and righteously. This means that grace is an active force in the believer's life, prompting a change in behavior and mindset. Additionally, the believer's understanding of grace fosters an attitude of love and mercy toward others, as seen in the parable of the unmerciful servant. When we've been forgiven much, we are compelled to forgive others. Thus, grace is the means by which we live out our faith in practical ways, demonstrating the character of Christ to the world around us.

Book of Titus. And let's begin reading in chapter 2. My text will include chapter 1 also, some things from it to help answer the questions that I'm going to ask. But let's read chapter 2. But speak thou the things which become sound doctrine. What accompanies We preach salvation by grace. We preach salvation by the purpose, mercy, and love of God. What accompanies that doctrine?

Well, here it is. He said, let the aged men be sober. He's not talking about not drinking alcohol here. He's talking about being aware of what's going on. Alert. Let the aged men be sober, temperate, sound in faith. And what? Charity. As active love is what charity is. It's love exercised and in patience. We're going to be patient.

And the aged women, likewise, that they be in behavior as becometh holiness, not false accusers, not given to much wine, teachers of good things, that they may teach the young women to be sober, to love their husbands and to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God be not blasphemed. Young men likewise exhort to be sober-minded, in all things showing thyself a pattern of good works, in doctrine showing uncorruptness, gravity, and sincerity, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that he that is of the contrary part might be ashamed, having no evil thing to say of you." That's hard, isn't it? a passage the other day, and Paul said, don't let them despise you. Don't let them despise you.

Well, people are going to despise you if they want to. So what's he talking about? He's saying don't give them a reason. That's what he's saying. Don't give men a reason to despise you. And that's why we're to walk this way. exhort servants to be obedient to their own masters, and to please them well in all things, not answering again, not purloining, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. For the grace of God, here's my text, the grace of God that bringeth salvation has appeared to all men, showing us that denying ungodliness and worldly lust, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our 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. These things speak and exhort and rebuke with all authority.

That's what he's telling this young man Titus. He's leaving him here to set things in order. And he said, now these things, you do this with all authority. Whose authority? God's. God's. Or maybe they won't see it that way. Do it anyway. Do it anyway. And let no man despise thee. Don't give him a reason. If they're going to accuse you, let them do it falsely. Don't give them a reason.

I invite you to turn back with me to Paul's epistle to Titus. Titus was a Greek convert who was born again under the personal ministry of the Apostle Paul. He calls him his blessed son. in the faith, his son. He was a man not only saved by the grace and mercy of God, but set apart, gifted, and called of God to preach the gospel. In various places, Paul called him his brother, his partner, his fellow helper, and his beloved son, his companion, and he ministered with Paul. sometimes on his own, at various times and in various places. And in chapter 1, verse 5, the apostle tells us that he left Titus in Crete to set in order things that are wanting.

There's always something wanting in the local church, always. There is no church without problems. There is no church without division. There is no such thing. Brother Mahan said to me one time, he said, If you're looking for a perfect church and you find it, when you join it, it won't be perfect anymore. He said, you're going to set things in order that's wanting. There's always something wanting. Well, who's going to put it in order?

Whoever God separates to do it. In this case, it was Titus. He's there to establish order in the churches and appoint elders, because that's God's way. Not to leave congregations to work things out by what seems to them to be the best way. Our God is a God of means and a God of order. And I'm going to tell you something. You better obey both. fall under His means and under His ways, otherwise you're not going to walk with God.

It's just so. Our God is a God of means and a God of order. His authority is delegated in such a way that it's universal. It's universal. And He controls, adjudicates, settles earthly matters, whether civil or spiritual. Let me read you something over here that maybe you're not familiar with over in Romans chapter 13. Turn over there with me. Romans chapter 13. I'm talking about God's authority. God's authority.

Romans 13.1, let every soul.

Who's that talking to? Every soul? I don't care if he's a king or if he's a servant. Every soul. Be subject unto the higher powers. On what basis? For there is no power, no authority but God. Is that true? Well, let me put it this way. There's no power higher than God. We're complete in Christ, who is the head of all principality and power. Isn't that what it says? The powers that be are of God, he says.

