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Titus 2:11-12

¹¹For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, ¹²training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age.

Jesus is the outshining of the attribute of grace in the heart of God. The Greek word used for "appeared" means to shine upon or to make visible. The manifestation of grace that is the life of Jesus has brought salvation for all people. That does not mean that all will be saved, but rather that salvation is available to all (John 1:12).

This grace we see in the life of Jesus trains us to renounce ungodliness. That training is presently active in every living believer. It includes the discipline of the Holy Spirit and conviction as well as encouragement and joy when we listen and obey. We also give up worldly passions. "Worldly" means the ways of fallen man. This includes sexual temptation to use others, ambition to exalt ourselves above others, and the temptation to live for the body rather than the Spirit.

Instead, Jesus' example of grace teaches us to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives. We see that Jesus refused to give in to worldly desires to rule or use others selfishly, and so we know that His life in us can enable us to do the same. The fact that we are in training means we will fail at times, but it also means we should be increasingly Christlike as we learn our lessons. Ungodliness should diminish as godliness increases until the day we graduate into His presence.

Prayer: Lord, please help me to receive Your training as I read about and experience Your grace and walk with You each day. Make me more like You, that I might live to the glory of God the Father.