Titus 2:11-15 "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,..."
Paul was living in a time when his message was radical. And he knew how radically hated it was because he had previously been "in hearty agreement with putting to death" (Acts 8:1;9:1-22) the Lord's disciples and those who belonged to 'the Way'. God's inspired word and instructions through Paul in the book of Titus, which tell us
that the grace of God instructs us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires
and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age,
was for that present age, when it was hard and unpopular, and for THIS PRESENT AGE, when it is hard and unpopular.
"....looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior,..." This keeps this life here and now in perspective.*
"... Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us..."
so that we could live however we want?! No.
He "...gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
These things speak and exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one disregard you."
Which leads us back to: "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation...."
* 1 John 3:2,3 says, "Beloved, now we are children of God, and it has not appeared as yet what we will be. We know that when He appears, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure."
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