In my devotions this morning, I listened in on Paul teaching something to Titus that I find very helpful for my daily walk. Paul tells Titus:
“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 this present age… (Titus 2:11).

Observation:
Notice that Paul makes a connection between the “grace of God” in “salvation” with our “training” in how we approach life.

Question:
So, what is the connection between God’s grace in salvation and how it works to develop me in how I live today?

William Romaine (born 1714) is a helpful resource here. Romaine was one of the leaders of the 18th century revival in England, along with George Whitfield and the Wesley brothers. In his classic work on faith, Romaine wrote,

“No sin can be crucified either in heart or life, unless it be first pardoned in conscience, because there will be want of faith to receive the strength of Jesus, by whom alone it can be crucified. If it be not mortified in its guilt, it cannot be subdued in its power.”

Romaine is saying that if you do not believe you are dead to sins guilt, you cannot trust Christ for the strength to subdue its power in your life. So the place to begin in dealing with sin in your life is to count on the fact that you died to its guilt through your union with Christ in his death. This is what the Gospel message does, it shows us who we are, who God is, and what He provides through the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. So Paul doesn’t confine God’s grace to just the initial belief in the Gospel. In Paul’s outlook, God’s grace is not only the basis for our salvation (our “justification”), but it also serves as the basis for our maturity as a Christian (our “sanctification”).This is exactly the progression Paul is encouraging Titus with. The grace of God finds its epicenter in the Gospel and then, after conversion takes place, we apprehend power to live precisely from the same grace-source that was given to us when we trusted in Christ. This same grace or power will enable us to reject sinful actions and pursue God-centered living.

Therefore, I can tell when I am actively receiving the grace of God – I will be obedient to what I know God expects from me in my life. [Note: “Obedience” also includes being obedient to repent when I fail to love God more than I love myself]. When I don’t walk in obedience I am not trusting in the grace of God that was (fully) provided for me and made accessible to me when I initially trusted in Jesus as Savior. So, Paul wants Titus to know that the type of grace God gives can be seen in us as it “trains” us to reject blatant acts of sin (ungodliness) and hidden, self-motivated desire (“worldly passions”). When I reject these things I can be confident and thankful for God’s grace is mine to enjoy. If I want more focus in living a God-centered life, I need to meditate on the qualities of Jesus and his actions accomplished on my behalf before a holy, sin-hating God. The Gospel (good news) of what Jesus has done on my behalf will then motivate me to live a life out of gratefulness and joy over the person and work of Jesus knowing I am fully accepted by God! What an amazing truth given my frailty and weakness! The Holy Spirit will then translate this worship of God in Jesus into actions displayed as spiritual fruit in my life.

Amen.