As we gaze into the riches of God’s grace in the Lord Jesus Christ, there are simply not enough superlatives to describe the wonders of all He has given us! These riches are all the more amazing in view of our helpless and hopeless sinful condition (see Eph. 2:1-3; Titus 3:3). The Apostle Paul, through the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, couldn’t stop talking about the wealth of these riches!
- “Oh the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable are his judgments and inscrutable his ways!” (Rom. 11:33)
- “…according to the riches of his grace, which he lavished upon us…” (Eph. 1:7-8)
- “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us…” (Eph. 2:4)
- “…so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus.” (Eph. 2:7)
- “…to preach to the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ…” (Eph. 3:8)
- “…to comprehend what is the breadth and length and height and depth, and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge…” (Eph. 3:18-19)
- “Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think…” (Eph. 3:20)
When Paul speaks descriptively of these riches in Titus 3:4-7, his intent is to spur believers on in living lives that overflow with good deeds. In possessing, tasting, and growing in the knowledge of these riches by faith, believers are to eagerly obey God and zealously do good to others for His glory.
Beloved, living a godly life that abounds with good deeds involves effort and intentionality on our part. But it should be effort motivated by deep joy, gratitude, and humility in view of all the Father has lavished upon us in Christ. Hence our need is not just to try harder, but to gaze deeper upon all the riches of God’s grace. Martin Luther expresses this well in his book The Freedom of a Christian:
“Although I am an unworthy and condemned man, my God has given me in Christ all the riches of righteousness and salvation without any merit on my part, out of pure, free mercy, so that from now on I need nothing except faith which believes that it is true. Why should I not therefore freely, joyfully, with all my heart, and with an eager will do all things which I know are pleasing and acceptable to such a Father who has overwhelmed me with his inestimable riches? I will therefore give myself as a Christ to my neighbor, just as Christ offered himself to me; I will do nothing in this life except what I see is necessary, profitable, and salutary to my neighbor, since through faith I have an abundance of all good things in Christ.” (quoted by Matt Perman in What’s Best Next, Zondervan: 2014, pg. 110)
Amen! What a joy to gaze, grow, and give together with you!
Greg