Pondering Life : Pursuing God

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age.

Titus 2:11-12

SUPPORTING SCRIPTURE

Acts 17:30
Although God overlooked the ignorance of earlier times, He now commands all men everywhere to repent.

1 Timothy 2:4
who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.

Matthew 12:32
Whoever speaks a word against the Son of Man will be forgiven, but whoever speaks against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven, either in this age or in the one to come.

Acts 24:25
As Paul expounded on righteousness, self-control, and the coming judgment, Felix became frightened and said, “You may go for now. When I find the time, I will call for you.”

1 Timothy 6:9
Those who want to be rich, however, fall into temptation and become ensnared by many foolish and harmful desires that plunge them into ruin and destruction.

1 Timothy 6:17
Instruct those who are rich in the present age not to be conceited and not to put their hope in the uncertainty of wealth, but in God, who richly provides all things for us to enjoy.

2 Timothy 3:12
Indeed, all who desire to live godly lives in Christ Jesus will be persecuted,

Titus 3:3
For at one time we too were foolish, disobedient, misled, enslaved to all sorts of desires and pleasures, living in malice and envy, hateful, and hating one another.

James 1:27
Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to care for orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.

SELECT COMMENTARY

Gill’s Exposition of the Entire Bible
Teaching us,…. Not all men, to whom the Gospel appears in its outward ministry; for there are many who externally receive the Gospel, and profess it, who are never influentially taught by it to deny sin, or love holiness of life; they profess in words to know it, but in works deny it; they have a form of godliness, but deny its power: but the persons effectually taught by the Gospel are the “us”, to whom it was come, not in word only, but in power; and so taught them, not only doctrinally, but with efficacy, both negative and positive holiness, as follows:

that denying ungodliness and worldly lusts; all impiety, or sin more immediately against God; or which is a violation of the first table of the law, as idolatry, will worship, superstition, perjury, and the like; and all sinful lusts, as the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eye, and the pride of life; which fill the world, and are reigning lusts in it, and which are common to the men of the world; and they are under the power of: to “deny” these, is to abhor and detest them, and to abstain from them, and have nothing to do with them: and this lesson of self-denial, or of the denial of sinful self, the Gospel teaches, and urges upon the most powerful motives and arguments; and when attended by the Spirit of God, does it effectually: so that

we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world; not, only “temperately”, but wisely and prudently, as children of the light, on whom, and into whom the Gospel has shined; and “righteously” among men, giving to every man his due, and dealing with all according to the rules of equity and justice; as being made new men, created unto righteousness and true holiness; and as being dead to sin, through the death of Christ, and so living unto righteousness, or in a righteous manner; and as being justified by the righteousness of Christ, revealed in the Gospel: and “godly”; in a godly manner, according to the Word of God, and agreeably to the will of God; and in all godly exercises, both public and private, and to the glory of God: and that as long as

in this present world: which lies in wickedness, and in which there are so many strong temptations to a contrary way of living. The Gospel then is no licentious doctrine; it is according to godliness, and teaches and promotes it; it is an holy faith, yea, a most holy faith; wherefore it is a vile slander to charge it with leading to looseness of life and conversation.

Jamieson-Fausset-Brown Bible Commentary:
live soberly, righteously, and godly—the positive side of the Christian character; as “denying … lusts” was the negative. “Soberly,” that is, with self-restraint, in relation to one’s self: “righteously” or justly, in relation to our neighbor; “godly” or piously, in relation to God (not merely amiably and justly, but something higher, godly, with love and reverence toward God). These three comprise our “disciplining” in faith and love, from which he passes to hope (Tit 2:13).

Matthew Henry Commentary
The doctrine of grace and salvation by the gospel, is for all ranks and conditions of men. It teaches to forsake sin; to have no more to do with it. An earthly, sensual conversation suits not a heavenly calling. It teaches to make conscience of that which is good. We must look to God in Christ, as the object of our hope and worship. A gospel conversation must be a godly conversation. See our duty in a very few words; denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, living soberly, righteously, and godly, notwithstanding all snares, temptations, corrupt examples, ill usage, and what remains of sin in the believer’s heart, with all their hinderances. It teaches to look for the glories of another world.

KIRK’S PONDERING

Because of the lavish grace of God we each have the opportunity and duty to respond accordingly to the good Gospel of Christ. We have the ultimate choice to completely ignore or partially embrace while living double minded as James warns so directly and unequivocally pronounces as ‘unstable’.

Is a carnal Christian a Christian at all?

Ultimately, that is God’s decision and based on a variety of factors. The Bible no doubt warns us repeatedly about a lack of holiness and living for worldliness. Yet we each are all infected by sin. Yet, the Holy Spirit enables us to overcome aspects of our flesh but more importantly He guides us into Christ’s presence and protection where safety abounds and grace is abundant.

Like John says 1 John 1:8 “If we say that we have no sin, we are deceiving ourselves and the truth is not in us”. Which is a sin in itself by living a lie.

Love, Trust, Obey and Repent. Repeat. Is this not the Christian mantra in a nutshell?
Love, Trust, Obey and Repent. Repeat. Lord willing, as we mature and are sanctified, we do more of the 1st 3…Love, Trust, Obey.

Inspired Titus urges us to love soberly, righteously, and godly.
That is SRG

LET’S PRAY

LORD, who know me better than I know me. May your Son and Spirit be readily present today and in my all time of need. Help me to effectively embrace Your gracious calling today and forevermore. Down with the old and up with the new.