International Gospel Hour

J. Webb: I am so thankful for the grace of God that brought salvation to mankind and through his grace we can choose the best direction. So let's pursue it today. That's just ahead from the International Gospel Hour.

Hi, this is J. Webb for International Gospel Hour. Welcome to our broadcast today. For over 90 years, Churches of Christ have proclaimed God's word through our broadcasts. Just ahead is another Bible-based lesson with Jeff Archey of International Gospel Hour. Let's begin.

Jeff Archey: Well thank you to our J. Webb and greetings everyone. I'm honored that you've joined us today for our studies here from the International Gospel Hour. For about the next 13 or so minutes, we hope that this study will be profitable to you as we talk about the grace of God. You know, that's a beautiful thought, is it not? And I want to begin with one of my favorite texts, Titus 2:11 through 14.

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and godly in the present age. Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for himself his own special people, zealous for good works.

I love this text and through God's grace, let's look at the best direction his grace provides us. For example, when we see the grace of God that brings salvation, it instructs us by teaching, one, to deny wrong teaching and wrong living. Number two, how to live better now. Number three, how to look and to long for Jesus Christ. Four, how to live redeemed in Christ. And fifth, how to serve with a godly zeal. And we know that godly zeal must reflect in the knowledge of God, Romans 10:1 and 2.

Now when you look at all of these things listed, they are through the grace of God which teaches us the best direction. So we're going to think about this a little further on our broadcast today, but before we do that, let me pause for around 30 seconds with a few words from our J. Webb, a little more information about us here at International Gospel Hour.

J. Webb: The best way to reach us is our toll-free number at 855-444-6988. Would you take a moment and give us a call and tell us where you are listening to our broadcast? Our number is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Just call 855-444-6988. That's 855-444-6988. Thank you so much and keep listening.

Jeff Archey: Friends, salvation begins the best direction. Notice, the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It also instructs us. Then it tells us how to deny and how to live. Now friends, let's ask a question. What if somebody says, I don't want to deny that living, I want to live the way that I want to? Then absolutely they are refusing the grace of God. You see, Ephesians 2:8 and 9, he reminded the church, by grace are you saved through faith and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God. It is not of works lest any man should boast.

But he goes on to say to the Christian, we are the workmanship in Christ Jesus created unto good works. We know from James chapter two that works reflect an individual's faith. And let's think about this. Now through faith, we understand that we must have faith in God, it is impossible to please him, Hebrews 11:6. And it also says in that verse, he that comes to God. So you see, faith moves me to God. And then I read like Romans 2 and verse 4 where the goodness of God, his grace, leads us to repentance.

How the grace of God allows us to make the good confession, Matthew 16:16 and Philippians 2:11. Have you ever considered how the grace of God teaches us to be baptized? Yes friends, baptism is essential for one's salvation. We know that from Romans 6:3 through 6 and Mark 16:16 and Acts 2 and verse 38 and a number of other texts. And in First Corinthians 15:1 through 4, Paul reminds us of that gospel, the death, the burial, and the resurrection of Jesus Christ which is the beautiful parallel when one is dead in sin, is buried and then raised to walk in newness of life, again Romans 6:3 through 6.

You see what all the grace of God is teaching us? It also teaches us to remain faithful unto death, Revelation 2 and verse 10. The grace of God also gives us a place wherein one will stand, First Peter 5 and verse 12. You see, when we talk about the best direction as God's grace instructs us, salvation begins the best direction. One needs to be obedient to the gospel and that's where it all begins.

Now number two, this point is going to sound a little strange, but bear with me. Sin will continue one in the best direction. You see, one continues by denying sin. One's salvation in Christ we just mentioned has turned people from their sins. Acts 2 and verse 38, they were pricked in their hearts, what shall we do? Repent and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of your sins and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.

Later in Acts 3 and verse 19, repent ye therefore and be converted so your sins may be blotted out when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord. You see, we are to deny ungodliness. Now that we are obedient, we have a reverence toward God. Before, we had no reverence toward God. We were ungodly, there was no obedience. You see how far we've moved? We deny the worldly lust, the desire for what is forbidden, but God shows us what is allowed.

