Oh Holy Life

Titus 2:11–14 NASB95

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, 12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, 13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, 14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

Titus 2:11 NASB95

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,

All men—Not just a select few, For anyone who will accept AND follow Him.

In this passage Paul lays out the examples of grace

Prevenient Grace: draws one in, it is a grace that places that urge for a loving God. Grace that allows one to believe.

Justifying Grace: God's pardon through the application of Jesus blood. Jesus paid the price.

Sanctifying Grace God's ongoing work to perfect us in holiness. Sadly as long as we are physically on this earth we are still working on being made perfect on holiness.

Titus 2:12 NASB95

12 instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,

Some translations say to live self-controlled

Our primary reason to live holy as described here should not be out of mere duty, but out of Love and gratitude for Jesus.

This is not a one and done deal, we must daily live this verse out.

It is not enough to just eschew (abstain) from evil, we must check out hearts and seek the Lord to cleanse it.

Titus 2:13 NASB95

13 looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus,

This is the very definition of Advent and what we have been celebrating all month.

We are to constantly be living as though He may return any second.

This should motivate us to tell others about Jesus with much haste, urgency, and passion.

Titus 2:14 NASB95

14 who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

He gave himself to Literally pay the price for our bondage.

3084. λυτρόω lutroō; from 3089; to release by paying a ransom, to redeem:—redeem(2), redeemed(1).

(3089 λύω (luō)) λύω luō; a prim. vb.; to loose, to release, to dissolve:—annuls(1), break(1),destroy(2), destroyed(3), loose(2), putting an end to(1), release(1), removed(1), take off(1), unbind

Romans 5:6-10 tells us that while we were still enemies of God, meaning we hated him, He still died for us.

Fire Bible (Chapter 2) According to Paul, saving grace is a gift of God that (1) causes God to make spiritual salvation available to all people (v. 11) through the sin-covering sacrifice of his Son, Jesus; (2) enables us to accept Christ by faith and enter a personal relationship with God (v. 11; 3:4; Eph 2:8, 9); (3) instructs believers to reject without compromise the ungodly passions, pleasures and values of the world and embrace the purposes of God (v. 12; cf. Ro 1:18–32; 6:20, 22; 2Ti 2:22; 1Jn 2:15–17) (4) commands and empowers Christ’s followers to live “upright and godly lives,” while waiting expectantly for the “blessed hope”—the return of Christ

Grace provides the ongoing empowerment for one to conduct a holy life with zeal.

With out the Grace of God we have no reason to celebrate Christmas,

without Jesus it is just another expensive commercial holiday.

He gave us a gift that we could never afford, never obtain, and never deserve… “But God So Loved The World…”

Take Home?

Is Jesus Your Blessed Hope? & Do You Seek Him With Zeal?