11 For the grace of God has
appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce
ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and
godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of
the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 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. (Titus 2)
First,
the Lord Jesus Christ “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.” Although this is mentioned
last, it is the thing that happened first. Or, to put it another way, it is the
means by which the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation. Jesus died to
give us life, and now communicates this good news so that people can enter into
this life.
Second,
“the grace of God has appeared” to us
through the gospel of Jesus Christ, “bringing
salvation for all people”. This is where we begin. The gospel saves us from
that which has made us ashamed. The grace of God comes to sinners, those
beloved of God, in order to transfer us out of the kingdom of darkness, and
into the kingdom of God’s dear Son, where we can grow up to be like Jesus.
Third,
once we have received this salvation that is for all people, the grace of God
continues “training us to renounce
ungodliness and worldly passions.” While this is the first step in our
conversion from death to life, it is also the lifelong pursuit of the church,
to continually renounce whatever experiences of ungodliness and worldly
passions that God reveals are still part of our lives.
Fourth,
while one side of our training involves the things we must renounce, the other
side involves the things we must embrace. So, the same grace that saves us, and
trains us how to renounce whatever is of the world, the flesh, and the devil,
also trains us “to live self-controlled,
upright, and godly lives in the present age.” When we become believers in Jesus
Christ under the grace of the gospel, we do not suddenly switch to living by
the law of being a good Christian. Rather, as we experienced the grace of God
saving us and delivering us from sin, we rely on this same grace to train us
how to walk in the righteousness that is by faith in Christ.
Fifth,
the grace of God has already appeared bringing salvation. Those who receive
this salvation and are growing up in Christlikeness know that there is another
appearing of huge significance. While we grow in the grace and knowledge of the
Lord Jesus Christ, we are “waiting for
our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
The one appearing of the grace of God keeps us running the race in the
knowledge that the finish line is the second appearing of the grace of God. The
first appearing of this grace brought salvation out of our sin, delivered us
out of Egypt, so to speak; while the second appearing of this grace will bring
us into the full measure of our inheritance, once and for all delivering us into
the ultimate expression of the Promised Land.
Conclusion:
all is of grace: the beginning, the journey, the arrival in heaven. All is God’s
work, all is undeserved, all is ours in Jesus Christ. The aim is to rest in
grace, not languish under the hopelessness of our own efforts. The Good
Shepherd calls us out of our sin and into relationship with him. He graciously
leads us to walk with him, and know him, and grow up in him as we continue to
follow the sound of his voice wherever he leads. One day, he will lead us home.
This day, we keep in step with his Holy Spirit knowing we are that one-step
closer to home.
From
my heart,
Monte
© 2013 Monte Vigh ~ Box 517,
Merritt, BC, V1K 1B8 ~ in2freedom@gmail.com
Unless otherwise noted,
Scriptures are from the English Standard Version (The Holy Bible, English
Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good
News Publishers.)
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