Let Grace Be Your Trainer
We all do and say and desire things that we wish we didn’t. We respond to situations and people in ways that we wish we didn’t. And most of the time, we get tripped up in the same ways again and again. We commit the same sins over and over.
If you’ve trusted in Christ and want to follow Him, this repetitive cycle is frustrating, defeating, and tiresome. Though we are saved from sin’s eternal penalty, we groan inwardly with a hunger to no longer be affected by sin’s temporary consequences. We find that our repetitive sin damages our relationships with others, burdens our own souls, and interferes with the soothing communion we enjoy with the triune God. So, what are we to do?
How can we move forward and experience the inward change that the apostle Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 3 as being “transformed” into the image of Jesus Christ “from one degree of glory to another.” In other words, believers can be changed in increasing measure.
But again, how?
Perhaps you’ve been told to read the Bible more, pray more, and go to church more. That is not bad advice! But it can be incomplete, because transformation is not, first and foremost, the result of doing various tasks and rituals. Back to 2 Corinthians 3, Paul says we are transformed by “beholding the glory of the Lord.” Read in context, it’s clear that Paul is talking about the glory of who Christ is and what He’s done for us. And that brings us to the passage of Scripture that inspired this article and gives us greater insight into how to pursue real change in our battle with sin.
In Titus 2, Paul writes, “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.” Read that again. He says that we are taught to reject sin by God’s grace! The sentence literally says that the grace of God became visible; God’s steadfast love was clearly shown. Do you know when this occurred? Paul describes the event in the next chapter, stating, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4–7).
God’s grace revealed in Jesus teaches us — and furthermore, trains us — to deny or forsake those sinful things that we do, say, and desire over and over again in our daily lives. When the urge to sin confronts us — and in many cases comes upon us before we even realize it — we have the opportunity to move in the right direction. We have the opportunity to apply the gospel, to implement our knowledge of God’s grace towards us.
There’s a statement uttered in the Old Testament and reiterated in the New Testament that is the starting place for this application of the gospel. It’s a simple statement, and you may have heard it before: “The righteous shall live by faith.” By trust, with a certain belief. It is with the belief that Christ has cleansed you of all your past, present, and future sins (Hebrews 10:14) and that only through faith in Christ you are justified before and have peace with God forever. It is the belief that in Christ, God will never leave you or forsake you. And it is the belief that God’s way is the best way for the very next step you take.
If you haven’t yet indulged in sin, God’s grace teaches you to say “no” to it, and by faith, you do so. If you’ve already indulged (or “fallen” into it, as we sometimes say), God’s grace teaches you that you can admit your sin and turn from it. You can ask God to forgive you, and you can ask the human you’ve sinned against to forgive you. And even though believers have confidence that we are forgiven in Christ of all sins (past, present, and future), it’s still entirely appropriate to talk to God about our sins and ask His forgiveness. We are in a personal relationship with God. Sin interferes, so we verbalize it and get it out of the way. Also, when we admit our sin and ask forgiveness, whether from God or a human being, our need for God’s grace becomes even more real to us.
Let’s put this in clear terms. With God’s grace in Christ as your teacher/trainer, by faith you can:
The unnatural way for us is God’s way. For example, in Romans 12 Paul tells believers, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Paul understood that this would be the opposite of what they would desire to do. But that’s typical of the human experience. We desire what is contrary (opposite) of God’s moral law, because we think that’s how things get done and change is made. Don’t you find that to be true? Consider these examples:
By God’s grace — through the person and work of Jesus Christ — we can stop sinning and live according to God’s moral law.
We do things God’s way, because His grace has appeared clearly in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and that same grace tells us that we can renew our efforts day by day and moment by moment to stop sinning and live according to God’s moral law. It is a process, no doubt. There are many ups and downs. We will have successes and failures. Paul understood that this is typical of the Christian life and perfection will come only when this life is over. We are on a journey of faith with Jesus, and so Paul encouraged the believers with these words: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you” (Philippians 3:12–15).
God’s grace is a patient and kind trainer. Christ is a gentle and understanding teacher. Fix your eyes on who He is and what He has done, and He will give you the faith to say “no” to the ungodliness that continues to plague your life. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24).
If you’ve trusted in Christ and want to follow Him, this repetitive cycle is frustrating, defeating, and tiresome. Though we are saved from sin’s eternal penalty, we groan inwardly with a hunger to no longer be affected by sin’s temporary consequences. We find that our repetitive sin damages our relationships with others, burdens our own souls, and interferes with the soothing communion we enjoy with the triune God. So, what are we to do?
