Moving Toward Christ

Titus 2:11–14 ESV

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Do we see our life moving toward Jesus?

In order to do this we must first understand God’s grace.

God’s grace toward us is based solely on His love and our total inability to meet God’s standards.

God’s grace is a gift we do not deserve and cannot earn.

Looking at verse 11 and 12 we see three things that His grace does for us.

First, it brings salvation for all people.

Ephesians 2:4–9 ESV

4 But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us, 5 even when we were dead in our trespasses, made us alive together with Christ—by grace you have been saved— 6 and raised us up with him and seated us with him in the heavenly places in Christ Jesus, 7 so that in the coming ages he might show the immeasurable riches of his grace in kindness toward us in Christ Jesus. 8 For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, 9 not a result of works, so that no one may boast.

Ephesians 2

There is nothing that we can do to earn this gift. Many religions believe you can, but if we truly understand our circumstance then we know that it is not based on anything we do or say. (Mormons, Islam, Buddhism. believe that doing good works you can earn a good standing, but no guarantee).

Second, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions.

From a human standpoint, this goes against our nature and human behavior.

When we understand what God’s grace does for us, then we allow the Holy Spirit to work in us to weed the things that are not of God out of our lives.

He does this by spending time in the Word, prayer, education (school or church).

When we spend time in the Word, it compels us to see things in our life that should not be there and move away from them.

Third, to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

As we focus our live on Christ and grow more in Him, then the world begins to see something different in us. Something that gives us a witness and testimony to share with a lost and dying world.

As all this takes place and we continue to grow in our relationship with Christ, then our focus is on looking for the promise.

Titus 2:13 ESV

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

We know that scripture shares with us over and over that Jesus is coming back for His Church. That is a promise!!

The Church comes together to praise and worship looking each day to that promise. We do not stand still and wait. But continue to grow and proclaim knowing that the day is drawing near.

Why does all this matter? Because of what verse 14 shares

Titus 2:14 ESV

14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.

Purify people for Himself!!

Everything Christ does, is out of love and GRACE!!