Jesus shed the Blood of the Covenant, paying the penalty that all our sins deserve. But why did He do this? Today’s passage gives us one reason – so that we might be a people for His own possession. Jesus sacrificed Himself so that we might belong to Him – that’s how great His love is for us.

But in order for us to have such an intimate relationship with the Son of God, we not only need to be forgiven – we need to be purified. God declares us to be holy because of the work of Christ, but that holiness needs to become a reality for us. We need to become what God has declared us to be.

And that means we need to renounce ungodly living, as verse 12 says. Instead we must make the conscious decision to live lives that are upright and godly, embracing the will of God for us. And that in turn involves rejecting worldly passions, turning away from the idea that we should simply do whatever feels good or seems to be right, and instead making an honest attempt to control ourselves. Moreover, really loving Jesus means we will do the good works He calls to do, works of love and mercy and service to others, not out of grudging duty but zealously, because we want to.

And the only way we can really live for others instead of for ourselves, the only way to shift our focus away from the pleasures and the profit that this world promises is to turn our eyes to eternal realities. In verse 13 Paul reminds us that our true hope is not in sex or money or power, but in the coming of Christ, Who is not only our Savior but our God. Compared to the never-ending joy of knowing Him, everything this world has to offer fades into insignificance.

But make no mistake – because the things of this world are so real and so attractive to us, we must make the conscious decision to follow Christ every day, every hour, every minute. That’s why Paul had to remind Titus of these things, and why he urged Titus to keep declaring these things to his people. If the Christian life were easy, we wouldn’t need anyone to exhort us to do right or rebuke us when we do wrong.

So yes, let’s bask in the amazing love and grace of God Christ has shown to us on the cross. But let’s then follow His example, laying down our desires to do His will, giving of our time, talents and treasure so that others might be as blessed as we are. And let’s look forward to the day when our struggle against sin will finally be over.

Titus 2:11-15 (ESV)

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people,
12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age,
13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14 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.
15 Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.