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THE LAST SUPPER

During this Holy Week we will talk about some significant events that took place during Christ’s crucifixion and resurrection. We will focus on:
The Last Supper
Judas’ Betrayal
Jesus’ Crucifixion
Jesus’ Resurrection
SCRIPTURE TEXT: “Then He took a loaf and after thanking God He broke it and gave it to them with these words, “This is My Body which is given for you: do this in remembrance of Me.” So too He gave them a cup after supper with these words, “This cup is the new agreement made in My own Blood which is shed for you.” – Luke 22 : 19 

Just as, at Christmas time, Christians celebrate the birth of Jesus, so at Passover time, the Jews celebrate the occasion when God delivered their nation from Egypt where they had been enslaved. The Passover feast was one of the highlights of the year and Jesus longed to share this special meal with His closest friends, His disciples.

The disciples were never to forget this particular occasion, partly because it was to prove to be the last meal they would eat with Jesus before His death and partly because of the things Jesus did on this occasion. John describes one of the surprises Jesus sprung on that particular evening: “Jesus…rose from the supper-table, took off His outer clothes, picked up a towel and fastened it around His waist. Then He poured water into the basin and began to wash the disciples’ feet and to dry them with the towel around His waist…When Jesus had washed their feet and put on His clothes, He sat down again and spoke to them: ‘Do you realize what I have just done to you? You call Me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord’ and are quite right, for I am your Teacher and your Lord. But if I your Teacher and Lord, have washed your feet, you must be ready to wash one another’s feet. I have given you this example so that you may do as I have done.”-John 13: 4-15

In washing His friends’ feet, Jesus had performed the most menial task imaginable. His challenge to us is: “Love one another as I have loved you.”

Like every host at this particular meal, Jesus took bread and distributed it to His friends. Then took a cup of wine and blessed it. 

“After supper He took another cup of wine and said, “This cup is the new covenant between God and His people—an agreement confirmed with My blood, which is poured out as a sacrifice for you. But here at this table, sitting among us as a friend, is the man who will betray me. For it has been determined that the Son of Man must die. But what sorrow awaits the one who betrays Him.” The disciples began to ask each other which of them would ever do such a thing.” -Luke 22:20-23 (NLT)


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WE HAVE ETERNAL LIFE THROUGH JESUS CHRIST

For the weeks ahead we will focus on some portions of Romans.Paul writes about how the Christian life should be lived. Especially about the way of love in relations with others. He clearly states the foundations of Christian faith. A journey through Romans will help us keep close to these foundations and we will never be at a loss to know what to believe and how to behave. I will be sharing with you some selected notes from the Life Application Study Bible (NLT). Enjoy!

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “God’s law was given so that all people could see how sinful they were. But as people sinned more and more, God’s wonderful grace became more abundant. So just as sin ruled over all people and brought them to death, now God’s wonderful grace rules instead, giving us right standing with God and resulting in eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.“–Romans 5 : 20-21(NLT) 

As a sinner, separated from God, you see His law from below, as a ladder to be climbed to get to God. Perhaps you have repeatedly tried to climb it, only to fall to the ground every time you have advanced one or two rungs. Or perhaps the sheer height of the ladder seems so overwhelming that you have never even started up.

In either case, what relief you should feel to see Jesus offering with open arms to lift you above the ladder of the law, to take you directly to God! Once Jesus lifts you into God’s presence, you are free to obey—out of love, not necessity, and through God’s power, not your own. You know that if you stumble, you will not fall back to the ground. Instead, you will be caught and held in Christ’s loving arms.


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CHRIST OUR LORD

Dear Reader,

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday but instead of focusing on the usual story of the Triumphal Entry, important though it is, we would like to share with you how the gospel of Luke handles Jesus’ entry into Jerusalem and His actions thereafter.

The Triumphal Approach to Jerusalem:  Luke 19:28-40

After Jesus said this, He went on in front of them toward Jerusalem. As He came near Bethphage and Bethany at the Mount of Olives, He sent two disciples ahead with these instructions: “Go to the village there ahead of you; as you go in, you will find a colt tied up that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If someone asks you why you are untying it, tell him that the Master needs it.”  They went on their way and found everything just as Jesus had told them. As they were untying the colt, its owners said to them, “Why are you untying it?”  “The Master needs it,” they answered,and they took the colt to Jesus. Then they threw their cloaks over the animal and helped Jesus get on. As He rode on, people spread their cloaks on the road.  When He came near Jerusalem, at the place where the road went down the Mount of Olives, the large crowd of His disciples began to thank God and praise Him in loud voices for all the great things that they had seen:“God bless the king who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory to God!”  Then some of the Pharisees in the crowd spoke to Jesus. “Teacher,” they said, “command your disciples to be quiet!”  Jesus answered, “I tell you that if they keep quiet, the stones themselves will start shouting.”  – (Good News)

Let us now continue with why Christ died.  The hymn writer, Henry Francis Lyte (1793 – 1847) puts it so appropriately in one of his hymns.

