For The Grace Of God Has Appeared To All People. It Teaches Us To Say "No" To Ungodliness & Worldly Passions

TITUS 2:9-14
“Exhort bondservants to be obedient to their own masters, to be well pleasing in all things, not answering back, not pilfering, but showing all good fidelity, that they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior in all things. 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, looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself His own special people, zealous for good works.
”‭‭Titus‬ ‭2:9-14‬ ‭NKJV‬
‬https://bible.com/bible/114/tit.2.9-14.NKJ

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Slavery was common back in Paul’s day.
But Paul advised slaves and masters to be loving and responsible in their conduct (see EPHESIANS 6:5-9). Paul never condemned slavery in any of his letters.
Today, the standards set by Paul, can be a help to all employer/ employee relationships.
Employees should always work hard, show respect to their employers, doing the very best they possibly can. Colossians 3:23 tells us; Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than people.
Employers, must treat their staff with Care, respect, and pay his staff a fair wage without grudge.
Christ came the first time with mercy and grace to save all people from their sins; when He returns, He will come in glory pouring out His holy judgement upon this earth, and sadly many who have rejected Christ will be lost forever.
Paul reminded Timothy that there is a special crown awaiting all who “eagerly look forward to His appearing” (2 TIMOTHY 4:8).
“Our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ” (verse 13), is one of the strongest statements of the deity of Christ in the New Testament. Understanding the deity of Jesus Christ is most important, for He who denies Christ makes himself of the enemy (1 JOHN 2:22; 1 JOHN 4:3).
We believers must live godly lives in this evil world.
We believers must be seen as different, separating ourselves from the sinful things of this world and living with wisdom, righteousness, and devotion to God; bringing glory to our Father in heaven in everything we do, presenting our bodies a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God.
We cannot continue in sin simply because it has become “normal” in this world.
One may consider living with a partner outside of marriage as “normal”, in today’s world, but in God’s eyes, it is still sin, and it’s what God thinks that counts.
Sin opens the door to the devil and gives him direct access through our flesh to our very souls, our mind, will, and emotions as we lose God’s protection; it literally separates us from God and gives the devil authority to take possession over areas of one’s life.
Repentance draws one close to God and brings peace.
James told us, “Therefore submit to God. Resist the devil and he will flee from you. Draw near to God and He will draw near to you. Cleanse your hands, you sinners; and purify your hearts, you double-minded. Lament and mourn and weep! Let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to gloom. Humble yourselves in the sight of the Lord, and He will lift you up.”
‭‭James‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬-‭10‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Presenting our bodies a living sacrifice holy and acceptable to God is the least we can do. Therefore, do not be conformed to this world, but rather, be transformed by the renewing of our minds, that we shall come to understand what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God (ROMAN 12:1-2).
This life is not about achieving worldly gains, it is about bringing the lost back to the Lordship of Christ.
We believers are called to serve the Most High within Jesus’ five fold ministry; “And He Himself gave some to be apostles, some prophets, some evangelists, and some pastors and teachers, for the equipping of the saints for the work of ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ, till we all come to the unity of the faith and of the knowledge of the Son of God, to a perfect man, to the measure of the stature of the fullness of Christ; that we should no longer be children, tossed to and fro and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the trickery of men, in the cunning craftiness of deceitful plotting, but, speaking the truth in love, may grow up in all things into Him who is the head—Christ— from whom the whole body, joined and knit together by what every joint supplies, according to the effective working by which every part does its share, causes growth of the body for the edifying of itself in love.”
‭‭Ephesians‬ ‭4‬:‭11‬-‭16‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
Every believer is called into at least one of those five categories and is gifted with spiritual gifts according to his calling (1 CORINTHIANS 12:8-10); not for personal gain in this world, but to serve within the body of Christ with the goal of saving souls and for the edification of the whole body (EPHESIANS 4:12).
The things of this world are tempting; we all want a nice life, a nice home, job, career, car, and so on, and there’s nothing wrong with that, but those things are temporary and shall be short lived.
Salvation is offered to all people, but not all shall receive, for the Lord said, “My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. Because you have rejected knowledge, I also will reject you from being priest for Me; Because you have forgotten the law of your God, I also will forget your children.”
‭‭Hosea‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
But the grace of God had appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say no to ungodliness and world passions, and to live with self-control, upright and godly lives in this present age.
My beloved, life isn’t always easy, and you may run a difficult race. But those of you who endure, when you cross the finish line of this temporary life, shall have the victory “and when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the crown of glory that does not fade away.”
‭‭I Peter‬ ‭5‬:‭4‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, the end is close, it’s all but over; Jesus return is imminent.
Repentance is key; that is to turn from all that is ungodly toward God; it is to submit to the Lord in all things with willingness to change and walk in obedience with God. But most of all, it is to believe on the Lord Jesus Christ.
“But what does it say? “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the word of faith which we preach): that if you confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, you will be saved. For with the heart one believes unto righteousness, and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation. For the Scripture says, “Whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.” For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek, for the same Lord over all is rich to all who call upon Him. For “whoever calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved.””
‭‭Romans‬ ‭10‬:‭8‬-‭13‬ ‭NKJV‬‬
My beloved, “You are not restricted by us, but you are restricted by your own affections. Now in return for the same (I speak as to children), you also be open. Do not be unequally yoked together with unbelievers. For what fellowship has righteousness with lawlessness? And what communion has light with darkness? And what accord has Christ with Belial? Or what part has a believer with an unbeliever? And what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For you are the temple of the living God. As God has said: “I will dwell in them And walk among them. I will be their God, And they shall be My people.” Therefore “Come out from among them And be separate, says the Lord. Do not touch what is unclean, And I will receive you.” “I will be a Father to you, And you shall be My sons and daughters, Says the Lord Almighty.””
‭‭II Corinthians‬ ‭6‬:‭12‬-‭18‬ ‭NKJV‬
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.