Titus 2:11-14
“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.“
Titus 2:11-14 NIV
The grace of God was revealed through the incarnate Son of God Who is the Word of God made flesh. Christ is the visible representation of an invisible God. He appeared on earth as the fulfilment of God's gracious promise to a lost world of fallen sinners. Yes, the grace of God was made manifest in the unique God-Man, the Lord Jesus Christ, Who brought salvation to all men so that all who believe on His name will not perish but have everlasting life.
It seems as though we’re always waiting on something. There’s always a gap. A gap between where we are and where we want to be, a gap between what we have and what we want, a gap between what we’re doing and what we want to do. Because of the gap, we wait. We don’t think about it much, but there’s also a gap between what we believe about God and our obedience to Him. We find most of our struggles trying to live in this gap. This is where we live. This is where we sin.
These are not separate thoughts, our constant state of waiting is tied to the gap between our knowledge and obedience to God. As Christians, we live in the gap, in between God declaring us holy at the time of our salvation and the full realization of holiness at the time of our being home in heaven with Him.
Paul speaks to the gap, these waiting rooms, in these verses to Titus. Our relationships with one another, with the communities in which we live, and with the world should reflect the love of God in Jesus Christ. After all, He 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.
How welcome our witness might be when we live out our identity as people belonging to Christ. When, for instance, we are ready for every good work, speak evil of no one, avoid quarreling, and show gentleness and courtesy to everyone.
We are still in training. Our transformation is still a work in progress. It can only come from the one Who enters into our humanity in humility and love. Truly the grace of God has appeared in Him, bringing salvation to all. He has come to make us His transformed people that are zealous for good deeds not only today, but year-round, day in and day out, year after year, while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
The hope and expectation in which we live are not idle or passive. The salvation He brings is not only about forgiveness, but also about transformation. As recipients of God’s grace, we are empowered to live in a new way. The grace of God is training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions, and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and Godly.
These verses ask us to wait, but we are to wait with anticipation. We are to live in light of the second coming. Too often, we focus on the first coming and the cross event and ignore the second coming. Our final redemption awaits us, fully redeemed.
Just as confident as we are in the first coming, we need to live in light of the confidence of His second coming. We are to live as though we witnessed Christ’s death and resurrection yesterday and He’s coming back today. We wait, but not idly. We wait, but not without hope. Our hope is not wishful thinking, our hope is a view to the future, looking ahead to what is certain.
It’s the grace of God working in us that empowers us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, to be self-controlled, upright and godly in this present age. We need grace all day long to train us, teach us, mold us, direct us, empower us, and to enable us!!!
Father, thank You for this day and Your unfathomable grace in sending Jesus to bring salvation to a lost and dying race. Lord, open the floodgates of heaven and flood my friend and family with Your abundant blessings today. Lord, thank You for redeeming us. Please give us a deeper understanding of what Your amazing grace has accomplished in our lives. Lord, may we live each day to Your praise and glory. Lord,use us to be the light of Your love today to all.
Father, we love You. Amen !
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