“PRAISE, my soul, the King of heaven, To His feet thy tribute bring;
Ransomed, healed, restored, forgiven, Who like thee His praise should sing?
Praise Him! Praise Him!  Praise the everlasting King.”  – MHB 12: Stanza 1

And it is true Christ died that we would be delivered from bondage of sin – “For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord” – Rom. 6:23 (NIV).  Christ died to Ransom us, Heal us, Restore us and Forgive us.

As you enjoy this article, please commit yourself again to the Lord Jesus Christ whom to known is “Eternal Life.”  Let Him ride into the “Jerusalem of your heart.”  Weep over your sins and cleanse your heart which is the temple of the Holy Spirit from all that does not please our Holy, loving God.

WHY CHRIST DIED

When God first created mankind, He intended that an intimate relationship should exist between the Creator and His creatures.  But the first man and woman chose to disobey God and therefore forfeited the privilege of this close friendship with God.  Moreover, through their disobedience, sin made its entry into the world: ‘Sin came into the world through one man.’ – Romans 5:12

This sin gave Satan the firm foothold he had been looking for.  Sin and Satan now held the world in a vice-like grip.  God’s people now walked in darkness: oppressed by Satan.  Spiritually speaking, they lived in a never-ending winter: rarely experiencing the warmth of God’s love.  Enslaved by sin as they were, they were doomed to die both physically and spiritually.  ‘(Adam’s) sin brought death with it. As a result, death has spread to the whole human race because everyone has sinned.’ – Romans 5:12

Who could rescue God’s creation from the curse of Satan, the enemy?  Mankind’s rescuer would need to be someone strong enough to engage in battle against the power of Satan; someone who would fight compromise with evil, for evil cannot combat evil; only goodness can do that.  There was only one person who could even attempt the rescue bid: God Himself.  So God entered the world in the form of the perfect man: Jesus Christ. ‘God in Christ was reconciling the world to Himself.’ – 2 Corinthians 5:19

Jesus knew the solution to the sin-problem.  He, the man-who-never-sinned, would need to take upon Himself every sin each individual in the world had ever committed and would ever commit.  It would be as though He Himself had committed the crimes of the cosmos.  He would therefore pay the penalty in person.  He would die:  ‘Without beauty, without majesty (we saw him), no looks to attract our eyes; a thing despised and rejected by men, a man of sorrows and familiar with suffering, a man to make people screen their faces He was despised and we took no account of Him.

And yet ours were the sufferings He bore, ours the sorrows He carried.  But we, we thought of Him as someone punished, struck by God, and brought low.  Yet He was pierced through for our faults, crushed for our sins.  On Him lies a punishment that brings us peace, and through His wounds we are healed.  We had all gone astray like sheep, each taking his own way, and Yahweh burdened Him with the sins of all of us.’ – Isaiah 53:2-6

PRAYER

Lord Jesus, help me to drink in these facts:

Mine were the sufferings you bore

Mine the sorrows you carried

You were pierced through for my faults

Crushed because of my sin

God laid on you the punishment that brought me

Peace

Joy

And a whole new start in life

Help me to say an adequate

Thank you.

RANSOMED

A man was once caught stealing from his employers.  When the court case was heard, the judge imposed a fine of GH¢50.  Failure to pay the prescribed fine, he said, would result in imprisonment.  The night of the court hearing, the man despaired.  He had no money.  That was why he had resorted to stealing in the first place.  How was he to pay the fine?  The thought of a period in prison filled him with horror.  Next morning, a brown envelope fell through this man’s letter-box.  It contained ten, crisp, new five Ghana Cedis notes and a hand-written explanation: To pay off the debt.  The offender never discovered where the money had come from.  The only information he could glean was that a member of the nearby church heard of his plight and decided to set him free from the threat of imprisonment.

