“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age…” – Titus 2:11-12
Scripture reading: 2 Peter 1:3-11; Titus 2:11-15
In life we often get instructions about what to do before we get the reasons why we are to do it. Paul writes that way here, telling us why we must live as Christians.
The biblical and theological foundation for Christian living is found in two “appearings.” The first appearing is Christ’s first coming. When Christ came, the grace of God appeared to us more clearly than it had before. The whole Bible proclaims God’s grace. Jesus embodied and lived and demonstrated God’s grace in all His life, ministry, suffering, death, resurrection and ascension. All His teachings and miracles, all His encounters with the people and the Jewish leaders, revealed the truth of the Kingdom of God.
We are saved by grace. Christ came because of God’s grace, His undeserved favor upon us. When you hear God’s greeting in worship tomorrow, you will be reminded of that grace of God, given to you in Jesus Christ, which you must receive by faith. God’s grace will be preached.
Because we are saved by grace, and because Christ appeared for us, we are now called to and enabled to live for Christ. Christ has “trained” us, taught us as one does as a little child, to do two kinds of things: first, negatively, to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions; second, positively, to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. We must renounce the old way and live in the new way. We can and we must do this because of God’s grace in Christ.
Suggestions for prayer
That you might be assured of God’s grace in Christ. That you would be prepared for worship tomorrow to receive God’s grace, to rejoice in God’s grace, and to live by God’s grace.
Rev. Todd De Rooy currently serves in Redeemer URC, in Orange City, Iowa. He has served there since being ordained in 2008. It is their earnest prayer that by the grace of God, they would renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age. Get this devotional delivered directly to your phone each day via our RP App. This devotional is made available by the Nearer To God Devotional team, who also make available in print, for purchase, at NTGDevotional.com.
