Grace Trains you for Godly Living

You’ve Forgotten one thing...

A truly righteous life is a life that abides in Christ, knowing that only Jesus Christ can provide all the believer needs to live.

A young boy doing his best to lift a suitcase twice his size strained and grunted in an effort to pick up the huge bag, but to no avail. He could not budge it. After several moments, his father walked into the room and saw his son struggling. “Having some trouble with that, son?” the father asked. With a long face turned several shades of red, the young lad replied, “Yes, I’ve tried to push it and pull it and it just won’t move.”

Seeing an opportunity to teach a valuable lesson, the father pressed on, “Are you sure you’ve tried everything?” The exasperated boy looked up at his father and said, “Daddy, I’ve thought of everything. I’m out of ideas and I’m out of strength.”

His father then placed his large hand on the young boy’s head and said, “Son, you’ve forgotten one thing that can help you move this heavy suitcase. You’ve forgotten about me. You can always call on me.”

The only way you can live a godly life that is acceptable to God is through the grace given to you through Jesus. Titus says as much in

Titus 2:11 ESV

For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,

Jesus is the grace Titus is speaking of in verse 1. He is the salvation offered to all people. When you call on Him, like the little boy who calls upon his daddy, the Father does all the heavy lifting to save you and empower you to live in a way that pleases him.

You need grace to live for him because this present age, the time you are living now, is wicked.

Paul encoruaegs the Ephesian church,

Ephesians 5:15–16 ESV

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil.

Days of evil describes the world’s disobedience to God. The word is corrupt because of the influence of Satan and sin. The heart of man is cold toward God’s ways. Evil is tolerated, even celebrated. Because the days are evil, those who wish to please God will have a difficult time living a godly life.

Tonight, I want you to see that God provides you grace to that trains you to live a godly life, now, even in a world that rejects him. Furthermore, knowing he is coming back gives you hope that sustains you as you live a godly life, and his Spirit will empower you to proclaim his truth to others who need him.

God’s grace trains you to live a godly life now (Titus 2:11-12)

Titus 2:11–12 ESV

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,

God’s grace trains you to renounce evil.

Evil is everything that opposes God. Moral evils are beliefs and values that oppose God’s beliefs and values. God says to tell the truth (negatively do not lie). Therefore lying is a moral evil because it opposes truth. God’s grace in your life trains you to renounce evil by helping you understand and believe in his ways.

God’s grace trains you to renounce worldly passions.

Worldly passions are sinful passions. These are desires that are not pleasing to God. Some examples of worldly desires are what Paul calls the works of the flesh.

Galatians 5:19–21 ESV

Now the works of the flesh are evident: sexual immorality, impurity, sensuality, idolatry, sorcery, enmity, strife, jealousy, fits of anger, rivalries, dissensions, divisions, envy, drunkenness, orgies, and things like these. I warn you, as I warned you before, that those who do such things will not inherit the kingdom of God.

To renounce worldly passions is to on the one hand reject doing them in your own life and on the other hand not participating in them with others.

God’s grace trains you to regard highly self-control.

God’s grace gives you the power to deny these things. Self-control is exactly what it sounds like. It is having the ability to say no evil and its passions that tempt you in the flesh, and to be able to say no to others who tempt you. Grace shows you a better way to live.

Paul explains the better way to live is by walking in the Spirit.

Galatians 5:22–23 ESV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.

God’s grace of salvation includes giving you his Spirit who enables you to live a godly life. The spirit of God inside of you helps you renounce evil and worldly passions. he then directs you to live a better life that pleases God. He bears fruit in your life.

God’s grace trains you to regard highly justice.

Titus says Go’d grace trains you to love justice. Justice is exercising righteousness. it is doing the right thing that honors both God and man. Justice promotes equality among humanity. God’s grace trains you to look at all of humanity, rich or poor, black or white, abled or disabled, man or woman, adult or child, as made in the image of God, as someone who deserves life. Justice values all of life and seeks to bring harmony to wall walks of life.

God’s grace trains you to regard-highly righteousness.

Righteousness is living by God’s standard. You live in the truth.

The Grace of God sustains you now as you await the second coming Christ.

Jesus is coming back to restore everything that is broken and reconcile all wrongs.

Titus 2:13–14 ESV

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

When Jesus comes back he will be the true King who rules with perfect justice and righteousness. The prophet Isaiah says he will be the Prince of Peace and will reign king of Kings and Lord of Lords

Isaiah 9:6–9 (ESV)

his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore.

Furthermore, when he comes back we will become just like he is.

1 John 3:2–3 ESV

Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is. And everyone who thus hopes in him purifies himself as he is pure.

We look forward to his full redemption. Satan will be defeated and death will perish. Secondly, we look forward to perfect purity. Sin will no longer exist in us or around us. Which means it will no longer have to be trained in godliness. We will naturally live in it. We will know what it means to be complete and safe in God’s presence. We will be God’s children.

All of this motivates us toward good works. ie Godly living. Knowing Jesus is coming back is grace for you because it sustains you, it strengthens you, it motivates you to keep living a godly life.

Therefore, proclaim his truth! (Titus 2:15)

Titus 2:15 ESV

Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

In light of God’s grace training you to live a godly life and knowing Jesus is coming back, preach the gospel. Exhort people, that is encourage them to keep going. Tell the truth and help them live godly lives. Also, rebuke people when they are falling away into wickedness. Don’t be afraid to call out evil, renounce it. Stand up for God’s righteousness. You’ve been given the authority to do it by the power of Christ.

Living a godly life on your own is no different than that little boy trying to carry that massive suitcase on his own. Only when he called out to His father did he get the help he needed. In the same way, God’s grace is available for you to train you to renounce evil and worldly passions. His grace is available for you to walk in self-control, justice, and righteousness, just like Jesus. Just call out to him and receive his grace.