Skip to main content

Grace

             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, (Titus 2:11-12)

            I don’t know how many times I’ve read this verse, but clearly not enough. The idea that the grace of God offers salvation to all people is good Sunday School stuff. We know we’ve been saved by grace. I may be the only one (I doubt it), but if you’d asked me about grace before this morning, I think I would have considered grace being passive. We are saved by grace rather than grace saving us. It’s a tiny, seemingly insignificant difference that, right now, makes a lot of difference to me.

            The first thing Paul tells us is that grace of God appeared. I wish this were one of those showstopper sorts of events. Unfortunately, our lives are set to a soundtrack, so we don’t have the orchestra's swelling to signal its arrival. For some of us, grace is direct, but I suspect that’s more the exception than the rule. We may not even notice it at the time it arrives. At the same time, grace does appear in every aspect of our lives. After all, we have nothing, including our lives, because we have earned or deserve them.

            He adds that the grace that appears offers salvation. Like everything else we have, nothing about us results in our deserving salvation. We tend to think of salvation is being rescued from sin and Hell. While that’s true, what may be more important is that we are saved to Christ, by Christ, in Christ. Salvation is what brings God and us together, which means grace reunites us with God. Salvation is God giving us Himself.

            Finally, he says that grace teaches us two basic things: to say “No” to three things: ungodliness, worldly passions, and this present age. It also teaches us to say “Yes” to self-control, uprightness, and godliness.

            I wish I could tell you what this means and show you want it looks like. Perhaps you understand it while I don’t. I just can’t help but think that I’m missing something that, if I understood it, would make a huge difference in my life. But because I don’t understand it, I can do only one thing. I can depend on God’s grace to teach me.


Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

"Especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers. (Gal 6:10)   “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.   By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” (John 13:34-35)           Joshua grinned when he saw Rex standing by the door, studying something on the ground. "Hey, man! Are we ready to do this thing?"          Rex looked up. "Josh, I can't do it. We're still best buds, but I can't stand your fiancée."           I've met "Rex" many times. I've been Rex. Joshua (Jesus) loves the Church. He's not a fool. He knows the Church is far from perfect, but she is His chosen bride. The Rexes of this world, who think themselves His friend, turn away from her. "You don't need the Church to...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ssssssubmmissssssionnn

Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ . (Ephesians 5:21)             "Ssssssubmmisssssssionnn." Can't you just hear the serpent hissing this most horrible of words? If you listen to the serpent or the world, submission means groveling, allowing yourself to be abused, denying yourself your own humanity. Nothing could be worse than submission, could it?             Submission has never been a problem for me, as long as things are going the way I want them to. The rest of the time? Well, let's just say that while I don't know how to fight physically, I don't know how to not fight mentally. One of the fights I've been having with myself for years is about submission.             My first breakthrough took place on a trip to a bookstore. As I walked into the store, my thoughts were very clear. 1) I was goi...
Post a Comment
Read more

Shark Fins, Triple Dog Dares, Heroes, Villains and Sidekicks

Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their work: If one falls down, his friend can help him up. But pity the man who falls and has no one to help him up! Also, if two lie down together, they will keep warm. But how can one keep warm alone? Though one may be overpowered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)            There's a scene in Jaws in which someone sees a shark fin and starts a panic. As   all the swimmers scramble to shore, boats surround the fin, which falls over to reveal two kids. With several guns pointed at them, one of the kids points at the other. The message is clear: it was his idea. In Christmas Story, there's a scene in which one kid "triple dog dares" another to do something stupid. Since it's a triple dog dare, well, what choice does the boy have? There doesn't seem to be any end to the trouble that peer pressure can cause. ...
Post a Comment
Read more