“For the grace of God (His unmerited favor and blessing) has come forward (appeared) for the deliverance from sin and the eternal salvation for all mankind. It has trained us to reject and renounce all ungodliness (irreligion) and worldly (passionate) desires, to live discreet (temperate, self-controlled), upright, devout (spiritually whole) lives in this present world, Awaiting and looking for the [fulfillment, the realization of our] blessed hope, even the glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Christ Jesus (the Messiah, the Anointed One), Who gave Himself on our behalf that He might redeem us (purchase our freedom) from all iniquity and purify for Himself a people [to be peculiarly His own, people who are] eager and enthusiastic about [living a life that is good and filled with] beneficial deeds. Tell [them all] these things. Urge (advise, encourage, warn) and rebuke with full authority. Let no one despise or disregard or think little of you [conduct yourself and your teaching so as to command respect].”
Titus 2:11-15 (AMP)
Here in these verses, we find that God’s grace set us free from sin and gives us eternal salvation. But grace also trains us to REJECT and RENOUNCE ALL ungodliness and worldly desires. Grace teaches us to live self-controlled, devout lives to God. Grace is a gift from God that was paid for by His Son Jesus, yet some treat grace as a passage to “live” in this world and think they can make it to heaven. Grace can cover our humanity/sin and brings us to righteousness, but grace also teaches us, as previously mentioned to live self-controlled lives.
If grace teaches us to live by self-control does that mean if we choose the desire of the world that we are out of control? Some hyper-grace preachers love to use this as a “get out of jail free card” for things they do not desire to change in their lives for God.
This is not the case as Paul speaks to Titus. We have grace. It washes us clean, but there is still a requirement to have self-control. Self-control is being left out of a lot of sermons lately because this subject requires W-O-R-K to live for God by His standard. In teaching this subject, the messenger cannot leave out this important key element of grace that is part of the foundational truth of God.
Subjects should be taught from the Bible in their entirety not how a person desires to break it up or make it sound good and pleasing to the ears. God sent His Son to die and give us grace. Let’s not cover ourselves in the filth of the world after we have been washed from sin by the blood of Jesus and the grace of God.
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