Grace That Teaches

"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men." The word "appeared" is used of something coming into view, the way a light does when it rises. It also puts the sentence in the past tense, so grace here is an event with a date on it. It showed up where people were standing, when Jesus came.

Then comes the verb attached to grace, and it is a surprise: "Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world." The Greek word behind "teaching" is the one used for bringing up a child, correction included. So grace is like the tutor in the house, and its lessons run in three directions. "Soberly" is about you and your self-control. "Righteously" is about the people you deal with. "Godly" is about God. Paul has just spent most of the chapter on old men and old women, young women and young men, and household servants. He tells the servants they can "adorn the doctrine of God our Saviour in all things." And the reason underneath all of it begins with the word "For."

That makes this an offer, and it stays open in that shape. Nobody is asked to produce the self-control first and qualify for grace afterwards. Grace arrived before the lessons and brought them along with it. The next line says where the lessons are heading: "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ." The One who appeared once to save us will appear again.

Perhaps the teacher you have been sitting under is your own disappointment in yourself. There is a far better Teacher, and He has already come. Let His grace teach you, one lesson at a time, until He appears.

Daily Manna runs on a two-year cycle. The year one reading for day 225 is Forgiveness and Healing (Psalm 103:3).

All 365 readings in Daily Manna, Year Two