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Grace in justification, Grace in sanctification

Titus 1 v4- To Titus, my true son in our common faith:  Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.

Titus the Gentile, is part of the family of God! Paul called him “my true son in our common (shared) faith.”  They both have faith in Christ “our” Savior. They are part of the one family under God the Father.

Tonight at Bible Study we thought about the term "grace." The term summarizes the saving work of God through Jesus Christ (Rom 3.24; 5.15; Eph. 2.8; 2 Thess. 2.16).However, the term also summarizes the continuous divine action by which God enables his people to do his will (Acts 15.40; 2 Cor. 8.1, 7; Gal. 2.9).

Our Statement of Faith summarizes this doctrine well.

V. God's Purpose of Grace
Election is the gracious purpose of God, according to which He regenerates, justifies, sanctifies, and glorifies sinners. It is consistent with the free agency of man, and comprehends all the means in connection with the end. It is the glorious display of God's sovereign goodness, and is infinitely wise, holy, and unchangeable. It excludes boasting and promotes humility.

All true believers endure to the end. Those whom God has accepted in Christ, and sanctified by His Spirit, will never fall away from the state of grace, but shall persevere to the end. Believers may fall into sin through neglect and temptation, whereby they grieve the Spirit, impair their graces and comforts, and bring reproach on the cause of Christ and temporal judgments on themselves; yet they shall be kept by the power of God through faith unto salvation.(From the Baptist Faith and Message) 



Here is the thing. We need God's grace (divine aid) to believe and His grace (divine aid) to persevere.

Praise God He gives this grace it to His chosen people. We can be encouraged by God's electing and sustaining grace! 

Questions: 
Are you growing in the grace of a closer walk with God? 

Are you growing in the grace of a more victorious walk against sin? 

Are you growing in your love of God?

Are you growing in your affection for Christ?

Prayer:
Ask God to remind you how He has shown unmerited favor.

Ask God to help you obey, love, and trust Him more. 




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