"For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us...." (Titus 2:11, 12a)
The word for, "teaching," means, "discipline, educate, train." This is the "work" of, "the grace of God," in our text.
Now most people probably do not consider, "the grace of God," as that which is, "teaching us." Grace is often defined as "unmerited favor," which to many is code for, "Do whatever your heart desires. After all, Christ died for our sins; everything's forgiven. You don't have to do all that works stuff." This twisting of the Scriptures is an attempt to justify a self-serving life, rather than a Jesus-serving life. "The grace of God...teach[es] us," so much more than "only believe."
Let me share what the succeeding passage says, "the grace of God," is, "teaching us."
1. "Deny[] ungodliness
2. "Deny[]..."worldly lusts"
3. We should "live soberly"
4. We should "live godly in the present age"
5 We should be, "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."
What so many neglect to walk in is the purpose for Christ's death and resurrection. The CEV puts it this way, "He gave Himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right." I can hear some say, "That's a works religion." And that is, what? Bad? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."
A lot of Christians are good talkers. Their worship, praise, witnessing, are full of talk. But people do not see talk. They only see what those words produce in my life. My talk does not glorify my, "Father which is in Heaven." Only my, "good works," can do that. (Sorry)
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be more of a doer than a talker. Amen.
***********************The word for, "teaching," means, "discipline, educate, train." This is the "work" of, "the grace of God," in our text.
Now most people probably do not consider, "the grace of God," as that which is, "teaching us." Grace is often defined as "unmerited favor," which to many is code for, "Do whatever your heart desires. After all, Christ died for our sins; everything's forgiven. You don't have to do all that works stuff." This twisting of the Scriptures is an attempt to justify a self-serving life, rather than a Jesus-serving life. "The grace of God...teach[es] us," so much more than "only believe."
Let me share what the succeeding passage says, "the grace of God," is, "teaching us."
1. "Deny[] ungodliness
2. "Deny[]..."worldly lusts"
3. We should "live soberly"
4. We should "live godly in the present age"
5 We should be, "looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works."
What so many neglect to walk in is the purpose for Christ's death and resurrection. The CEV puts it this way, "He gave Himself to rescue us from everything that is evil and to make our hearts pure. He wanted us to be his own people and to be eager to do right." I can hear some say, "That's a works religion." And that is, what? Bad? "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in Heaven."
A lot of Christians are good talkers. Their worship, praise, witnessing, are full of talk. But people do not see talk. They only see what those words produce in my life. My talk does not glorify my, "Father which is in Heaven." Only my, "good works," can do that. (Sorry)
Father, in Jesus' Name, help me to be more of a doer than a talker. Amen.
Please remember to pray for us on our mission to Berlin/Bosnia, May 1-20. Among other prayers you may be led to pray, please pray that our, "light so shine before men, that they may see []our good works and glorify []our Father in heaven."
When Peter, an 18 year old Norwegian, "heard the call to evangelize China, on that day he not only emptied his wallet into the collection plate, but included a small note with the words, 'and my life.'"
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
"Looking unto Jesus"
Hebrews 12:2
