Sola Gratia: The Cost of Grace
The Cost of Grace audio
The Cost of Grace
Titus 2:11-15 (p. 1859) October 15, 2017
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men.
It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness . . .
and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
Titus 2:11-12
Intro: 1) why are the “sola’s” still important? Answer: 1620 and 1857
–> reformata reformanda est
2) Titus began as a “case study” for Paul (Galatians 2:1-3),
now he pastors the notorious Cretans
The context of costly grace
Teach the older men . . . . Likewise, teach the older women . . . .
Then they can teach the younger women . . . .
Similarly, encourage the younger men . . . . Teach slaves . . . .
These, then are the things you should teach.
Titus 2:1-15 (p. 1858)
“Cheap grace is the grace we bestow on ourselves. Cheap grace is the preaching of forgiveness without requiring repentance, baptism without church discipline, Communion without confession…Cheap grace is grace without discipleship, grace without the cross, grace without Jesus Christ, living and incarnate.”
Dietrich Bonhoeffer, Cost of Discipleship
- This is a SALVATION-BRINGING grace
key?: Why is there not more “grace” in the gospels - This is a SANCTIFYING grace
[Bonhoeffer: It’s grace because it calls us to follow Jesus!]
Grace is the story of God’s initiative
So too, at the present time there is a remnant chosen by grace.
And if by grace, then it is no longer by works; if it were, grace would no longer be grace.
Romans 11:5-6 (p. 1891) See Canons of Dort (III, 3 & 13)
- I AM the remnant, chosen by grace –> Canons, III, 3: “neither willing nor able”
- Grace tells MY STORY (NOT someone else’s story!) –> Luther, Bondage of the Will
- Grace drives me to THANKSGIVING / GRATITUDE
Living by grace in an age of performance
But when the kindness and love of God our savior appeared, he saved us,
not because of the righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.
He saved us . . . so that, having been justified by grace,
we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.
Titus 3:5-7 (p. 1859) à connect to the “so that” in HC, Lord’s Day 32
- Grace is how I AM ASSURED
–> fruit (see “so that” #3) always comes SECOND to God’s promises! - Grace changes how I think about ME AND GOD
(the “self-controlled” and “godly” from 2:12) - Grace has no room for FOOLISHNESS –> Titus 3:3-9
- Grace changes how I think about YOU
–> this is why forgiveness is the “great exception”
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 32
Q 86. Since we have been delivered from our misery by grace through Christ without any merit of our own, why then should we do good works
A. Because Christ, having redeemed us by his blood, is also restoring us by his Spirit into his image,
so that with our whole lives we may show that we are thankful to God for his benefits,1
so that he may be praised through us,2
so that we may be assured of our faith by its fruits,
and so that by our godly living our neighbors may be won over to Christ.4
1 Rom. 6:13; 12:1-2; 1 Pet. 2:5-10 2 Matt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 6:19-20
3 Matt. 7:17-18; Gal. 5:22-24; 2 Pet. 1:10-11
4 Matt. 5:14-16; Rom. 14:17-19; 1 Pet. 2:12; 3:1-2
More resources for studying sola gratia
John Calvin’s essay “Grace Alone” at https://www.monergism.com/thethreshold/sdg/pdf/
calvin_varsermon02.pdf
Michael Horton’s essay “Are We Justified By Faith Alone?” at https://www.monergism.com/are-we-justified-faith-alone
Calvin Theological Seminary’s Forum (Spring 2017), “500 Years of the Reformation”.
Canons of Dort (III.3), “Therefore all men are conceived in sin . . . and without the grace of the regenerating Holy Spirit they are neither willing nor able to return to God.” (see also Article 13)
Ligonier Ministries’ “Grace Alone” devotion at http://www.ligonier.org/learn/devotionals/grace-alone/
Heidelberg Catechism, Lord’s Day 32, at https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/confessions/heidelberg-catechism