Is this grace?
In the first few verses of Titus 3 we see that it talks about those that lived in malice and envy, did numerous evil things, hateful etc. These are things that Paul took note of in order to show in his letter to Titus, that even though these things were in the society of that time, and of course still are prevalent in our society, he goes on to explain that an event had occurred that made it possible to look at all men in meekness and gentleness and to speak evil of no man. It actually says to show this gentleness and meekness to all men.
The “us and them” mentality almost seems to delight in that some will get what they deserve for their evil works and it leans towards that some are even glad that some will end up in a burning hell forever. Is this not what we see and hear from most that see this as an “us and them” human race? What if I and all others got what we all deserved? Would we not all be in the terrible situation of going to a lost eternity?
In verse 4 of Titus 3 Paul makes it clear to Titus that “after the kindness and love of God appeared” that even these people mentioned in the previous verses were now ok. In verse 5 he says it clearly that “it is not by works of righteousness which we have done” but it is “according to His mercy”. Wait a minute, does not the “us and them” mentality say we have to do something in order for this to be ours? What about the prayer at the altar, the repenting Sunday after Sunday, the church attendance, the Bible reading, the hours in prayer? Don’t these things count towards us making and entrance into heaven when we pass from this life? Not if it by grace.
In verse 7 again Paul makes it clear how we enter in. Being justified by His grace we are now heirs. If it is by grace, and we have all been told that grace is God’s free unmerited favor, than how can we have to do anything to receive it? Is God’s grace not freely given? How can it be grace when we attach any work or involvement on our part? The grace of God gives us and everyone else, even the “them” of the human race, something none of us ever did nor could ever deserve. It is not something we can do anything or work for. It is free, it has already been done and it is finished.
His grace was shed on us abundantly and we were washed and regenerated by His blood which He shed on the cross. It was totally apart from our involvement then and it is still totally apart from any of our involvement now. The grace of God has nothing to do with whether you believe or don’t believe, work or don’t work, go to church or don’t go to church. It was and is a total work of Jesus Christ our Lord and it has been freely shed upon every human being. If it is not on the entire human race, then it can not be called grace. The church must find another word to use because the “us and them” mentality is not God’s grace. God’s grace was sufficient for the entire human race and if it wasn’t then it is not grace.
How can we call it grace if I have to believe it in order for it to be true? Is God not big and powerful enough that His grace could cover every person on earth apart from their involvement? Again, if He isn’t then it is time we find another word other than grace. His grace was sufficient to justify every human being. It is finished.
Well said my friend, thats about as clear as anyone can say it. I know that when you speak of the things that are required , whatever they are , that these things are not so wrong as such. Its what it seems to produce that causes the problem. When we end up with an us and them mind set then the only place it leads to is judgement. It also makes it difficult to love those folk that really need it the most. On top of that those that see themselves on the outside looking in don’t want anything to do with it at all, because of the self-righteousness and hypocrisy that they see. What has happened over the course of time has really created this us and them mentality and I don’t believe it has done much to enhance the wondrous grace of our Lord.
Anyway hope you continue to post from time to time, your friend, Randy.
Good to hear from you today. I will post as things come to mind. I am transferring a lot of my posts here to my other sire so that is taking time as well. I also have audio teachings by Mike on the other site.
Yes! You are so right! “My GRACE is sufficient in itself for you, for My POWER is perfected in YOUR WEAKNESS.” This was God’s response to Paul when he was pleading for the “thorn” to be removed. If Grace, as the “church” claims, is “unmerited favor,” then how can there be conditions for God’s LOVE? This is a confused message that defeats people, instead of drawing them to God!Christendom claims God is love. It claims that God is sovereign in all ways (Omniscient, Omnipotent and Omnipresent). “Having a form of Godliness, yet denying the POWER” 2nd Timothy, III. If God is sovereign, then all of His creation will be saved, not just a few who happened to get it at this time! Dogma, legalism and hell is of man, not God! God is LOVE!!!
Thanks for your insight!
Dave
Great points you raise in your comment. The church has done an excellent job of confusing the redemption/salvation issue which has brought nothing but bondage to the vast majority. God is love indeed.
Thanks for the comment Dave.
Great points on “grace”.
It is interesting that Paul and James refer to the believers as firstfruits.
The Hebrew writer refers to the church as the firstborn.
Peter refers to to the believers as a Priesthood.
John in Revelation calls them Priests.
Since when was a priest a priest for themselves only? This has no precedence in scripture.
None of the above terms refers to an inward only application but an outward function.
If only the firstfruits, only the priests, are recipients of grace, then why call them priests?
Why not see this contextually?
The especially saved functioning as “priests”, as “firstfruits”, labored and suffered reproach for the reason that God is the Savior of all men. They showed forth the comprehensive salvation of God.
1 Tim. 4:10 Young’s literal.
for for this we both labour and are reproached, because we hope on the living God, who is Saviour of all men — especially of those believing.
Just a thought.
Barry
Good to hear from you Barry. Good points you raise as well. Grace could not be grace if it didn’t include all. Thanks for reading and commenting.
Roy,
What is the address of your other site?
With religion, politics, skin colors, different languages, nations and nationalities, it will always be an external examination of “us vs them.” There’s no getting around it as long as we are in this tabernacle of flesh and bones.
But the color of blood doesn’t lie. For as long as mankind is alive, the color of all men will always be red, and when we all die it turns blue. In other words, we are all born through a hole and will die in a hole.
When it comes right down to it, we are all in the same boat. As humans we eat through a hole, breathe through a hole. Hear through a hole. See through a hole. Release through a hole and speck though a hole. So there is really no such thing as “us vs them.”
Life is just simply a hole. People of many believes, many lifestyles, many colors, different sizes, different langiages and different looks, but in the end we all end up in a hole. Life is nothing more than a “Hole.”
:) 
dead2sin
The address of my other site is this:
http://allincluded.multiply.com/ However, I post the same things there as I have posted here except for some audio by Mike Williams.
Oh boy, you’re going to get some comments on this one!
very impressive way to explain things.