LEARNING DAILY

Titus 2:13-14, Looking for the blessed hope, and glorious appearance of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.

In the last page of the blog, we looked at the grace of God. Verse 13 as Believers, we look to the blessed hope and the return of the Lord Jesus Christ. This coming event is known as our “blessed hope”, not because Believers are uncertain it will happen but because they have an assurance that Jesus Christ will return as He promised. Because He is going to return Believers need to be doing all they can to walk the narrow way, purifying themselves from sin right now cultivating a life of holiness (1 John 3:3), and living as Paul wrote to Titus in the last two verses.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 1:7 Believers should live each day in eager expectation as they wait for Jesus Christ to return. That gives the idea of being persistent in their expectation. Can you even imagine what it will be like to see Jesus Christ, “our great God and Savior Jesus Christ”, when He returns. Think for a moment about going to be with Him in His kingdom for eternity; the trials Believers have faced physically, mentally, spiritually, will be over. Paul wrote in Romans 8:18, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed”.

So, the Believer’s walk on the narrow way doing their best, with the guidance and help of the Holy Spirit, to live their lives according to His will and His glory, anticipating His return; His return is a motivating factor in how we live. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5:10 that all Believers will stand before Christ to give an account for the way they lived their lives. This is not about salvation because that was taken care of the moment you placed your faith in Jesus Christ to save you from your sins. This is about rewards given out because of the way you lived your life, what the Believer did for the honor and glory of God. Works do not justify (validate) the Believer, the works are done because one is justified by Jesus Christ.

 Verse 14 begins, “who gave Himself for us”. The focal point of this statement is Jesus Christ gave His life for “whosoever would believe in Him” (John 3;16); redemption – He willingly gave His life to pay the penalty of sin. I know this is basic theology, but Believers must not ever become complacent about their salvation and the need to grow, to walk the narrow way with Him. The purpose of this redemption is not only about being saved from the sinful nature and eternal death but also to be delivered from the power and influence of sin every day. That is what Paul is writing to Titus and Believers today when he writes Jesus “might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works”. It is not enough to just acknowledge the sacrifice Christ made for the Believer, there is the expectation that the Believer’s life would change and reflect purity and holiness – to walk the narrow way! Good works become the natural result of walking the narrow way as God intends Believers to do. Doing so reflects His character and brings honor and glory to Him.

May I encourage each of you reading this to live out your faith through your speech and actions!