Trouble-shooting with Titus #1

Titus 2:11-14

In Paul's letter to Titus, a young man he has left to oversee alot of his work in the churches in the region of Crete, he outlines useful practical advice in "straightening out what was left unfinished" amongst the churches. But snuck in this very useful and practical letter are three brief but outstanding portions of glorious Pauline theology that must have been of extreme comfort to Paul's trouble-shooter Titus, who was often sent in to bring order to chaotic and difficult situations (twice was sent into wild Corinth).

Here's a quick glimpse at the middle nugget, found at the end of chapter two, as Paul presents the Grace of God as something that has strength and that provides backbone, rather than the common misconception that Paul's "Grace gospel" was a soft one. Grace is more than just a doctrine that emphasises God's goodness and man's weakness, it is the very operating system of heaven that empowers us to live this thing called life out here on earth. As Heinz Schrader (lead elder of 3CI, Pretoria) once said, "I thank God for my salvation, and I can't wait for heaven, but it's just this messy bit called life in-between that I struggle with".

The Grace of God:
*brings salvation

-God draws us to himself through his kindness, and even while we were yet his enemies his Grace was at work wooing us to salvation by his Holy Spirit. Our salvation is an act undertaken entirely by God.

*appears to all men

-"For God so loved the world...God's grace is not restricted to just a few. God's will is that all men might reach out to him and be saved. Psalm 145:8-9. For more on this point check out http://saved-by-jesus-christ.blogspot.com/2006/07/common-grace.html

*it teaches

-firstly to say NO to ungodliness and worldly passions. The grace of God is not promoting licentiousness. "Should we sin more so that grace may abound? NO!" Grace empowers us by crucifying our old nature, the flesh, and making us alive by the Spirit.

-secondly, to live self-controlled, upright and Godly lives. Grace provides us with a back-bone. Where we were once foolish, disobedient, deceived and enslaved by all kinds of passions, the grace of God came riding in and redefined who I am. I am a new creation with a new nature. I am no longer lead by my flesh, but by my teacher, the Grace of God!

*it aides us in "THIS PRESENT AGE"

-Grace is not restricted to some future time and place. it is not just an access card to get into heaven one day. Grace brings strength to my steps and my every breath NOW!

verse 13 and 14 gives us a reminder that Christ gave himself in exchange for us:

-to redeem us from all wickedness

-and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.

There is most definitely a future element to this thing of Grace and I can't wait for the day, the glorious appearing of my great God and Savior, where my faith will be made sight! But I do love how the future and the present are intertwined here as we read that Christ's Grace outstretched to us is working in us, purifying us and creating a new response system in me that is eager to do what is good in the here and now.

The Grace of God is strong, wild and uncontained. It secures for us a future hope and yet at the same time becomes the necessity for our day to day living.