Does that mean everything they do is good and righteous and holy, and we're to follow them blindly? No, sir. No, sir, it don't. But in general, they are a restraint to keep men from being as evil as they might be. What would this country be without any law? And believers follow civil law in civil affairs, but they do not obey those things when they run contrary to spiritual matters. If civil authority tells us we're forbidden to preach the gospel or worship our God, we're not to blindly follow. Other than that, we're to recognize the whole of government law enforcement, military, armies, even parental authority as the ordinance of God. God put it in place on purpose, and it has a purpose. And here's why.

Romans 13.3, for rulers, this is how we're to look at these things.

Rulers are not a carer to good works, but to evil works. Will thou not be afraid of the power? Do that which is good, and you'll have praise in the same. For he's a minister of God to thee for good. But if you do evil, be afraid. Why? For he's a minister of God and a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. He's a revenger of God. God's appointed him. He's God's minister of wrath to lawbreakers. And we're to comply for conscience's sake, and we're to pay our taxes without quibbling about it, because it's God's ministry.

Well, what about when law goes south of the border? When law is corrupted, demands things contrary to God, like same-sex marriages. We're just to blindly follow them and say it's OK? No. You know there are states in this union where prostitution is legal? Would you follow that? Abide by that? No. Well, what do we do?

We do what we know is right, and then we suffer for it wrongfully, and we turn it over to the Lord, who's the righteous judge. It's His law. The power behind it is His power. Leave it in His hands. He'll settle the matter. We're not ever to take things into our own hands. It's in God's hands. There is no power but that of God. And our God can intervene even in the minds and hearts of men.

That ought to make a hair stand up on your neck. He can send you strong delusion. That's what he did over the Second Testimonies. He sent those, they received not the love of the truth that they might be saved, And for this cause, God sent them strong delusions. He allowed them to believe what they were hearing. He just left them alone. He took away his hand and just left them to themselves. What about believers, professors of faith? who just go on doing whatever they want to do. What about them?

Ephesians 5 verse 6, let no man deceive you with vain words because of these things. People doing what they want to do. Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Now listen to me, this is not talking about some distant judgment way out there. There is a final judgment coming, but that's not what this is talking about. This is talking about right here and right now.

John 3.36, it says, he that believeth not the Son shall not see life. He's not going to see. But the wrath of God abideth on him. It abideth on him. He's heard the truth. He shoved it aside for whatever reason. He's not going to see the truth. The wrath of God abideth on him.

You know, Judas was an apostle. Maybe this is an unusual example, but I want you to hear what I'm saying. He was an apostle. He had the same gifts that the other apostles had. He could raise the dead. He could cleanse lepers. He could do all these things, and did do it. He obtained, our Lord said, part of this ministry, Judas.

But what happened to Judas? He didn't really receive these things. He didn't benefit from these things. And it would have been better for him if he'd never been born. The Lord turned him over to himself. He denied Christ. He sold him out for 30 pieces of silver.

Where did God find his saints? He finds them practicing sin. That's where he finds them. Practicing sin. Loving sin. Deceived and loving darkness rather than light. Ephesians 2, 3, and were by nature children of wrath even as others. That's where he finds you. Firebrands plucked out of the fire, vessels of wrath, a fore prepared unto glory, chosen of God in Christ and precious. And I'm going to tell you this, one more thing.

Grace will never be used to justify your ungodliness. If you don't hear anything else I say this morning, Grace is in harmony with God's justice and righteousness just as much as anything else in His character. Grace will never justify your ungodliness. Know ye not, Paul said, that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Don't be deceived. Neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetousness, nor extortioners shall inherit the kingdom of God."

But listen to what he says next. Sucks for some of you. Sucks for some of you. But you're washed. How? Inside and out. You're sanctified. How? Inside and out. But you're justified. You have a perfect standing. You're justified by the death of Christ and you're justified by the Spirit of God. He applies that blood to your heart and shows you your justification in Christ and that you have a perfect standing with Christ before God.

