For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, righteously, and in godliness in this present world,
Titus 2:11–12
Did you ever consider… Why does the culture hate Jesus?
Look at the text. The grace of God has appeared to all humans, not just to Christians or the elect. This grace comes to all.
With the grace comes the instruction to deny ungodliness and worldly desires. Those two run together. All one has to do is find a recording of those who choose to stand up for godliness in the public square. There are plenty of Insta reels and TikToks that show this. The easy thing to discern is that people hate the reminder.
Oh, they like the idea of a loving God, sort of like a rich grandpa that does things for them and others. They say they are like Him, loving, generous, and caring for others. But listen very closely to what they say. It is difficult to not engage for more than a few minutes and see the myopic selfishness.
The biblical principle is that one becomes like the god they worship.
Their idols are silver and gold,
Psalm 115:4–8
the work of men’s hands.
They have mouths, but they cannot speak;
eyes, but they cannot see;
they have ears, but they cannot hear;
noses, but they cannot smell;
they have hands, but they cannot feel;
feet, but they cannot walk;
neither can they speak with their throat.
Those who make them are like them;
so is everyone who trusts in them.
People imagine for themselves what they think their god is like. They hate that He has told the world Who He is and what He is like. I mean, He is like no other; there is nothing comparable. Remember the one who would usurp the Most High and said, “I will be like God.” He even used the idea that God was holding something out from Eve. Her desire for the forbidden fruit was to satisfy her own selfishness.
With rampant selfishness, I would say that is the epitome of worldliness. In fact, in the King James Bible, desires is rendered as lusts. Lusts, meaning living to primarily seek to satisfy one’s own innate selfish desires without regard to anyone or anything else. At the start, it appears almost innocent, but when mature… It is a deep, deep craving.
But God made me this way!
No, He did not. He did not make you to be a slave unto death.
Let no man say when he is tempted, “I am tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil; neither does He tempt anyone. But each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his own lust and enticed. Then, when lust has conceived, it brings forth sin; and when sin is finished, it brings forth death.
James 1:13–15
What Paul says to Titus is that the grace of God that comes to all rubs hard against those unwilling to heed. I mean, it is painful. Think of what it would be like to rub 60-grit sandpaper on your skin.
But… Who wants to give up the fun of hook-ups?
Well, ignorance is the doorway when temptations like these come. Giving oneself to this kind of hedonism then becomes the gateway to addiction.
Who wants to turn away from the euphoria of being out of control on substances?
Again, ignorance serves as a doorway to experimentation. This is another way to give in to decadence. Where does experimentation cross over to addiction?
We can do whatever it is we want with free will… Right?
Yes, Jesus gives freedom at the cross. Licentiousness is not freedom. Hedonism does come with risk of real personal harm. Abusing substances and sexual licentiousness is not just behavioral. These involve biology, physiology, and emotions. They are deeply spiritual, too. All of this means these can bind the body, leading to addiction. There are also soul ties to consider.
Addiction brings trauma. Trauma is a gateway for demonization. The other less consider problem with addiction is that it gives way to arrogance, eventually searing the conscience.
This drives the overwhelming wave to transmute humanity. All of the special rights demands tend to transmutation, too. It is to mar the image of God that all humans bear.
But who cares?
This is where caution is needed. To think that is symptomatic of the arrogance that comes in this delusion. Thank God we Christians are not like that… Right?
Stop and think. This how this comes at people in so many ways.
What about being first in line, fastest, or the best in contests?
Ouch! Liberty is not found in licentiousness, or even becoming someone great. It is not found in satisfying the soul with the decadence and delicacies of this world. They simply cannot. Liberty is a free gift from Jesus that points us to Him.
as we await the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from all lawlessness and purify for Himself a special people, zealous of good works.
Titus 2:13–14
When one chooses to live for Jesus, there are no risks. There is no losing, or really even being last. There is no condemnation in death. There is no fear or downside to righteousness. The promise is the Blessed Hope. That is, to be present with Jesus, whether by death or His glorious appearing to whisk His Own beloved home.
I will tell you, part of living soberly is to know who and Whose you are. That is, to think rightly about yourself. Yes, you are beloved. Jesus redeemed Himself a bride, purchased with His blood.
There is that great divide. His blood has stayed death, for all humans are granted liberty. That is the grace of God… That you live after you sin. Without that, nobody would have any opportunity to want to try to live rightly.
But think of those who neglect or even despise that grace. What kind of justification could one use to keep satisfying their own desires while neglecting and despising the work of Jesus?
It is not so much a future great escape by being snatched away from this world. Yes, there is one of those coming. The great escape is available right now. To any who would believe.
And Jesus says, “Sober up!”
Jesus died for you, so that you could live for Him!
