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- "FOR THE GRACE OF GOD THAT BRINGS SALVATION HAS APPEARED TO ALL MEN.
- IT TEACHES US TO SAY "NO" TO UNGODLINESS AND WORLDLY PASSIONS, AND
- TO LIVE SELF-CONTROLLED, UPRIGHT AND GODLY LIVES IN THIS PRESENT
- AGE."
- -Titus 2:11-12
-
- "This passage first jumped out at me while I was engaged in a
- discipling study with a young person in my home congregation. He and
- I were a great deal alike and therefore found it easy to study and
- find memory verses because we rejoiced in similar strengths and
- struggled with similar weaknesses. As the need for what this verse
- promised grew, I decided to really look at it to see just what God
- was trying to tell Titus and me."
-
- For: A reason why. Not an abstract idea thrown out just to fill our
- heads, rather a concept - a principle with a purpose.
-
- The Grace: Not a grace, but THE Grace. The one and only true grace.
-
- Of God: Belonging to, coming from, part of the ultimate creator.
-
- that brings: It carries with it a promise, a benefit. A vehicle for
- delivering something from our God.
-
- salvation: Freedom; Redemption for my soul; Fellowship with God,
-
- has: Actual. Has happened - not probably will or even will. It is
- now.
-
- appeared: Paul said that hope that is seen in no hope at all. We
- don't have to hope for this grace, this gift. It has appeared where
- Paul, Titus, you and I can see it.
-
- to all men: Mankind, the human race, but specifically to men. Those
- of us to whom God has given the role of spiritual leader of our
- families and the church.
-
- It: The Grace - this special gift.
-
- teaches: Instructs, shows, helps, allows.
-
- us: All who hear. Those to whom the grace has appeared.
-
- to say "no": To take a stand. To be strong in our freedom.
-
- to ungodliness: To those things that stand between my God and me,
- the things that are not like Christ. Those habits and thought
- patterns that are not God-like.
-
- and wordly passions: the wants, desires and lusts of this world that
- grasp my mind and emotions and try to lure me from my goal.
-
- and: also, at the same time.
-
- to live: The state of living, enjoying, being free within proper
- limitations.
-
- self-controlled: The ability to say how far I'm going to get into or
- stay away from anything.
-
- upright: Upstanding. The ability to stand tall and erect, not afraid
- of being seen by anyone.
-
- and Godly: Of God. Christ-like. Close to my Father.
-
- lives: The tools God has given us for carrying on his work. The time
- when we walk this planet - time we'll be accountable for.
-
- in: In but not of. In the midst of, but not part of.
-
- this present age: Now. The time we find ourselves in.
- THE ANGEL TO JOSEPH
-
- The angel uses 28 of the 77 vocabulary
- words