Titus 2:11-12; Acts 11:21-23

Ø Grace brings salvation through ENABLING grace.

In what sense does grace enable a person to believe?  The answer to this question is a matter of much debate and, I am sorry to say, much contention in the Body of Christ.  Our goal for three days is not to settle the debate.  I am not sure that is possible.  But my purpose is to remind people on all sides of what the Bible claims clearly about how God enables the sinner.  I have seen believers who disagreed on this subject still able to fellowship, worship and serve Christ together in real love.  As Paul told Timothy in 1 Tim. 1:5, the purpose is love from a pure heart, from a good conscience, and from sincere faith.  Those with pure hearts, good consciences and sincere faith do not always agree; but in Christ they can and must always love.

·        Definitions:

o   Common Grace: God’s goodness to mankind in creation (such as rain and seasons, Acts 14:17; 17:25-28), n restraining evil (2 Thess. 2:6-7; Rom. 13:1-4) and in the law of the heart (the conscience, Rom. 2:14-15).

o   Prevenient Grace: Prevenient means comes before.  So this is God’s grace to men before they believe to that the one who is dead in trespasses and sins can choose to believe in Christ.

o   Special Grace: God’s grace that draws men to Christ, sometimes called irresistible grace or efficacious grace.

Biblically it would seem clear that God must do something to enable the dead man to believe.  But there are strong differences. 

o   Some would say God is at work in the world, in grace enabling all men so that some will believe.  Thus His grace is resistible.  (Important passages include Titus 2:11; John 12:32; 16:8; Acts 16:14; Rom. 11:32; 1 John 2:2; 1 Tim. 4:10; Luke 24:45, etc.).

o   Others believe God’s enabling grace is part of His special grace; that is, God is only at work drawing to Christ those whom He has chosen.  Thus His grace is irresistible.  (Important passages include Phil. 1:6; Heb. 12:2; John 3:3; 6:37,44; Rom. 8:30; Ezek. 11:19-20; Titus 3:5-6, etc.)

It seems quite evident that for a person to be saved, God must work in the situation.  In Acts 11:21-23 many believed because the hand of the Lord was with those who preached.  Remember that the gospel itself is God’s power (dunamis, ability) for salvation (Rom. 1:16); just in the gospel itself God is providing enabling grace for salvation.  Acts 18:27 says they had believed through grace.   Salvation is by grace and is not of ourselves (Eph. 2:8-9).  However we understand the specifics we ought to be able to pray for God’s work to be done, to understand that we are in need of God’s grace both in preaching and believing!  Let us pick this up tomorrow.