"....Teach what is appropriate to sound doctrine....For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the 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 wickedness and to purify for Himself a people that are His very own, eager to do what is good." (2 Timothy 2, NIV)
After a life time in the Church, my take on this text is that it should have been included in the "Four Spiritual Laws." Evangelism/charismatic-ism has made far too much emphasis on, "Only believe," and it has been exactly that, "Only believe." To speak of such things as in our text would not build the modern "church." It offends bebop religion.
What a blessing reading our text today. Salvation is not only what Jesus saves us from. Salvation is equally what Jesus saves us for. I suspect that our text would not go over very well with the "seeker friendlies." Who wants to talk about, "....say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives..," and, "to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself..."? What I call, adaptable christianity, rails on such commands in our text as Victorian Christianity, "Hell fire and brimstone," judgmental, "holier than thou," all of which is code for, "Let's tweak the Bible to make it "relevant."
"But for us who are being saved, it is the power of God", i.e., "....the grace of God...that offers salvation to all people...in...the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Why would anyone in their right mind reject, "the power of God...to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people for His very own," for the childish, temper-tantrum desire to be "left alone," to the "don't judge me" attitude; "after all, God knows my heart." Yes, and that is the reason He keeps reminding us with today's text.
Paul then tells Titus, "These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority." And, I might add, "These...are the things you should", do. The Gospel is not for some mental "believing" process; it is for the doing, for the living. Isn't this what we who are "after" Jesus really want? If you listen to the many testimonies we have all heard over the years, so many of them are thanking Jesus for delivering them from, "....ungodliness and worldly passions, and..," a life lived without, "self-control[]."
Twice in the Amplified Bible the phrase, "reminding you," occurs. Voila.
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You, "appeared...to all people." Amen.
****************
Thanks to those who are praying for Sarah.
After a life time in the Church, my take on this text is that it should have been included in the "Four Spiritual Laws." Evangelism/charismatic-ism has made far too much emphasis on, "Only believe," and it has been exactly that, "Only believe." To speak of such things as in our text would not build the modern "church." It offends bebop religion.
What a blessing reading our text today. Salvation is not only what Jesus saves us from. Salvation is equally what Jesus saves us for. I suspect that our text would not go over very well with the "seeker friendlies." Who wants to talk about, "....say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives..," and, "to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself..."? What I call, adaptable christianity, rails on such commands in our text as Victorian Christianity, "Hell fire and brimstone," judgmental, "holier than thou," all of which is code for, "Let's tweak the Bible to make it "relevant."
"But for us who are being saved, it is the power of God", i.e., "....the grace of God...that offers salvation to all people...in...the great God and Savior, Jesus Christ." Why would anyone in their right mind reject, "the power of God...to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for Himself a people for His very own," for the childish, temper-tantrum desire to be "left alone," to the "don't judge me" attitude; "after all, God knows my heart." Yes, and that is the reason He keeps reminding us with today's text.
Paul then tells Titus, "These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority." And, I might add, "These...are the things you should", do. The Gospel is not for some mental "believing" process; it is for the doing, for the living. Isn't this what we who are "after" Jesus really want? If you listen to the many testimonies we have all heard over the years, so many of them are thanking Jesus for delivering them from, "....ungodliness and worldly passions, and..," a life lived without, "self-control[]."
Twice in the Amplified Bible the phrase, "reminding you," occurs. Voila.
Father, in Jesus' Name, thank You that You, "appeared...to all people." Amen.
****************
Thanks to those who are praying for Sarah.
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.'"
Hebrews 12:2
Hebrews 12:2