When Jesus died on the cruel cross, He brought our release from the clutches of the evil one.  He also set us free from the bondage to sin in which we had been trapped.  And He delivered us from the effects of the sin-stained past and from the guilt that enshrouded us:  The death of Christ ‘One act of perfect righteousness, presents all men freely acquitted in the sight of God.’  – Romans 5:18. ‘God loved the world so much that He gave his only Son, that everyone who has faith in Him may not die but have eternal life.’ – John 3:16

This article has been heavily inspired by Joyce Hugget in “Approaching Easter, Meditations for Lent.”

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For further inquiries please contact us on Tel Nos. 0302-772013 or 0268130615

Email:  saltnlightministries@gmail.com

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THE TRIUMPHAL ENTRY

“As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, saying to the, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her.  Untie them and bring them to me. If anyone says anything to you, tell him that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.” – Matt. 21:1-3 (NIV)

Evidence of the Supernatural

Jesus informed the disciples that as they entered the village they would find a female donkey securely tied and with her would be a colt, also hitched.  The disciples were to unloose and bring back both animals and that they would be questioned by the animals’ owners – “As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” – Luke 19:33 – (NIV) as to what they were doing and their response was to be, “The Lord has need of them.”  This was not a pre-arranged agreement, rather, it provides a dramatic example of the Lord’s exercise of supernatural knowledge whenever the circumstances demanded.  The owners of these donkeys were obviously disciples of Jesus as they did not hesitate to give the donkeys out.

The Adoring Crowds

As the Saviour rode down the road towards Jerusalem, two groups of people converged upon Him – a massive crowd coming out of the city and another group following Him “The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, ”Hosanna to the Son of David!”  “Blessed is He who comes in the name of Lord!”  “Hosanna in the highest!” – Matt. 21:9 (NIV).  These people were mostly those who had been surprised by the effect of the Lord’s miracles, especially the resurrection of Lazarus which was current – “When He came near the place where the road goes down the Mount of Olives, the whole crowd of disciples began joyfully to praise God in loud voices for all the miracles they had seen” – Luke 19:37 (NIV).  Some paved the road with their garments and others with palm branches shouting hosanna – a symbol of submission.

Fulfilled Prophecy

Jesus fulfils prophecy in Zechariah 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!  See, your king comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey.”  By His entry into Jerusalem on a donkey, Jesus publicly testifies that He is the predicted King and Messiah.

Jesus is not just “a conquering King” to fight the oppressive Roman regime.  Rather He rides in to Jerusalem in humility – ready to take up the cross and die to save mankind from the oppressive rule of Satan and conquer sin and death.  Jesus’ humble entry is a deliberate symbolic act to show that His Kingdom is not of this earth and that He did not come to rule the world with force or violence.  His kingdom is spiritual, He is the Prince of Peace.  He did not choose to ride into Jerusalem on a horse – a symbol of war, but on a foal of a donkey – a symbol of peace.

A Moment of Sadness

When Jesus came near to Jerusalem, He looked across the city and wept – “As He approached and saw the city, He wept over it” – Luke 19:41 (NIV).  This is one of the three instances in the New Testament where Christ shed tears.  The Man of Sorrows grieved over the fact that so many of His people had closed their eyes to the truth of His identity and mission – “He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him” – John 1:11; and that the very peace they sought would be taken from them and, in its place would come their enemies – the Roman armies – actually God’s armies.

A FEW THINGS WORTHY OF NOTE

 Jesus’ Divine Sovereignty 

He asked the disciples to go to the village and untie a donkey and bring it for His use and when questioned to say that the Lord has need of it.  It is noteworthy that:

  • The disciples obeyed and went;
  • They were questioned as Jesus had said, the owner unhesitatingly released   

   the donkey;                 

  • The colt yielded to the Lord’s ride – though no one had ever ridden on it, it was not afraid; 
  • Adoring crowds – They came from everywhere and responded spontaneously.  They recognised the coming King and shouted in praise and adoration – Hosanna – originally meaning save us now but also used to praise;
  • They recognised Jesus as one coming in the name of the Lord;
  • They identified Jesus as the promised heir of the throne of David – salvation would accompany His work;
  • He would be enthroned as King to usher in His Kingdom Luke 1:32-33;
  • Peace would result and God would be glorified.
  • There was strong opposition from the Pharisees. 
  • They wanted Jesus to silence the adoration, praise and joy of the crowds!  But Jesus says that the stones will take up the praise if the people are stopped – when God is doing something no one can thwart Him.