How can we move forward and experience the inward change that the apostle Paul describes in 2 Corinthians 3 as being “transformed” into the image of Jesus Christ “from one degree of glory to another.” In other words, believers can be changed in increasing measure.
But again, how?
Perhaps you’ve been told to read the Bible more, pray more, and go to church more. That is not bad advice! But it can be incomplete, because transformation is not, first and foremost, the result of doing various tasks and rituals. Back to 2 Corinthians 3, Paul says we are transformed by “beholding the glory of the Lord.” Read in context, it’s clear that Paul is talking about the glory of who Christ is and what He’s done for us. And that brings us to the passage of Scripture that inspired this article and gives us greater insight into how to pursue real change in our battle with sin.
In Titus 2, Paul writes, “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.” Read that again. He says that we are taught to reject sin by God’s grace! The sentence literally says that the grace of God became visible; God’s steadfast love was clearly shown. Do you know when this occurred? Paul describes the event in the next chapter, stating, “But when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared, He saved us, not because of works done by us in righteousness, but according to His own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal of the Holy Spirit, whom He poured out on us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that being justified by His grace we might become heirs according to the hope of eternal life” (Titus 3:4–7).
God’s grace revealed in Jesus teaches us — and furthermore, trains us — to deny or forsake those sinful things that we do, say, and desire over and over again in our daily lives. When the urge to sin confronts us — and in many cases comes upon us before we even realize it — we have the opportunity to move in the right direction. We have the opportunity to apply the gospel, to implement our knowledge of God’s grace towards us.
There’s a statement uttered in the Old Testament and reiterated in the New Testament that is the starting place for this application of the gospel. It’s a simple statement, and you may have heard it before: “The righteous shall live by faith.” By trust, with a certain belief. It is with the belief that Christ has cleansed you of all your past, present, and future sins (Hebrews 10:14) and that only through faith in Christ you are justified before and have peace with God forever. It is the belief that in Christ, God will never leave you or forsake you. And it is the belief that God’s way is the best way for the very next step you take.
If you haven’t yet indulged in sin, God’s grace teaches you to say “no” to it, and by faith, you do so. If you’ve already indulged (or “fallen” into it, as we sometimes say), God’s grace teaches you that you can admit your sin and turn from it. You can ask God to forgive you, and you can ask the human you’ve sinned against to forgive you. And even though believers have confidence that we are forgiven in Christ of all sins (past, present, and future), it’s still entirely appropriate to talk to God about our sins and ask His forgiveness. We are in a personal relationship with God. Sin interferes, so we verbalize it and get it out of the way. Also, when we admit our sin and ask forgiveness, whether from God or a human being, our need for God’s grace becomes even more real to us.
Let’s put this in clear terms. With God’s grace in Christ as your teacher/trainer, by faith you can:
- stop ranting and ask your spouse or family to forgive you
- stop being controlled by fear or worry
- confide in a trustworthy person about your struggles
- turn off and get away from any kind of sexual immorality that tempts you
- resist your obsessive urges
- say no to your compulsive behaviors
- decide not to respond to a situation with anger and cursing
The unnatural way for us is God’s way. For example, in Romans 12 Paul tells believers, “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them.” Paul understood that this would be the opposite of what they would desire to do. But that’s typical of the human experience. We desire what is contrary (opposite) of God’s moral law, because we think that’s how things get done and change is made. Don’t you find that to be true? Consider these examples:
- You think you will feel better if you yell at someone
- You think they will get the point if you speak harshly toward them
- You think you’ll feel better if you have another drink or take another pill
- You think you can’t just say “I was wrong”
- You think you can’t overlook someone’s annoying habit or deed
- You think you can’t do your work without being in a bad mood as you do it
- Or you can’t do your work with contentment because you don’t see it’s importance
- You think you can’t cut off a sinful relationship because you won’t be happy if you do
- You think you can’t try to mend a broken relationships because too much damage has been done
By God’s grace — through the person and work of Jesus Christ — we can stop sinning and live according to God’s moral law.
We do things God’s way, because His grace has appeared clearly in the person and work of Jesus Christ, and that same grace tells us that we can renew our efforts day by day and moment by moment to stop sinning and live according to God’s moral law. It is a process, no doubt. There are many ups and downs. We will have successes and failures. Paul understood that this is typical of the Christian life and perfection will come only when this life is over. We are on a journey of faith with Jesus, and so Paul encouraged the believers with these words: “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you” (Philippians 3:12–15).
God’s grace is a patient and kind trainer. Christ is a gentle and understanding teacher. Fix your eyes on who He is and what He has done, and He will give you the faith to say “no” to the ungodliness that continues to plague your life. “Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your whole spirit and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it” (1 Thessalonians 5:23–24).
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