Titus 2:11-15 (NIV)
For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say "No" to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope - the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
These, then, are the things you should teach. Encourage and rebuke with all authority. Do not let anyone despise you.
Isn't it amazing? My last entry was a year ago (almost!), but the message is still true and as important today, as it was then. In fact, this powerful few verses stands the test of time. It is fact! It is the basis of Christian belief. But, it is so widely forgotten by too many people or has been embellished too many times. This, of course, led Paul to urge Titus to hold onto the truth and to hold on to sound doctrine.
Here, Paul urges Titus to hold onto hope. Hope that is for the future. Hope that serves to empower and strengthen him and all who believe. This hope is in the glorious appearing of out great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Without hope, our faith is pointless. Why have faith in Christ if he was not going to return again to destroy all wickedness?
We are told that Christ gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness. We are reminded that we are a bought people, purchased with the very blood that Christ shed at Calvary. That very blood serves to purify those who choose to believe, label them as his own people, adopted into the family of God. Imagine that - we can be part of the family of the creator of the universe!
There is a sense of eagerness on the part of the Almighty. He is eager to do what is good. He wants to save us. He wants to return to complete the story. He wants to bring us into his presence, into safety and his protection. He is dying (quite literally!) to save us. Why else would he send Jesus, his only begotten son, into our world to take the punishment rightfully ours? Why would the Son of God be willingly nailed to the cross in Roman time? What would be the purpose of this man, 2000 years ago walking around for 3 years preaching, healing the infirm and then dying if God had not had a plan to redeem his people, those that love him?
God, our Father certainly has a plan to redeem us all and that gift of freedom from sin is available to anyone; if we are willing to live for him; if we are willing to renounce wickedness, ungodliness and worldly passions. If we are willing to stand apart from this world, then he will return to collect us at the right time. This is our hope. That despite the atrocities happening across the globe, despite the evil that appears to reign our lives, the terror that frightens us, the deaths caused by terrorist extremes - despite all this, if we hold onto our hope, then Christ will return for his very own. Us.
But he has not just left us to fend for ourselves whilst we wait for his return, he has sent us a pre-event gift. A gift of grace that brings salvation ... to all men [and women]. This grace, that God has given us through his Holy Spirit works with us and empowers us to say, "No!".
If you hold onto your hope in Christ, the Father's grace will sustain you, uplift you and empower you to resist Satan's last cries for attention. God's grace will help us live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.
See, even Paul knew what kind of world we were going to be living in today - well, not really. However, he did know that Titus was going to come under attack from others because he had hope for the future despite the evil world he lived in. The present age refers to those who do not believe, those who do not have a secure hope for the future. We have them now. There are many out there who do not believe, perhaps you are one of them, perhaps you don't have a secure hope for the future? Perhaps you are living your life one day at a time.
If you are, I urge you to ask yourself this question, "What is the point of our lives if there is no hope for our future?"
I know, I am going to hold onto God's grace until he returns. Are you?
