Currently we are in a series at Russell Road church that we are calling Grace Full. Our foundational Scripture is John 1:14, “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.” Something we have been saying is that the Great Commission does not say, “Go out and make churchgoers…”, but it says, “Go and make disciples…” A disciple is a follower of Christ, not just a churchgoer. So if Jesus is full of grace and truth as well, we are all a work in progress when it comes to being His disciples.

This word grace means unmerited favor, which means, “I’m getting what I don’t deserve.” It also means the power of the Holy Spirit to meet all your evil tendencies. Grace is God’s ability in you to live out what truth demands. In James 4:6 it says, “But He gives more grace, therefore He says: “God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble.”” The word resists here means to frustrate, so when we are frustrated we are into pride and pride is living independent of God. We have been created to live dependent on God. It says that God gives grace to the humble. The humble are those who are dependent on God. None of us are always humble, but when we are and our dependence is on God, He gives us the grace we need for our salvation. This word salvation means wholeness, security, deliverance, safety and peace.

In Titus 2:11-12, “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all, teaching us that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously and Godly in this present age.” This grace teaches us to deny ungodliness. An example would be judgmental and critical thoughts towards others that we really know nothing about. We deny those thoughts and give them mercy and grace by loving our enemies and being kind to those who persecute and mistreat us. This is part of what it means to follow Jesus. He extended grace and mercy even to those who nailed Him to the cross. “Father forgive them, for they know not what they do.” That takes humility, being humble and dependent upon God. We won’t have to go through what Jesus did, but we will experience pain and difficulty as we grow in the grace of God.

Proverbs 11:2 says, “When pride comes, then comes shame; but with the humble is wisdom.” When we don’t depend on God we are living independent of God and that is pride which produces shame. This word shame means a painful emotion caused by a strong sense of guilt, embarrassment, unworthiness or disgrace. When we live independent of God, shame comes and shame always wants to hide things like Adam and Eve when they stopped depending on God. One translation says they were naked and ashamed so they hid themselves. Proverbs 11:2 says, “…but with the humble is wisdom.” When we are humble (dependent on God) we get His wisdom for our lives which is the truth. The word truth means nothing concealed. The devil is a liar and the father of it (John 8:44). His goal is to keep you from your true identity and to live independent of God, which is pride. The root of pride is insecurity. We must destroy pride at its root by humbling ourselves and depending on God who is our true source for life, and we will receive His grace that brings salvation (Titus 2:11-12), wholeness, security, deliverance, safety and peace, which is the truth. Jesus said the truth will set you free, free to be what God created you to be and you will have nothing to hide. As we follow Jesus, as His disciples, we are discovering His plan, purpose and grace in order to fulfill His will on earth as it is in heaven.