这是新约之中，描述神的恩典的一篇伟大经文。它开头的那个连接词「因为」，说明这段经文与前面的教导有关。我们之所以要在各方面活像基督，乃因神的恩典已临到我们身上。我们将会在今、明两天细看这几节经文。

究竟甚么是「恩典」？我们可以给「恩典」下不同的定义，包括：不配得的恩惠，神将祂的恩惠施与不配得的人；神因着祂的怜悯和慈怜而作出的行动；神凭着祂的智慧和能力所施行的作为；神在基督里赐给我们一切的需用。自古至今，神一直以恩典对待我们。约翰‧纽顿（John Newton）说得好：「这恩典一直恩领我至今，它必领我回到天家。」

恩典为我们带来甚么？第一是救恩（11节）。「以前律法不能使人得救；今天科学没有成就救恩；而哲学也没有能力成全救恩。」然而，神的恩典却能赐人救恩。因着耶稣基督的救赎，我们便得着救恩。既是恩典，我们便可以在基督里白白得到；而全人类都可以白白得到，这就是恩典。

恩典也教导我们怎样为人（12节）。在消极方面，它教导我们向不敬虔的事和世俗的情欲说「不」。从积极方面，它教导我们「今世自守、公义、敬虔度日」。恩典并非为我们提供一张上天家的通行证；反之，它要我们每天经历并活出神的恩典。

神赐下恩典，究竟期待得到甚么结果呢？神希望原本属祂的人，都能一一归向祂。神渴望与人相交，可是人的罪却从中阻隔。如今，神的恩典已在基督里提供了一条道路，我们借此便可以满足神的心意，再次与祂建立亲密的相交关系。难怪我们要称它是「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”.