The Grace of God Has Appeared

Titus 2:11-14

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

 

These verses answer so many crucial questions:

• Why has the grace of God appeared? The answer is twofold. One, to bring us salvation, and two, to train us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. Simple answer! Yes, all of us are thrilled to receive salvation, but how many of us hang on the grace of God to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions? Certainly, ungodliness has a negative sound. No believer would say that he wouldn't renounce ungodliness, yet how do we live? Is there ungodliness resident within our lives? Worldly passions...what are those? I know that many of us are passionate about worldly activities; so much so, that these activities run our lives.  Is this what God wants for His children? Is this what His grace was intended to do? Or in some way are we limiting what God can and wants to do?

 

• How does the grace-filled believer live?  We are to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Self-control...Ouch! That is a difficult area. God's grace is here to give us self-control. For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control. Amazing! Self-control is a gift, a gift of grace. So why do we live like we have never opened the package or even untied the ribbon? Upright speaks to me of an obedient life in sync with the Word. Anyone who has ever tried to keep any of the precepts in the Bible knows how difficult this is; in fact, nearly impossible to sustain for very long at all. The reason is it is not to be accomplished in our own strength but through the grace of God. And finally, grace is there to allow us to live godly lives, lives that reflect the One who saved us and gave His life for us, lives that bring glory and honor to the Father, and lives that listen to and follow the leading of the Spirit. What amazing grace is this!

 

• What is the believer's future? We are in a waiting pattern. ...waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, He is our hope and our focus. Our eyes must ever be on Him as we wait. Waiting does not mean slogging around in the world; on the contrary; it means waiting with self-control in uprightness while possessing godliness. It means being ready for the day that He will claim us. How glorious!

 

• Why did Jesus die for us?  Simply, to redeem us from who we were and to purify us by His blood and through His grace to be His people, His possession, a people who are zealous for good works ...who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. What are these good works? First and foremost they are not accomplished in our own strength but through His grace, and secondly, they must be focused on Jesus Christ. Through these good works He must shine through bringing light to those who need it. I notice also that believers are to be zealous for these works. Zealous, not haphazard or laid back! We are to be on fire for Jesus and His spirit should control us in such a way as to increase our desire to serve and minister.

Father,

How convicting are these verses! As I examine my heart, I confess a lack of zeal and of self-control. Reveal to me the areas that need to be cleansed and swept from my heart. Help me to wait for Jesus in a godly and upright manner.

In His name,

Amen