God’s Grace – From Sanctification to Glorification

This summary, optimized for SEO, presents Dr. Adrian Rogers’ profound teaching on God’s Amazing Grace, detailed in the book of Titus (specifically Titus 2:11-15 and related passages in Ephesians). Rogers emphasizes that salvation is the result of divine action, not human effort, and defines the Christian experience as a journey from past condemnation to future glory, executed entirely by grace.

Defining Amazing Grace: Love at Infinite Cost

Grace is not simply love; it is love that operates where there is no merit and even where there is great demerit (deep sin). Grace gives to an enemy, requiring God to persuade and chase down that enemy to receive the gift.

The defining characteristic of grace is its cost: the Giver takes the hurt upon Himself so the enemy might receive the blessing. Grace is accurately summarized as God’s Riches At Christ’s Expense. Rogers questions, “Whoever heard of a doctor that went out seeking enemies to make them well… and then took the disease himself in order to make his enemy well? That friend is grace”.

The passage in Titus outlines the believer’s spiritual biography, structured around what grace brought, taught, sought, and wrought.

1. What Grace Brought: Salvation from Spiritual Death

Grace brought salvation, which is impossible apart from divine intervention. Rogers uses Ephesians 2:1-5 to detail the spiritual condition of humanity, highlighting four reasons why salvation was necessary:

1. Dead: Humanity was spiritually dead in trespasses and sins, separated from God. Death is defined as the separation of the soul from God. Although an individual may exist forever (either in Heaven or Hell), they do not possess eternal life until they have Christ.
2. Devilish: Prior to salvation, the Devil was the believer’s dictator and taskmaster; they were a slave of Satan, the Prince of the Power of the Air.
3. Disobedient: People were not subject to the law of God but were only “free to sin.” There was a rebellious spirit within them, placing them among the “children of disobedience”.
4. Depraved: By nature, individuals are children of wrath, born with a sinful nature inherited from Adam. Even a baby is born with a depraved nature, estranging them from the womb and making them naturally selfish.

The Failure of Human Effort

Rogers illustrates the futility of human effort in achieving spiritual life using the analogy of a dead man. Example, education (lessons on life), environment (being placed with live people), or encouragement (“Come on, get up. You can do it”) cannot raise a dead man. Yet, most world religions rely on these methods to “raise the dead”.

Salvation is only possible because “But God,” who is rich in mercy, intervened. God quickened (made alive) those who were dead in sins together with Christ, confirming: “For by grace are ye saved”. The believer could not save themselves any more than a dead man could walk by his own power.

2. What Grace Taught: Sanctification

The grace that brings salvation also teaches. When a person is saved, God transfers them from law school into the School of Grace. In this school, there is nothing to earn, but much to learn.

Grace teaches us the practical aspects of living saved:

• Denying ungodliness and worldly lusts.
• Living soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.

This process of learning is called sanctification. God is not finished with the believer; the work He began will be performed until the day of Jesus Christ (Philippians 1:6). John Newton, writer of “Amazing Grace,” encapsulated this truth: “I am not what I might be… but thank God I am not what I once was, and I can say… by the grace of God, I am what I am”.

3. What Grace Sought: Service

Jesus gave Himself for us with a specific purpose. Grace sought someone to serve Him.

Jesus gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all iniquity and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.

• God’s Trophy: Believers are God’s particular, peculiar treasure and the trophy of His grace. Just as a general keeps a special treasure to remind him of his victory, believers are the trophy of Christ’s mighty conquest.
• Freedom from Slavery: Because Jesus purchased the believer with the gold of His blood, they have been redeemed from all iniquity. The believer no longer has to serve the flesh or the devil. When the devil attacks, the believer can declare: “I don’t belong to you. I am His”.
• Motivation for Works: Being saved by grace does not nullify the need for good works; it causes the believer to want to serve Him all the more. The motivation shifts from working in order to be saved to working because I am saved.

4. What Grace Wrought: Blessed Hope and Future Glory

Grace wrought a blessed hope in the hearts of believers. What begins with grace always ends in glory.

This blessed hope is the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior, Jesus Christ. Rogers shares a deep longing to have witnessed Christ’s life on Earth—seeing Him walk on water, feed the 5,000, or emerge from the grave—but affirms that believers will see Him in His glorious appearing when He comes again.