Grace on Fire!

An old lady was standing in the check-out line ready to pay for her merchandise: a pint of milk and a loaf of bread. 

She opened her purse. 

No money was there; neither was her checkbook. 

When she was just ready to ask the girl to put her things away, suddenly a gentle voice said, “It looks like it is your lunch, lady.” 

A gentleman was standing right behind her, smiling. 

Don’t worry,” he continued, “today I want to treat you.  Take your things with you.” 

Then, the man paid for her and his own merchandise. 

A week passed by, and the old lady came back to the store. 

The girl who knew the incident recognized her. 

She approached the old lady and whispered, “Ma’am, maybe you’d be interested to know – that gentleman’s check – it bounced!” 

Christ paid the price in full for us, through His own blood. 

We see a three-fold purpose of the grace of Christ in giving Himself for us in Titus 2:14:

“Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.” 

His first purpose is to set us free from our bondage to sin.

This is seen in the phrase: “that He might redeem us from every lawless deed.”

The word, redeem means, “to set free by paying the price.” 

By His grace we are set us free from our bondage to sin and our old master, Satan.

We never have to worry about His payment “bouncing”!

Second, He also gave Himself for us to set us apart as holy unto Himself.

This is seen in the phrase: “and purify for Himself a people for His own possession.”

Christ cleansed us from our sins so we could be set apart to Him. 

The phrase, “His own possession” means “reserved for” and it was used especially for the part of the spoils of a battle that the kings set apart for themselves. 

Through the work of Christ on the cross, the believer has become the special possession of Christ. 

The phrase means special treasure or personal costly possession.

We belong to Christ in a special way and we are His costly possession and treasure because of the price He paid for us.

Before we were possessed and enslaved by sin, now we are possessed and enslaved to Christ. 

We belong to Him forever and not to the world or to ourselves. 

Third, He also gives Himself for us to set us on fire.

This is seen in the phrase: “zealous for good deeds.”

The idea is to be full of burning zeal and enthusiasm about letting Christ live through us for the good of others. 

Christ has set us free and we are His special possession, now let’s ignite the fire of grace for Him!

Blessings!

Pastor Ken Keeler, Director of Church Ministries