'For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world...' - Titus 2 vs 11 - 12
Greetings dearly beloved in Christ Jesus. I pray that you are changed and rightly positioned in Christ as you read the words which I share with you in this publication. Amen.
Let us take a look at our opening Bible passages;
'For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world...' - Titus 2 vs 11 - 12 {KING JAMES VERSION}
We are clearly taught in the Gospel as clearly seen above that the grace of God that has brought about our salvation in Christ teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. - Selah
This admonition in the Gospel is the part where many Believers have not understood about the Gospel of the Kingdom of Christ, as they see the preaching of it as "salvation by works"; but it's evident that they have not understood the Gospel in it's entirety. - Selah
Someone may ask, can one understand the Gospel in it's entirety? Of course yes! For the fact that the Scriptures are not hidden from us, is a clear indication that they can be understood. - Think about it. The Apostle clearly instructed Titus that Good works (which the Gospel stands for) should be preached in the Church;
'These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.' - Titus 2 vs 15 {KJV}
But today, when one preaches the same, he is perceived as not understanding the Gospel, or as one who preaches "self righteousness", hence he is despised. But dearly beloved, you must be opened to seek after knowledge, to know and to understand what truly the Gospel is.
Let me show you a parable the Lord gave, to help you with clarity on what the Gospel demands of it's Believers. Read patiently;
'And, behold, a woman in the city, which was a sinner, when she knew that Jesus sat at meat in the Pharisee's house, brought an alabaster box of ointment,
And stood at his feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his feet, and anointed them with the ointment.
Now when the Pharisee which had bidden him saw it, he spake within himself, saying, This man, if he were a prophet, would have known who and what manner of woman this is that toucheth him: for she is a sinner.
And Jesus answering said unto him, Simon, I have somewhat to say unto thee. And he saith, Master, say on.
There was a certain creditor which had two debtors: the one owed five hundred pence, and the other fifty.
And when they had nothing to pay, he frankly forgave them both. Tell me therefore, which of them will love him most?
Simon answered and said, I suppose that he, to whom he forgave most. And he said unto him, Thou hast rightly judged.
And he turned to the woman, and said unto Simon, Seest thou this woman? I entered into thine house, thou gavest me no water for my feet: but she hath washed my feet with tears, and wiped them with the hairs of her head.
Thou gavest me no kiss: but this woman since the time I came in hath not ceased to kiss my feet.
My head with oil thou didst not anoint: but this woman hath anointed my feet with ointment.
Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.' - Luke 7 vs 37 - 47 {KING JAMES VERSION}
Having read this story, let me highlight verse 47 to you;
'Wherefore I say unto thee, Her sins, which are many, are forgiven; for she loved much: but to whom little is forgiven, the same loveth little.'
What do we get from this statement which the Lord made?
- He who much is forgiven loves much
- He who little is forgiven loves little
From this, you can understand that there is a reciprocal effect of love in any man who has been loved. That is what the Gospel achieved in us. The more a Christian understands the Love of God for him which led to God sending His only begotten Son to die for the world, the more that Christian should be found loving God and loving man (which is the proof that he loves God). What does this show to us? It shows us that the grace of God teaches us to be God-like. The grace of God did not save us to leave us the same, no! The grace of God made it possible for a man to sincerely desire to love God. So we can safely say that the grace of God is an empowerment in the Believer to live towards God. - Selah
See this also;
'Jesus went unto the mount of Olives.
And early in the morning he came again into the temple, and all the people came unto him; and he sat down, and taught them.
And the scribes and Pharisees brought unto him a woman taken in adultery; and when they had set her in the midst,
They say unto him, Master, this woman was taken in adultery, in the very act.
Now Moses in the law commanded us, that such should be stoned: but what sayest thou?
This they said, tempting him, that they might have to accuse him. But Jesus stooped down, and with his finger wrote on the ground, as though he heard them not.
So when they continued asking him, he lifted up himself, and said unto them, He that is without sin among you, let him first cast a stone at her.
And again he stooped down, and wrote on the ground.
And they which heard it, being convicted by their own conscience, went out one by one, beginning at the eldest, even unto the last: and Jesus was left alone, and the woman standing in the midst.
When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?
She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.' - John 8 vs 1 - 11 {KING JAMES VERSION}
Having read the story, let me highlight to you verse 11;
'...And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.'