Now here's my text. For the grace of God. That's how God saves sinners, by his grace. The grace of God that brings salvation. It brings the truth. It intervenes in the life. It changes men. It gives men hope. The grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men. Christ didn't do this thing in a corner. I've never met anybody that didn't know who Jesus Christ was. Never did. They've all heard of him and know that he was crucified on the cross. You can't find anybody ignorant of that. Everybody knows that. It's appeared before all men, but especially unto them that have heard it and understand it and received it and rejoice in it. And it teaches us, God's adopted sons and daughters, God's elect, God's covenant people, men of faith.

By grace are you saved through faith. God's grace is saving grace. It's teaching grace. It's revealing grace. It's irresistible grace. It's effectual grace. It's transforming grace. Grace is not just a doctrine. Grace is a reigning force. You can read about it over in Romans chapter 5 at the very last. Grace reigns through righteousness. What does it do? It reigns. It rules.

We preach sovereign grace because it's the grace of our sovereign God. His spirit is called the spirit of grace. His gospel is called the gospel of the grace of God. By grace are you saved through faith, and that not of yourselves, it's the gift of God. And Paul said, it's a faith that it might be by grace that the promise might be sure to all to see. Grace, salvation by grace.

Now what's that mean? That means God saved you in spite of yourself. That's what that means. You had nothing to offer. You had nothing for God to look at. Unprofitable. Totally. Under sin. None righteous. None good. None that understand it. You didn't have anything. Oh, I had an interest in it. If you did, he gave it to you. You didn't have it. And you weren't born with it. Oh, it's grace. It's grace. It's grace. What's that mean? That means when God saves me by His grace, I become gracious. Huh? Doesn't it? How can you know the grace of God?

You go up before the judge and he says, you're pardoned. What about all these things I owe? They've been paid for. They've been paid for. You're totally justified. There's nothing else that you owe this court. All right? So you walk out the door, and here's a fellow that owes you $0.50. You're going to grab him by the collar and say, you better pay up, sucker. Huh? You're fixing to get the beating of your life if you don't give me that $0.50. Huh?

The Lord said, you better not do that. He's going to call you back to the judge, and the judge is going to say, forget that pardon. I'm going to put you in prison, and you ain't going nowhere until you pay the uttermost fine. What's that mean? That means hell, where you never pay what's owed.

Exactly what that's talking about. It's talking about Christians who are saved by grace are gracious. They're saved by mercy, you're merciful. If you're saved by love, you love. It's an impossibility. I'm telling you, absolute impossibility to be saved and hate your brother. I didn't say that. God did. And I'm not afraid to say what he says. Huh? He that loveth not, now listen, knoweth not God. Isn't that what that says?

All right, now let me give you a few things here. I want us to see a little bit about the author of the promise. Then I want us to see what the promise is. What is it that God has promised? I want us to see the assurance of the promise. I want you to see how that promise is manifested to sinners. God never appeared to me. I've never heard God's voice, except in a preacher. So how do I know He promised me anything? The promise is manifested. And then I want to show you the effect of the promise on those who lay hold of it. So let's begin with the author of the promise.

Paul plainly states that our hope is that which God promised before the world began. Now, it's an amazing characteristic to me of the word of God that it records eternal matters. It's the only book on earth that records eternal matters. The promise of God was given and substantiated before the world was.

Now, if a promise is given, there has to be somebody to receive it. Well, who was there before the world was? The Lord Jesus Christ. To whom is the promise? This promise was given to him. Given to him. Why? So he could give eternal life to as many as thou has chosen in him, many as God his Father gave to him." He's going to give this promise.

Son of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, in the covenant head, he's the mediator between God and men. He's the head of the body of the church who is the beginning. He is the daysman that Job talked about. Has to be a daysman, he said. A go-between, an intermediary, a mediator or a reconciler. God has to be reconciled.

A federal head, someone to represent us before God, and this is the record that God has given to us, eternal life, and this life's in its own. John the Baptist said, he whom God has sent speaketh the words of God. What he has seen and heard, that he testifies. The only one knows who this promise is given to is the Lord Jesus Christ, because it was given to him. But he knows them. Isn't that what he said? I know my sheep. And I'm known of them. I'm going to see to it that they know me.