And going in the best direction moves us further from sin. Sin that causes one to fall short, Romans 3:23. Sin that results in the wages of death, Romans 6:23. Sin that separates one from God that he will not hear them, Isaiah 59:2. And don't forget it is the sin that one lays aside in running the race of life, Hebrews 12:1 and 2. So you see, salvation begins the best direction, but sin continues one in the best direction. We're denying that, we don't want a part of that. And the more we move further from it as we are in Christ Jesus, the stronger we become.

And that brings us to number three, serving God keeps one going in the best direction. Back to our lesson text of Titus 2:11 through 14, to live soberly, righteously and godly. Soberly is to live with a sound mind. And it clearly indicates the ability to discern between right and wrong as the Lord through Ezekiel pled for Israel in Ezekiel 44:23. They shall teach my people the difference between the holy and the profane and cause them to discern between the unclean and the clean. Not only do we learn it, but we discern it.

In Second Timothy 1 and verse 7, how we are taught to embrace that power that's within the gospel of Christ. To write, to be righteously, or to be agreeably to right, that we now live righteously. You see, as servants of the Lord, Romans 6:17 and 18, we follow him. But God be thanked that you were the servants of sin, but you have obeyed from the heart that form of doctrine delivered you, being then made free from sin you became the servants of righteousness.

Do you see how that worked for the church at Rome? And we mentioned Romans 6:3 through 6 a while ago, when they were raised to walk in newness of life, the salvation. They had buried that old man, so sin continued them in the best direction, they moved away from it and they're serving God righteously. You know, the Lord's precepts rather are his word is always right, Psalm 119 verse 128. And we want to follow and grow in our righteousness.

When we think about being soberly, righteously and godly, there's that reverent and religious attitude. You see, that is a total opposite of ungodliness. Second Timothy 3 and verse 12 speaks about living godly. So friends, yes, the grace of God makes it very clear, here's the best direction to follow. Salvation that is in Christ and how sin continues that in the best direction, you don't want a part of that. And the more you serve God, the more we move further from sin. We deny, but yet we know how to live. The best direction all through the grace of God, friends.

Now what I want to do at this point is throughout our broadcast, I, and if you've listened to us on a regular basis, I like to share study material with you that you gain from our broadcast, but in between broadcasts, you may want to pursue some private study to seek those things of maybe some things we've talked about. And we've offered for a long while a free Bible study course by mail. That is always available folks, and our J. Webb is going to tell you how you can receive that mail.

We received a call from a dear lady that listened to our broadcast. She said, I've listened for some time but I've never asked for it but I want to ask for it now. Maybe you're along the same lines as that dear lady. Why don't you request it, give it a try and see what you think? It's absolutely free with no obligation. Here is our J. Webb of how you can receive your free Bible study course by mail.

J. Webb: Our longtime free Bible study course by mail is always available. Have you tried it yet? Just call us toll-free at 855-444-6988 and leave your name, address and just say Home Study. That's it. You may also go to our website at internationalgospelhour.com, click on the contact tab and leave us the same information: name, address, and type Home Study in the message box. Study the Bible at your own pace. Again, it is free from your friends here at International Gospel Hour.

Jeff Archey: Friends, how grateful we are that we can study about the grace of God. How indeed it brings salvation, it's appeared to all men, and it instructs man what man needs to do. We hope that our studies will prompt you to search the scriptures as those in Acts 17, 10 and 11. Those in Berea were more noble than those in Thessalonica. They were more fair-minded. They received the word with the readiness of mind, but they searched the scriptures daily whether those things would be so.

Maybe our Bible study course will help you search daily. And friends, anyway we can be of help to you, please let us know. We'll continue our studies together at another time, but for now, thank you for joining me today here on the International Gospel Hour. I'm Jeff Archey, and friends, keep listening.

J. Webb: Thank you for listening to our broadcast today and we hope you continue onward with your search and study of God's word. Please join us next time and visit our website at internationalgospelhour.com.