THE NO AND YES OF GRACE

PRAY WITH ME FOR AFRICA: Many Pastors and missionaries work in Banjul, the capital of The Gambia, but few are working in the interior. Much work is focused on the nominal Christian minority and little on the Muslim majority. Pray that the indigenous church might be set free by the Holy Spirit from the restraints of fear and lack of confidence; pray that Christians might minister powerfully and effectively to their fellow Gambians.

The Gambia flag. Blue for the Gambia river. Red for equator and Savannah. Green for forest and agriculture. White lines symbolizing peace and unity

Titus 2.11-14 has always been a favorite. Verse 11 reminds us that the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people. This reminds me of John 1.14-17 "...from his fullness we have all received grace upon grace. For the law was given through Moses; grace and truth came through Jesus Christ." Verses 13-14 remind us that Jesus Christ is returning in glory and that he gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. The salvation mentioned in verse 11 is from sin, and unto holiness and good works as those who belong to Jesus Christ. As believers we should have no doubt regarding the goal of our salvation. We are not called to compromise with sin or to live as close to the world as possible and bend the holiness of God to appease man, we are called to be holy as God is holy.

 

Verse 12 teaches us what the grace of God does in the believer. The grace of God trains us to live in this present evil age and to wait for the return of Jesus by denying certain things and by pursuing other things. We are to deny ungodliness. Ungodliness is all impiety, irreverence and wickedness, a dishonoring of God's glory and majesty. This is the main sin that calls the wrath of God to be poured out in Romans 1.18f and leads to unrighteous behavior. Then the grace of God trains us to deny worldly passions whether they come from our own inflamed self-focused desires or as temptations from this sinful world. Romans 6 teaches us what God has done for the believer in our union with the death and resurrection of Christ and how we are to respond in denying the worldly passions of the body and to serve God in holiness. While denying ungodliness and worldly passions we are to pursue a sound mind trained by the Word of God as Romans 12.1-2 commands. We are also to pursue righteousness through upright actions and attitudes and good works in loving service to God and others. Finally we are to pursue godly lives which exalt the glory and majesty of God in all we think, say and do.
If you belong to Jesus, he is coming back for you. Until he comes live in expectancy of his coming saying NO to ungodliness and worldly passions, and YES to a sound mind, righteousness and a godly life. The rewards of God's grace are waiting for you, 1 Peter 1.3-9.

Good articles this week:
Pornography is Morally Acceptable
What is Wrong With a Little Porn When You are Married