And he that hath received his testimony hath set to seal that God is true. So the author of the promise is God. And then secondly, consider the promise itself. What exactly does Holy Scripture say is promised? Prosperity? No. Health? No. Length of days? No. Eternal life. Now what's that mean? How long it lasts? I'm going to live forever? Well, those who are given eternal life will live forever. That's a fact. But that's not what eternal life is. Eternal life is divine life. It's the quality of it that he's talking about, not the length of it. It's eternal life.

It is to know God. And that word know is used in the scripture in a very intimate sense. Talking about the husband knowing his wife, embracing her and becoming one with her. To know. That's what it is to know God. We not only know who He is, but we enter into it, don't we? We enter into it. We lay hold of it. It becomes a part of us. It's to see the glory of who He is And to be like him, to be made one with him, that word means that intimate embrace. We know him intimately. And indeed, the church is called the bride of Christ, is it not? Eternal life is what Paul says we're predestinated to, the image of his son. In 1 John chapter 3, the apostle writes, Beloved, now are we the sons of God, and it doth not yet appear what we shall be.

You can't look at me in this world and say, well, here's what he's going to be. No. No, you'll come away with the wrong idea every time. Well, I just don't want folks, I want folks to see Christ in me. They didn't see Christ in Christ. It does not yet appear what we shall be.

But I know this, when He shall appear, when Christ shall appear, we're going to be like Him. We're going to see Him as He is. Our life is not just breathing and walking and what men call living out their days. Life is who we are. how we think, how we act, how we impact those around us. That's eternal life. When John penned these words, we shall be like him, for we shall see him as he is. Here's what he says next, 1 John 3, verse 3.

And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure. How am I pure? I'm purer than Christ. Well, how do I purify myself? I take away everything that's not that. I get rid of it. This is not Christ-like. Get rid of it. Get rid of it.

We don't do these things to be accepted of God, but because of what we see. And it surpasses anything we ever saw in this world. And holiness has to do with the whole character of God, the eternal harmony of his character. That's holiness. And he said, be ye holy, for I am holy.

There's only one way for us to be holy, and that's in Christ. Now you can wear whatever length dress you want to, but it's not going to make you holy. I'm going to make you holy. You can wear your hair any way you want to, but it ain't going to make you holy. Holiness is in Christ. It's in Christ. And what makes us live a holy life is that desire to be like Him. Be ye holy, for I am holy.

And that's the heart of the believer. That's the prize. That's the goal. That's what I want. That's the promise. All right, what's the assurance of the promise? The assurance of the promise is Jesus Christ. Folks talk about chosen sinners, Paul does, these chosen sinners fleeing for the refuge to lay hold on the hope set before them. A hope made sure by the word of God and God's oath and secured in heaven, Hebrews 6 verse 20, whether the forerunner has gone for us. That's assurance. Assurance is in a person, the Lord Jesus Christ. And he tells us whether the four runners for us entered, even Jesus made a high priest after the order of Melchizedek. Who's he?

Hebrews 7.1 says that he's the king of Salem, the king of peace. He's the priest of the most high God. And he's a priest, it says in verse 3, without father, without mother, without descent. having neither beginning of days nor end of life, but made like unto the Son of God, and abides a priest continually, that is, forever."

What makes you think you're going to be saved? I'll tell you what. I have a priest that never changes and never dies. Never dies. He ever liveth to make intercession for his And this man, because he continueth ever, hath an unchangeable priesthood, verse 25 in Hebrews 7, wherefore he's able to save them to the uttermost to come unto God by him. Here's your assurance of Christ. Those Thessalonians, they weren't any different than you and I. They had their fears. They had their doubts. But Paul said they had strong assurance. How'd they have that?

Confidence in Christ. And John says, the record in heaven, the testimony of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Ghost, I've got the testimony of all three. I have the witness of the Spirit, I have the witness of the water, and I have the witness of the blood. And I have the witness of every man called of God. And what are they witnessing?

This life is in His Son. He that hath the Son hath life. He that hath not the Son of God, whatever else he has, he don't have life. He's the head of the body of the church, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things he might have the preeminence. Pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. Somebody told me one time, said, you're trying to elevate Christ above the Godhead. No, I'm not. Pleased the Father that in him should all fullness dwell. I'm not trying to elevate anybody anywhere. You don't have to elevate Christ.

