Grace Teaches Us to Say "No"

“[Grace] teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, while we wait for the 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 wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” (Titus 2:12-14)

We are saved by God’s grace through faith in Jesus. That’s the heart of the Bible’s good news to us!

But that’s not where the Bible’s message stops. God’s grace isn’t the end of the story. Instead, God’s grace is meant to teach us something: “It teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in this present age.” God’s grace is meant to have a fundamental impact on our lives. God’s grace teaches us to say “No” to sin. God’s grace changes us.

You can’t say, “I believe in Jesus” and then go around saying “Yes” to sin. Grace teaches us to say “No” to sin. You can’t say, “I believe in Jesus” and then say, “Yes” to adultery or bitterness or envy. Grace teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions. 

Do you? Do you say “No” to sin? God loves us too much to let us ignore his message. Saying “Yes” to sin will never bring us what we’re looking for. There’s a different way to live. Grace “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness and worldly passions.”

Because we have a hope that goes beyond this world: “We wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ.” Jesus is coming back on Judgment Day. The fact that Jesus died and rose to save us from our sins in the past motivates us right now in the present to say “No” to sin and live for God’s glory, all while we wait for our future hope of heaven to be fulfilled.

Can you see how Jesus’ grace is meant to change you? “He gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.” Nothing motivates us to do what is good like seeing Jesus’ undeserved love. Grace teaches us to say “No” to sin.

Dear Jesus, please use your grace to change my life. May your great love for me motivate me to say “No” to sin and be eager to do what is good. Amen.

Pastor Nathan