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, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. Titus 2:11-13 ESV

     In this world there is nothing new under the sun concerning the sin nature of man.  When Paul wrote to Titus, he did so preparing him to deal with issues in the churches at Crete.  Paul refers to a general description of the Cretans as a true testimony that they are described as liars, evil beasts, and lazy gluttons. (Titus 1:12-13)  This was not exactly an area influenced by Godly living as Christinas are called to live when empowered by the Holy Spirit in their life.  Paul also wanted Titus to deal with the false teaching of works plus faith being taught by some of the leaders in the churches (Titus 1:10-11)  He instructed him to remove these false teachers and replace them with teachers of the gospel of grace – the gospel by which you are saved, which then influences how you live life by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit (Titus 1:11-3:6)  The challenge Paul gave to Titus instructing him to put things in order at Crete could easily be the same challenge for us today in the world in which we live.  Crete was not an easy place to live because of all the evil that shrouded the region, yet like Christians then, we are called today to be light in the darkness of no hope.  We do so by ——–

TEACHING SALVATION BY GRACE:

     To be religious and teach salvation is Jesus plus something else.  This is a false teacher.  Salvation is made possible to all people only by the grace of God.  For by grace you have been saved through faith.  And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast.  Ephesians 2:8-9 ESV  To believe additional work is needed to be saved, is to believe the death of Jesus on the cross was not quite enough.  The truth is simply this, “there is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaved given among men by which we must be saved.”  Acts 4:12 ESV  That name….. JESUS. (Acts4:11)  Also the teaching of works being necessary to stay saved, is teaching Jesus can save you, but isn’t strong enough to keep you.  Good works are the result of salvation, not the process of salvation.  For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.  Ephesians 2:10 ESV

LIVING ON PURPOSE FOR OUR GOD AND SAVIOR JESUS:

     It is one thing to say you are a Christian; it is another to live on purpose for God.  Living on purpose is making much of our God and Savior Jesus Christ, not bringing attention to ourselves.  The light that should shine in every Christian should cause fellow Christians and others to see God.  You are the light of the world.  A city set on a hill cannot be hidden.  Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house.  In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.  Matthew 5:14-16, ESV  Obviously the light that is shining in you is Jesus, and that is what you want others to see. (2 Corinthians 4:5-6)

WAITING WITH HOPE FOR JESUS’ RETURN:

     A life without hope is a dark life.  The Christian is to live as one knowing and believing that Jesus will return.  We believe this because Jesus said He would do so. (John 14:3)  When we take our eyes off Jesus, we see only the darkness of this world.  We may be surrounded by the storms of life, but we can walk on the waters of this life without drowning when Jesus is our focus.  May we, as Paul, live our lives so that if we are to sleep in death before the return of Christ, we finish well.  Paul said it like this. “I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.” 2 Timothy 4:7 ESV  May this be true of all who go and live by the name….. Christian.

Because of His Grace ~ Pastor David