He's as high as he's ever going to get. He's seated at the right hand of God. And eternal life was given, secured, accomplished, and enthroned in glory. We have a living hope, Peter says. That's my hope. It's in this person, and he's seated at the right hand of God already accepted. And I cannot imagine an assurance higher than that.

Can you? Fourthly, let's talk a little bit about the manifestation of the promise. How does God personalize this promise? How does God make known the promise to his elect? Look over here in Titus chapter 1. Paul said God promised this. God who cannot lie promised this before the world began. Verse 3, but hath in due times manifested his word, this word of promise, through preaching. And it's committed unto me according to the commandment of God our Savior. Let me just give you one verse on this because I've taught this so clearly it ought to be in your mind and heart by now.

But over in 2 Thessalonians 2.13, Paul looked at these people and he said, but we are bound to give thanks always to God for you, brethren, beloved of the Lord, because God hath from the beginning chosen you to salvation through sanctification of the spirit and belief of the truth. These always coincide one another, the preaching of the gospel and the work of the spirit. Whereunto, or for this very reason, he called you by our gospel to the obtaining, that is, of the benefits of the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ. And very quickly, let me ask and give you the answer concerning the effect that these things have on all who believe. It teaches us to deny ungodliness. What's that mean? Anything contrary to who God is. Huh? What else?

Worldly lusts. Love not the world, John said. Don't do that. Don't do that. This world has things to offer that'll just make you pant after it. I used to get on there, I forget the name of the site now, but it was vacation spots. Boy, you look at them things, I'm telling you, I don't know what else a person could want to go. But that's the way everything is with this world. And he said, deny those things. Deny them. Don't chase after them. Don't chase after things in this world.

This world is going to end real soon. If it don't end real soon, as far as you're concerned, it will. But we ain't going to live but just a short time, and then we're gone. And believe me, it's a short time. And the older you get, the faster it goes.

He said, deny ungodliness, worldly lust, and to live soberly, realizing how What's really going on? What's really going on? And to live righteously. I live righteously in Christ. He's my righteousness. He's my righteousness. And godly in harmony with God in this present world. And I'm to live this way, looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of our great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ.

Now this is not telling me to go sit on my front porch and look in the eastern sky and stay there all day looking. That's not what this looking is. This is looking. He said, look unto me, all ye ends of the world, and be ye saved. That's the kind of looking he's talking about. He's talking about seeing with an expectation, having a foundation for hope, looking. Do I expect his return? I do. Why? Because God said he would. Huh? That's reason enough, ain't it?

God said he's going to burn Sodom and Gomorrah to ashes. What did God do? He burned it to ashes. God said don't look back. What happened when they did? Turned them into a pillar of salt. God was going to do what he said he was going to do. God said the Lord Jesus Christ is coming back and unto them that look for him shall he appear the second time without sin. That is, he's not appearing as a sacrifice for sin. Without sin, unto salvation. What's that mean? That means absolute, total perfection. We're going to be exactly like him. Christ appeared on the Mount of Transfiguration, even his clothes were white and glistening. But you look up there and you see Moses. And Elijah, how did their clothes do? They were white and wispy.

They were just like him. Just like him. That's our hope. And he's coming back. And when he does, that's the ultimate end of salvation. We're going to be just like him. Just like him. I tell you, that's my hope. I don't have another hope. And I know people want to. Push this thing of examining yourselves and all this. That examination that he gives us in the scriptures to see if we'd be in the faith. Do I really trust Christ? Is this my hope, what I told you this morning? If it ain't, you don't have hope. There's only hope there is. And it was promised by God, who can't lie. Secured in Christ, who already accomplished it, and secured under his reigning power and glory. It's a good hope through grace, isn't it? Oh, may the Lord teach us something about walking as his disciples.

Looking For That Blessed Hope

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about grace and salvation?

How do we know that God's promises are true?

Why is looking for the return of Christ important for Christians?

What is the role of grace in the Christian life?

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Looking For That Blessed Hope

Key Quotes

What does the Bible say about grace and salvation?

How do we know that God's promises are true?

Why is looking for the return of Christ important for Christians?

What is the role of grace in the Christian life?

Sermon Transcript

About Darvin Pruitt

Comments

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