End Piece

All the gospels speak about Jesus’ Triumphal Entry which we call “Palm Sunday,” the day when a whole city threw a parade for Jesus.  As He rode into the city, the people threw palm branches in anticipation of His coming as Messiah as we read in Zech. 9:9 “Rejoice greatly, O Daughter of Zion!  Shout, Daughter of Jerusalem!  See, your King comes to you, righteous and having salvation, gentle and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey” – (NIV).  The day marked the celebration of Jesus being worshipped and praised.  But barely a week later, the same crowd that shouted “Hosanna,” “Hosanna” were loud with their “Crucify Him,” “Crucify Him.” 

Many of them were following Jesus as part of the crowd and did not really know Him. 

What about you?  Hosanna means “Save Us.”  Do you want Jesus to save you from sin, Satan and death?  Or you are just following the crowd?  Think about it!   

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TRIALS STRENGTHEN US

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.“–Romans 5 : 3-4(NLT) 

For the first-century Christians, suffering was the rule rather than the exception. Paul tells us that in the future we will become, but until then we must overcome. This means we will experience difficulties that help us grow. We rejoice in suffering, not because we like pain or deny its tragedy, but because we know God is using life’s difficulties and Satan’s attacks to build our character.

The problems that we run into will develop our perseverance—which in turn will strengthen our character, deepen our trust in God, and give us greater confidence about the future. You probably find your patience tested in some way every day. Thank God for those opportunities to grow, and deal with them in His strength.  


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JESUS OFFERS SALVATION

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “But people are counted as righteous, not because of their work, but because of their faith in God who forgives sinners.“–Romans 4: 5(NLT) 

When some people learn that they are saved by God through faith, they start to worry. “Do I have enough faith?” They wonder “Is my faith strong enough to save me?” These people miss the point. It is Jesus Christ who saves us, not our feelings or actions, and He is strong enough to save us no matter how weak our faith is.

Jesus offers us salvation as a gift because He loves us, not because we have earned it through our powerful faith. What, then, is the role of faith? Faith is believing and trusting in Jesus Christ and reaching out to accept His wonderful gift of salvation. 


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GOD WANTS YOU TO REPENT

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “Don’t you see how wonderfully kind, tolerant, and patient God is with you? Does this mean nothing to you? Can’t you see that his kindness is intended to turn you from your sin?“–Romans 2: 4(NLT)

 In His kindness, God holds back judgment, giving people time to turn from their sin. It is easy to mistake God’s patience for approval of the wrong way we are living. Self-evaluation is difficult, and it is even more difficult to bring ourselves to God and let Him tell us where we need to change. But as Christians, we must ask God to point out our sins, so that He can heal them. Unfortunately, we are more likely to be amazed at God’s patience with others than humbled at His patience with us.

On judgment day those who accepted and lived God’s way will be raised to eternal life and those who lived any way they pleased will face eternal punishment. Decide now which side you’ll be on, for the consequences of your own decision last forever.


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DO NOT JUDGE

SCRIPTURE TEXT: “You may think you can condemn such people, but you are just as bad, and you have no excuse! When you say they are wicked and should be punished, you are condemning yourself, for you who judge others do these very same things.“–Romans 2: 1(NLT) 

Whenever we find ourselves feeling justifiably angry about someone’s sin, we should be careful. We need to speak out against sin, but we must do so in a spirit of humility. Often the sins we notice most clearly in others are the ones that have taken root in us. If we look closely at ourselves, we may find that we are committing the same sins in more socially acceptable forms. For example, a person who gossips may be very critical of others who gossip about him or her.

When Paul’s letter was read in the Roman church no doubt many heads nodded as he condemned idol worshipers, homosexual practices, and violent people. But what surprised his listeners must have felt when he turned on them and said in effect, “You are just as bad, and you have no excuse!” Paul was emphatically stressing that we have all sinned repeatedly, and there is no way apart from Christ to be saved from sin’s consequences.   


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DEAD TO SIN, ALIVE IN CHRIST – ROMANS 6

What shall we say, then? Shall we go on sinning so that grace may increase? By no means! We died to sin; how can we live in it any longer? Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.

If we have been united with Him like this in His death, we will certainly also be united with Him in a resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucified with Him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin— because anyone who has died has been set free from sin.

Now if we died with Christ, we believe that we will also live with him. For we know that since Christ was raised from the dead, He cannot die again; death no longer has mastery over Him. The death He died, He died to sin once for all; but the life He lives, He lives to God.

