Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. (Titus 2:12-13)

Denying, Living, And Looking

The grace of God is abundant in the way the Lord has redeemed man from His wrath through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ. Jesus came to die for all men. There is no respecter of persons with God. He desires for all men to repent. For God so loved everyone in the world that He willingly gave His only begotten Son for the sins of mankind. Grace is the expression of the divine to save man who does not deserve redemption.

Salvation came from God to a world filled with darkness. Grace was offered, but there can be no mercy if grace is not acted on. Man cannot be saved by grace alone. There is a need for man to accept the grace of God in his obedience to the will of the Father. The grace of God teaches men to deny the sinful passions of the flesh, live with the wisdom from above, and look forward with hope to the promises of God. Grace leads man to redemption, but man must act upon his faith to be saved.

The gospel of Christ teaches that ungodliness and sinful pleasures must be turned away from. Obedience to the will of the Father demands sanctification or being set apart. Jesus taught that without repentance, there is no salvation. Turning away from ungodliness and worldly lusts is necessary. The grace of God will not save those who refuse to change their lives. Coming to Jesus Christ demands a denial of those things contrary to the will of the Father.

When the heart denies the desires of the flesh, the grace of God leads a person to live soberly, righteously, and godly. To live soberly is to restrain the heart from seeking after the passions of the world through the knowledge of the word of God. A righteous life is one guided by the principles of what is right in the eyes of God; not men. Righteousness is the character of doing right. This comes from the word of God.

Finally, the grace of God leads a man to live a godly life. Living godly is seeking to imitate the character of Jesus Christ. To be a godly man is to show control of the passions of the heart, fulfill responsibilities to others, and exemplify the word of God in every part of life. Godliness comes from the knowledge of God’s word.

Denying the passions of the world and living in the character of God leads a man to look forward to the blessed hope and glorious appearing of Jesus Christ. Having removed the trappings of the flesh, the spirit embraces the knowledge of eternal life and the longing to be clothed further with the heavenly garb. Jesus is coming back. That will not be a day of fearful expectation but one of joy to see the Lord coming in the clouds.

The grace of God appeared to all men to deny sin, live for Christ, and look forward to what God has planned for His children. Three things guide the heart to know the love of God that passes all understanding. When the heart denies the passions of the flesh and lives for righteousness, there is nothing else to respond but the hope of the glorious appearance of Christ. Deny. Live. Look forward.