The Appearing of Grace
Lord's Day Exhortation
Today is Epiphany Sunday, marking the beginning of the season that follows Christmas in the traditional church calendar. Although the Feast of Epiphany falls on January 6th each year, it is commonly observed on the Sunday closest to that date, like today, and you will notice a number of our hymns are keyed to this theme.
The word “Epiphany” comes from the Greek word often translated as “appeared” or “manifested,” and it is a celebration of Christ’s manifestation to the Gentiles, beginning with the visit of the Magi or Wise Men from the East, as the first-fruits of the nations recognizing the Savior of the world. Additionally, the baptism of Christ is associated with Epiphany, as a revealing of both the Trinity and, in particular, of Jesus’ identity as God’s beloved Son.
In the Apostle Paul’s letter to his spiritual son and co-laborer, Titus, he also writes concerning the manifestation of Christ in the world, and what our response ought to be. We read in Titus 2 that, “The grace of God that brings salvation has appeared (επεφανη—epiphany), training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age…” (vv. 11–12).
Often, when Christians think of God’s grace, they simply think of God’s unmerited favor and the forgiveness of sins — two absolutely vital aspects of salvific grace. But note here what the grace of God in Jesus Christ also does. Paul says that grace trains you in righteousness. Grace not only forgives your transgressions but also empowers you to renounce sin and live lives pleasing to God. You both stand in God’s grace and walk in it. And you are not only to walk in grace by looking back in faith to Christ’s first appearing, but also with hope for His coming again.
As the Apostle Paul continues, we are “looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing (επιφανειαν) of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works” (vv. 13–14). Although your progress in this life may feel slow and may falter, you can be assured that a Day is coming when you will be completely free from sin and all will be made new.
Scripture says that Jesus was made manifest to destroy the works of the devil (1 Jn. 3:8). And so the exhortation on this Epiphany Sunday is by the grace of God to join Him in that very work—crushing Satan under your feet (Rom. 16:20).
Prayer of Confession:
Merciful Father,
We come before You now with humility, acknowledging that we have sinned against You and one another, in thought, word, and deed. We confess that we have not sought to live as we should in light of the grace we have received in Christ Jesus. Instead, we have pursued the path of least resistance, not applying Your Word to our lives, not seeking Your will in all things, not mortifying the works of our flesh, and not pursuing the good works You have prepared us to walk in. Forgive us of this sin, O Lord, and in this new year may Your Spirit renew a zeal within us to gladly walk in the grace we have received.
Father, we also know that our land is filled with lawlessness, our people revel in their sins against You, and yet—we believe that our sins are still not greater than Your grace. And so we ask that through the preaching of Your Word and the witness of Your church, Christ would be made manifest in our nation again, leading to the salvation of our unbelieving family, friends, and neighbors.
We know that if we in the church regard any iniquity in our hearts, this prayer will be ineffectual. And so we silently confess our individual sins to you now. Selah.
This exhortation was given on January 4, AD 2025, at King’s Cross Church in Moscow, Idaho.