—Titus 2:11
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people…”
There are some things that must be taught in order for one to teach. Or, stated from the perspective of the student, there are some things you must learn in order of you to learn. If you are to learn to read, you must first learn your alphabet. If you are to learn algebra, you must first learn arithmetic. If you are to learn Christian ethics, you must first learn Christian theology. If you do not take the first course, you are certain to flunk the second.
J. Gresham Machen, throughout the early 19th century, warned that theological liberalism was not Christianity. The liberals thought they could skip theology and still pass ethics. They thought they if they got a zero in doctrine, they could still ace devotion, as though that were the only course that mattered. But without a protestant theology, the ethics of the mainline protestant denominations, have been driven about by every wind of doctrine. Doctrine determines devotion. Change the shape of the doctrine, you change the shape of the devotion. This is why consistent Christians give their lives for unbelievers and consistent Muslims take lives the lives of “unbelievers.”
Here, Paul gives the grounds for the Christian life. Why do Christians live as they do? Or, rather, why do they strive to live as they do? Because the grace of God has appeared. Build on anything else, and you build on sand. Paul’s ethical edifice has a faith foundation. Christian ethics don’t float. They are rooted, and they are rooted like a tree. If you are really rooted in the truth, drawing your life from it, you will grow towards the sky with God’s-glorifying, grace-given good works. Anything else is artificial or built on the sand.
The gospel is a prerequisite for the law. Theological liberalism tried to teach the law without the gospel, but the lesson didn’t stick. Machen explained the difference between Christianity and theological liberalism writing, “Here is found the most fundamental difference between liberalism and Christianity—liberalism is altogether in the imperative mood, while Christianity begins with a triumphant indicative; liberalism appeals to man’s will, while Christianity announces, first, a gracious act of God.” The law says “Do.” The gospel says “Done!” You cannot hear what God would have you do until you believe what God has done. Only after having been told what Christ has done, and believing, may you then hear what Christ would have you do. And this is because after hearing and believing, you do, not for life, but from life. The grace of God that has appeared, appears to you. It appears bringing bringing salvation and training us in righteousness.
No Other Boast 