Titus 2:11: “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,”

July 19th, 2022 by Pastor Ed in devotional

It is the grace of God that brings salvation, meaning it is never a person’s good works that bring salvation. It is not performance based. It is not obtained by giving money to charity or the church or even going to church. We can’t work our way into heaven by keeping laws, rules, and regulations. The law is powerless to save us. Its function is only to point out our failure to meet the standard of perfection that God has set.

The Apostle Paul told the Galatians, “I do not set aside the grace of God; for if righteousness comes through the law, then Christ died in vain” (Gal. 2:21). Paul is saying that if it were possible to be saved by the law, doing good works, then Jesus’ death on the cross was unnecessary. So then how are we saved? We don’t go out and get it, it comes to us, and we have the opportunity to receive it: “the grace of God that brings salvation” (italics added). Therefore we must stop trying to deserve salvation, and start simply receiving it.

When might that grace that brings salvation come? The story about Paul Tournier, a world famous Swiss physician and a dedicated Christian author of many insightful books, illustrates that it could come at any time and stage of our lives. After Tournier had written his first book, he returned to his medical school to visit his favorite aged professor. Granted an afternoon of the respected man’s time, Tournier choose to read his new book to his teacher since the professor’s eyesight was failing. As he finished reading, he looked up to find tears in the old man’s eyes. “Oh, Paul,” said the professor, “that’s a wonderful book. Everyone of us Christians should read that.” Tournier was surprised. “I didn’t know you were a Christian, professor. When did you become one?” “Just now, as you read your book to me,” his old teacher replied.

“LORD, please use us as vessels in Your hands to bring Your grace to someone this day.”