In the same way, count yourselves dead to sin but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Therefore do not let sin reign in your mortal body so that you obey its evil desires. Do not offer any part of yourself to sin as an instrument of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer every part of yourself to him as an instrument of righteousness. For sin shall no longer be your master, because you are not under the law, but under grace. – Romans 6:1-14

SLAVES TO RIGHTEOUSNESS

What then? Shall we sin because we are not under the law but under grace? By no means! Don’t you know that when you offer yourselves to someone as obedient slaves, you are slaves of the one you obey—whether you are slaves to sin, which leads to death, or to obedience, which leads to righteousness? But thanks be to God that, though you used to be slaves to sin, you have come to obey from your heart the pattern of teaching that has now claimed your allegiance. You have been set free from sin and have become slaves to righteousness.

I am using an example from everyday life because of your human limitations. Just as you used to offer yourselves as slaves to impurity and to ever-increasing wickedness, so now offer yourselves as slaves to righteousness leading to holiness. When you were slaves to sin, you were free from the control of righteousness. What benefit did you reap at that time from the things you are now ashamed of? Those things result in death! But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the benefit you reap leads to holiness, and the result is eternal life. For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life inChrist Jesus our Lord. – Romans 6:15-23.

INTRODUCTION

Romans chapter 6 explains that believers are free from sin’s control. This section deals with sanctification – the change God makes in our life as we grow in the faith.

WHAT HAS GOD DONE ABOUT SIN?

1. He Has Given Us New Life

Sin’s power is broken, sin’s-loving nature is buried and we are no longer under sin’s control. We can be certain that sin’s power is broken.

2. New Nature

Now we share His new life. Let us look upon our old self as dead and be alive to God. We can see ourselves as unresponsive to the old power and alive to the new.

3. New Freedom

We should not let sin control us and give ourselves completely to God. We are free and can choose our own Master. We can commit ourselves to obey Christ in perfect freedom.

So if the Son sets you free, you will be free indeed – John 8:36

COUNT OURSLEVES DEAD TO SIN

The basic principle in Romans chapter 6 is how the believer is united with Christ in both His death and life. If we are true followers of Christ, we have died to sin – a fact that is reflected in several areas of our Christian experience.

a) We died to sin in God’s view. We are considered by God to have died with Christ on the cross and to have been raised up to new life through His resurrection.

b) We died to sin when we received Christ and were spiritually “born again” by the power of the Holy Spirit. As a result, we have been given Christ’s power to resist sin, to “put to death the misdeeds of the body” and to live a new life in obedience to God.

c) We died to sin in water baptism as we identified with Jesus’ death, burial and resurrection and committed ourselves to reject sin and to live for Christ.

These areas of the Christian experience mark the first stage that shows our life is dead to sin and alive to God. But in order to experience ongoing victory over sin, we must consider ourselves dead to sin not only in principle but also in practice.

What does it mean to be dead to sin? Consider the fact that if something is dead, it is not active or responsive. Being dead to sin means that the influences and temptations that may have once caused us to give in to sin no longer have control of us because we are unresponsive to these things. Developing this type of spiritual resistance requires a deliberate and willful choice not to feed or exercise our sinful nature. It means refusing to carelessly expose ourselves to those activities and areas of life that can easily trouble or tempt us. Instead, we must feed ourselves spiritually and exercise godly disciplines that bring us closer to Christ and build our strength to resist Satan’s temptations and the sinful tendencies of our own human nature. These spiritual disciplines include time in prayer, God’s Word, worship, Christian companionship and acts of service. Dying to sin means refusing to let sin have its way so we can offer ourselves fully to God – spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally – for His honour and purpose.

DO NOT LET SIN REIGN

Since sin has been removed from the place where it once ruled, the believer must continually resist its effort to regain control. Sin attempts to reign primarily through the desires and temptations involving the body. We must resist these desires by relying on the spiritual strength available to us through Christ. By doing so, we can say “no” to the desires and lusts of our sinful nature that try to fulfill themselves through our body. We must refuse to give in to these desires by the things we do, see and think about so they cannot control our behaviour. Instead, we must present our body and whole personality as a willing servant to God so we can fulfill His desires and purposes and do what He says is right.

Source: Culled from The Life Application Bible & Fire Bible – Global Study Edition.

