For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 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 appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ… Titus 2:11-13
It’s God’s grace that convicts us of sin. It’s His grace that saves. It’s His grace that empowers us and teaches us how to live a post-lost life.
After we are saved, we live in a new paradigm. That’s a fancy way of saying that we have new perspective, a whole new way of looking at things. The problem is we live in the same old world. Grace having saved us doesn’t dump us as new creatures into a world that hasn’t changed. It empowers us and teaches us how to deal with our new circumstances.
Grace first teaches us to disown what ruled us before. Because of what Christ did for us, we don’t want to ever bring shame to Him.
In place of what use to compel us, Grace teaches us about self-control and living soberly. To live soberly means to not be drunk, to be aware of what’s real. Three things are real: 1. This is not our home. We need to live by heavenly standards. 2. Satan won’t be happy about that. He will try to derail us. 3. Others are watching. Those who are still loss are looking for hypocrisy. Our brothers and sisters are looking for example.
Grace teaches us to stop putting self first. To be upright and godly is to think first of God, then of others and lastly of ourselves.
Finally, grace teaches us perspective, about the blessed hope. What surrounds us now is temporary. What is coming is eternal and glorious. We should act accordingly.
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