Genuine Christian conversion is a two-sided coin involving both faith and repentance. Receiving Christ by believing in His name (John 1:12 “To all who did receive him, who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God.). And renouncing sin and worldliness (Luke 9:23 “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me.”)

Paul described this two-sided response to the grace of God offered to us through Christ to Titus like this.

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.” (Titus 2:11–14)

We are saved from the trajectory of ungodliness, worldly passions, and lawlessness. We are saved to a new trajectory of self-control, godliness, and purity. And all of this is no mere boot-strap obedience. The grace of God trains us for this two-sided outworking of our redemption.

This Sunday Fred Sanders will be preaching Acts 19:8-41 where we will see “the word of the Lord continue to increase and prevail mightily (v.20)” accompanied by a stunning display of renouncing ungodliness. Cole Jones will be leading us in sung worship. Would you pray for each as they prepare? And let’s ask the Spirit to keep training us (notice how Paul says this is an ongoing process!) to renounce what is ungodly and those rivals to Jesus’ Lordship that compete for our allegiance.

See you Sunday, Grace. Come hungry!

 

Song of the Week 

Marvelous Light by Charlie Hall

Into marvelous light I’m running
Out of darkness, out of shame
By the cross, You are the Truth
You are the Life, You are the Way