This woman expected death that day, because evidently she knew the position of the Law concerning her offence. See it;
'If a man be found lying with a woman married to an husband, then they shall both of them die, both the man that lay with the woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.' - Deuteronomy 22 vs 22 {KJV}
She knew this, supposedly she was a Jew! To make her fears even worse, she was reported to Jesus (the Righteous). She might have lamented within her that Jesus being known as the righteous rabbi that He is, would judge her according to Moses' Law - because Moses' Laws was righteousness for the Jews at that time. But to her greatest surprise, Jesus said to her "neither do I condemn you". Waow! She couldn't believe what she was hearing! She saw the way Jesus addressed the men who held stones to stone her to death, how they dropped their stones and went away. Then Jesus said to her, Go and sin no more. I tell you, this woman ceased to be immoral from that very moment; not because of regard for Moses' Law (which she didn't regard initially), neither because of the fear of the consequence of breaking Moses' Law, but because of her love for Jesus! He touched her life. - Selah
This is Grace! This is the effect of Grace in a man who has believed and understood it! The outworkings of that man will be everything that pleases the Lord. Hence our opening Bible passages;
'For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world...'
The grace of God teaches us to deny ungodliness. - Selah
Denying ungodliness is not "self righteousness"; rather, denying ungodliness is the effect of Grace in the one who has believed and understood it. - Think about it
Finally for now, let's look at this Parable which the Lord also gave, so that we can further learn about the grace of God;
'Therefore is the kingdom of heaven likened unto a certain king, which would take account of his servants.
And when he had begun to reckon, one was brought unto him, which owed him ten thousand talents.
But forasmuch as he had not to pay, his lord commanded him to be sold, and his wife, and children, and all that he had, and payment to be made.
The servant therefore fell down, and worshipped him, saying, Lord, have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
Then the lord of that servant was moved with compassion, and loosed him, and forgave him the debt.
But the same servant went out, and found one of his fellowservants, which owed him an hundred pence: and he laid hands on him, and took him by the throat, saying, Pay me that thou owest.
And his fellowservant fell down at his feet, and besought him, saying, Have patience with me, and I will pay thee all.
And he would not: but went and cast him into prison, till he should pay the debt.
So when his fellowservants saw what was done, they were very sorry, and came and told unto their lord all that was done.
Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?
And his lord was wroth, and delivered him to the tormentors, till he should pay all that was due unto him.
So likewise shall my heavenly Father do also unto you, if ye from your hearts forgive not every one his brother their trespasses.' - Matthew 18 vs 23 - 35 {KING JAMES VERSION}
Having read this story, let me highlight to you verse 32 and 33;
'Then his lord, after that he had called him, said unto him, O thou wicked servant, I forgave thee all that debt, because thou desiredst me:
Shouldest not thou also have had compassion on thy fellowservant, even as I had pity on thee?'
You see that... So we learn from this parable that the grace of God (the Love which God has shown to us) empowers us to express the same Grace and Love to others. We learn from this story that, a "Believer" who walks contrary to the will of God, having understood the Love of God towards him, is still in darkness! The Holy Spirit has not had residence in such fellows heart. - Think about it
Do you know that if you have regard for God, you will not lie to your fellow man to deceive him or her? If you love God and have regard for Him, you will not defile your neighbour's body (fornication), because you know that she's the wife of someone in the future - and even if she is your girl friend, you will keep her body untampered because of your fear of God. - Think about it
'Love worketh no ill to his neighbour: therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.' - Romans 13 vs 10 {KJV}
I love the way the Amplified Bible Translation puts it;
'Love does no wrong to one’s neighbor [it never hurts anybody]. Therefore love meets all the requirements and is the fulfilling of the Law.'
Waow. It says, Love never hurts anybody. - Think about it. If you have regard for God, you will not steal from your neighbour, you will not defraud anybody, because God is dear to your heart. - Selah. Dearly beloved, If we have love/honour/true reverence for God in our hearts by reason of us recognising how He has loved us, our lives will be free from evil practices, because we love God.
'We love him, because he first loved us.' - 1 John 4 vs 19 {KJV}
He first loved us, hence we love Him. Think about it! A man who truly acknowledges the abundance of God's grace in his life does not intentionally displease God. Never! Walking in ungodliness is how a man hurts God. But as the Bible verse says above, if we love God, we will not hurt Him. This means that a man that loves God does not walk in ungodliness. Truly, Grace denies ungodliness. - Selah
So dearly beloved, you have clearly seen how that the grace of God that has brought us Salvation teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and also teaches us to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world.
I trust God to rightly position you in Christ by these words which you have read and received, and bring forth fruits of Salvation in you, by the working of these words in you. Amen.
God is with you.
- Jenning U. Angel
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