Scripture Reading(s)
Titus 2:11-14
2:11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all,
2:12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly,
2:13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
2:14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
Reflections
As we wait for Christ’s return there is instruction on how we as Christians ought to live our lives. This Passage depicts the Christ-like characteristics of one who is saved and who it is we should be living for. When Christ first came to die for our sins, He put an end to our road to eternal punishment. As a response to salvation, this passage serves as a reminder of the sacrifice God made and how our lives ought to be centered around Him.
Each day should be met with a desire to grow more in our faith, walk and maturity in Christ, Furthermore it should increase our joy in Christ and the hope that we have that one day we will be with Him in Heaven. Upright and Godly living is what truly represents Christ to the rest of the world and serves as living proof that Jesus’ death and resurrection is a real truth that we hold on to.
This life is not meant to be lived for ourselves. It is meant to represent Christ and spread that news to the rest of the world. People should look at us and see a difference in the way we talk, think, respond and act towards situations. Living a n up right and Godly life is not something that comes naturally. It is something that we have to constantly be pursuing and praying that God gives us the strength to fight for Godly living each day.
One part of grace and salvation that we tend to forget is that it was designed to train us to be better followers of Jesus. Paul mentions in the first part of chapter 2 that this grace was,
training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly.
The modern protestant church almost over-emphasizes the grace-alone doctrine. But it is important to remember that the grace given to us is not a free pass to keep sinning. As Paul mentioned to the Romans,
What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? 2 By no means! We are those who have died to sin; how can we live in it any longer?
We have an obligation to not take the grace of God for granted. We must walk in the light each and every day striving to be self-controlled, upright, and godly.