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RIGHT LIVING FOR BELIEVERS

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ, who gave Himself 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. – Titus 2:11-14

INTRODUCTION

In the book of Titus, Paul emphasizes the importance of good deeds in the life of Christians. The letter is brief, but is an important link in the discipleship process.

THE BLUE PRINT

1. Leadership in the church.

2. Right living in the church.

3. Right living in society.

Paul calls for church order and right living on an island known for laziness, gluttony, lying and evil. The Christians are to be self-disciplined as individuals, and they must be orderly as people who form one body, the church. We need to obey this message in our day when discipline is not respected or rewarded by our society. Although others may not appreciate our efforts, we must live upright lives, obey the government, and control our speech. We should live together peacefully in the church and be living examples of our faith to contemporary society.

THEMES

A GOOD LIFE

The Good News of salvation is that we can’t be saved by a living good life; we are saved only by faith in Jesus Christ. But the gospel transforms people’s lives, so that they eventually perform good deeds. Our service won’t save us, but we are saved to serve. A good life is a witness to the gospel’s power. As Christians, we must have commitment and discipline to serve. Are you putting your faith into action by serving others?

CHARACTER

It’s not enough to be educated or to have a loyal following to be Christ’s kind of leader. We must have self-control, spiritual and moral fitness, and Christian character. Who we are is just as important as what we can do.

CHURCH RELATIONSHIPS

Church teaching must relate to various groups. Older Christians were to teach and to be examples to younger men and women. People of every age and group have a lesson to learn and role to play. Right living and right relationships go along with right doctrine. Treat relationships with others as an outgrowth of your faith.

CITIZENSHIP

Christians must be good citizens in society, not just in church. Believers must obey the government and work honestly. How we fulfill our civic duties is a witness to the watching world. Our community life should reflect Christ’s love as much as our church life does.

PROMOTE RIGHT TEACHING

Paul brings out two aspects of Christian living that must be stressed today. “We should live in this evil…while we look forward with hope.” Both aspects of living and looking forward are essential to our Christian sanity in this present evil age. The living is made bearable because we live for God – seeking to build His Kingdom with whatever gifts He has given us. And it is that very Kingdom to which we are looking forward. As we live and look forward, we anticipate three great benefits of Christ’s return:

1. Christ’s personal presence – we look forward to being with Him.

2. Redemption from our sinful nature – we long for the end of the battle with sin and our perfection in Christ.

3. Restoration of creation – we anticipate the complete rule of grace when the image of God will be fully realized in people and when the created order will be restored.

THE GRACE OF GOD

Titus 2:11-14 describe the character and purpose of God’s saving grace and the effect it should have on believers’ lives. According to Paul, saving grace is a gift of God that:

a) causes God to make spiritual salvation available to all people through the sin-covering sacrifice of His Son, Jesus.

b) enables us to accept Christ by faith and enter a personal relationship with God.

c) instructs believers to reject without compromise the ungodly passions, pleasures and values of the world and embrace the purposes of God.

d) commands and empowers Christ’s followers to live “upright and godly lives” while waiting expectantly for the “blessed hope” – the return of Christ.

IT TEACHES US TO SAY “NO” TO UNGODLINESS.

In order for the believer’s behaviour to please and glorify God, it must be based on right beliefs and grounded in a right relationship with God. Our primary reason for doing good and living right should not be out of religious duty but the response of our love and gratitude toward God. His undeserved love shown to us through Jesus Christ while we were still opposed to Him should be our motivation for serving God and saying “no” to anything that might compromise His standards or take away from our devotion to Him.

THE “BLESSED HOPE” that every faithful Christian deeply desires is “the glorious appearing of our great God and Saviour, Jesus Christ,” and the anticipation of being with Him for eternity. This hope could be realized and fulfilled at any time. We should always be prepared for Jesus’ return, never giving up the hope that today could be the day He comes to rescue them from the oppressive world and bring them to their heavenly home.

GAVE HIMSELF FOR US

Jesus willingly gave His own perfect life in our place to pay the complete penalty for our sins and offenses against God. He did this in order to redeem us from all wickedness and from our own selfish desire to defy God’s law and standards and to make us a holy people – spiritually purified, separated from evil and reserved as God’s very own special possession. When facing struggles with our own sinful desires and Satan’s power, we must realize that if Jesus died to restore us to a personal relationship with God, how much more will He now give us enough help and strength necessary to live victoriously over the power of sin and evil and “to do what is good”.

Source: Culled from The Life Application Bible & Fire Bible – Global Study Edition.

Stay Blessed!