- “For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men,
- teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,
- looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.”
Titus 2:11-13 (NKJV)
• Epistles are the letters written to the church, that is, the believers in Christ Jesus—disciples.
- There in the Epistles: we know the purpose of Christ’s death and resurrection (Romans 4:25).
- We know our inheritances in Christ; who we are in Him, our kingdom rights, and heritages (Ephesians 1:3-14,17-21).
- In the Epistles also, we got to know how to live our lives as believers in Christ Jesus (Ephesians 4:17-32; 5:1-14; Colossians 3:1-17).
• A lot of believers are quick to accept and claim what belongs to us in the epistles, but they do not want to accept the things expected of us–they do not want to take responsibilities as believers in Christ Jesus. Remember, there is no freedom without a responsibility.
- If a part of the above epistle, Titus 2:11-13, is accepted, the other part must be accepted also.
• In the passage: the grace that brings salvation has appeared to all men–which every believer in Christ has received and accepted.
- This same grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.
- The grace is not given to us to live in sin–it is given to us that we may deny ungodliness and worldly lust.
- “For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world.”
1 John 2:16 (NKJV)
- Believers should deny themselves: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life.
- Grace teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present age (Titus 2:12).
- Grace never taught us to live contrary to the things highlighted in the text, but rather to live in line with them (Titus 2:12).
• It is when we live in line with the words emphasized and stressed in the text, Titus 2:12, that we look for the blessed hope, the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13).
- If you are living contrary to these things, that is, you are not denying ungodliness and worldly lusts; you are not living soberly, righteously, and godly—it means you are not expectant and hopeful, you are not looking for Jesus’ coming (Titus 2:13).
- Those who are looking for His appearing, keep themselves uncontaminated—they deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.
- “Beloved, now we are children of God; and it has not yet been revealed what we shall be, but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
- AND EVERYONE WHO HAS THIS HOPE IN HIM PURIFIES HIMSELF, JUST AS HE IS PURE.”
1 John 3:2,3 (NKJV)
• One of the ways to purify yourself is to abstain from every form of evil (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
- Abstain from those things that make you relish, enjoy, sins. If that app on your phone fans or fuels the flames of lust in you, then uninstall it.
• Take Note:
- When you live soberly, righteously, and godly, you gladdens His heart—because Jesus wants to see His work, the reason why He suffered, prospers.
- “When He sees all that is accomplished by his anguish, He will be satisfied.”
Isaiah 53:11 (NLT)
- Jesus gave Himself to die for us that He might redeem us from every lawless deed (Titus 2:14; Isaiah 53:10-12).
- He purifies us for Himself as His own special people—we are redeemed to live for Him, to live our lives to please HIM not self (2 Corinthians 5:15; Titus 2:14).
- We are redeemed also to be zealous for good works (Ephesians 2:10; Titus 2:14).
- Therefore, if you are not living right, you are not making His heart glad—you are living contrary to what He intended.
• You are not saved to continue in sin (Romans 6:1,2).
“and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.”
2 Corinthians 5:15 (NKJV)
- Wallowing in sin after salvation is an aberration—a behaviour that is not normal or usual, totally unacceptable for a child of God.
- "Therefore, since Christ suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves also with the same mind, for he who has suffered in the flesh has ceased from sin,
- that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God."
1 Peter 4:1,2 (NKJV)
• You will not fail in Jesus’ name.
Peace!