TITUS 2:11-14 – 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.

THEME OF THE DAY. SAVING GRACE IS ALSO TRAINING GRACE. Every true Christian proclaims, clings to, and would die for the truths we are saved by grace alone, in Christ alone, through faith alone, by scripture alone, for God’s glory alone. Every true Christian also acknowledges we grow as Christians by the same truths. This growing grace may also be called “training grace” as illustrated in today’s scripture. Let’s break it down and see this “training grace” is designed to teach us three essential truths to live the Christian life as God intends of us.

First, the grace that saves us is also the grace that trains us to pursue holiness – training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions. The number one enemy against our efforts toward personal holiness is the lusts, passions, and sinful desires still lurking in our hearts. Though sin shall not have dominion over us, it will still do battle in us (Romans 6:12-14). And there is only one source of adequate power to keep ungodliness and worldly passions at bay and not hindering our growth in holiness; training grace. So, when doing battle against our flesh, plead to the Lord to teach us that saving grace is also empowering grace that trains us to defeat the flesh and pursue holiness.

Next, the grace that saves us is also the grace that trains us to live self-disciplined and self-controlled lives in order to present a true witness of Christ in the world around us – and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age. Training grace is likened to going to a military boot camp. When a person enlists in the armed forces, he or she is sent to “basic training” to start learning the necessary disciplines to promote good order and morale in military life. This truth has parallels in the Christian life. Without being trained toward spiritual self-discipline and self-control, we cannot grow in Christ. The flesh will not only inflame our lusts and passions, but it will exert great power to pull us to undisciplined lives of little, to no, self-control and stunt any spiritual growth.

Finally, saving grace is also training grace and that to keep our hearts and minds focused on the Second Coming of Christ – waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. One of the most important lessons to learn and live in the Christian life is to keep our spiritual eyes on the coming of the Lord Jesus. Second Coming thinking promotes watchfulness, holiness, and delivers us from worldliness. Training grace enables us to overcome the many distractions preventing us from keeping an “eye on the sky” for the Lord’s return.

So, cling to the truth we are saved by grace alone and also live out the truth that saving grace includes training grace enabling us to fight the good fight, run the race, and keep the faith.

PRAYER: “Lord, may I not only see Your grace saving me, but also as the power in my life to spiritually grow me.”

QUOTE: “Saving grace is always growing grace. There is no such identity as a Christian not growing in Christ.”