這是新約之中，描述神的恩典的一篇偉大經文。它開頭的那個連接詞「因為」，說明這段經文與前面的教導有關。我們之所以要在各方面活像基督，乃因神的恩典已臨到我們身上。我們將會在今、明兩天細看這幾節經文。

究竟甚麼是「恩典」？我們可以給「恩典」下不同的定義，包括：不配得的恩惠，神將祂的恩惠施與不配得的人；神因著祂的憐憫和慈憐而作出的行動；神憑著祂的智慧和能力所施行的作為；神在基督裡賜給我們一切的需用。自古至今，神一直以恩典對待我們。約翰‧紐頓（John Newton）說得好：「這恩典一直恩領我至今，它必領我回到天家。」

恩典為我們帶來甚麼？第一是救恩（11節）。「以前律法不能使人得救；今天科學沒有成就救恩；而哲學也沒有能力成全救恩。」然而，神的恩典卻能賜人救恩。因著耶穌基督的救贖，我們便得著救恩。既是恩典，我們便可以在基督裡白白得到；而全人類都可以白白得到，這就是恩典。

恩典也教導我們怎樣為人（12節）。在消極方面，它教導我們向不敬虔的事和世俗的情慾說「不」。從積極方面，它教導我們「今世自守、公義、敬虔度日」。恩典並非為我們提供一張上天家的通行證；反之，它要我們每天經歷並活出神的恩典。

神賜下恩典，究竟期待得到甚麼結果呢？神希望原本屬祂的人，都能一一歸向祂。神渴望與人相交，可是人的罪卻從中阻隔。如今，神的恩典已在基督裡提供了一條道路，我們藉此便可以滿足神的心意，再次與祂建立親密的相交關係。難怪我們要稱它是「神的奇妙恩典」了。

This is one of the greatest passages in the New Testament on the grace of God. It is linked with the previous verses about the conduct of the various groups in the church by the first word – “for”. We are to behave in a Christ-like way because of the grace of God which has come to us. We will spend two days looking at these verses.

What do we mean by “grace”? Various definitions have been given: Unmerited favour, the favour of God shown to the undeserving. In mercy and pity God acted. In wisdom and power He acted. In Christ He provided all we would ever need. And He is still dealing with us in grace. John Newton said it well – “Tis grace that brought me safe thus far and grace will lead me home.”

What did grace bring? Salvation. (v.11) The law could not do this, science does not do it, and philosophy is unable to do it. But the grace of God did and can do so. It came in the form of Jesus Christ. Salvation in Christ is free, because of grace. It is available and free to all men because it is all of grace.

Grace also is a teacher (v.12). “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly pleasures.” That is the negative side. On the positive side grace teaches us to “live self-controlled upright and godly lives in this present world”. Grace is not only our ticket to heaven but it means our lives are to show day by day just what has happened in them because of the grace of God.

What is the result God is looking for? The people who belong to Himself who are His very own. God has always wanted the fellowship of man but sin came in and interrupted that intimate fellowship. Now the grace of God in Christ has provided a way by which we can become once more what God has always wanted - a person in fellowship with Himself. No wonder we call it the “wonderful grace of God”.