"Teaching
us, that, denying all ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present evil world." -Titus 2:12 [KJV]
We
read in Esdras of three young men, who wrote of the strength of
different subjects. The first chose Wine; the second, the King; the
third Women and Truth. He fully demonstrated, that truth is superior to
all the charms of women and the power of a king. “As for truth, it
endureth, and is always strong; it liveth and conquereth for evermore.
And all the people shouted, and said, Great is truth, and mighty above
all things” (I Esdras 4:38, 41.) Surely, so it is with the truth of God’s
grace. The stoutest rebels have been conquered by it: the most mighty
kings have fallen before it. Whom it conquers, them it also teaches.
When it has brought the heart to yield to its sovereign power, it
captivates the affections by its sweet influence, and regulates the life
by its salutary rules. There is a most vile spirit gone forth, and
prevails. Out of a zeal for holiness, and a pretence for perfection, the
doctrines of grace are exploded; the God of grace is blasphemed; and,
in order that men may not live like beasts, they are taught the pride of
devils, which consists in rejecting and denying the truths of God’s
grace. This teaches us. Who? Us, who bow to the sovereignty of God, to
submit to the righteousness of His Son, and accept salvation as a free
gift of free grace, without our works having the least hand in procuring
it, or entitling to it.
It teaches us not to labour in the fire of
nature’s zeal, to establish our righteousness before God; but to deny
all ungodliness—every thing which is contrary to God’s nature and will;
and worldly lusts—seeing no happiness in indulging them, seeking no
comfort from gratifying them; we deny ourselves and deny them, as
contrary to our holy faith and heavenly hope. God’s grace, or His free
favour, and unmerited love in Christ, teaches us to live soberly,
righteously, and godly; aiming to discharge every duty to God, our
neighbours, and ourselves, faithfully, conscientiously, and perfectly:
but not to be made righteous thereby; not to entitle ourselves to God’s
favour, but to glorify God, who hath made us righteous in His Son; and
to honour Him in our lives, who has reconciled Himself to us by His Son.
This text, like a two-edged sword, cuts both ways: it cuts down the
vain confidence of self-righteous Pharisees: it lops off the
unscriptural hope of licentious Antinomians; “Such as walk after their
own lusts, ungodly men, who turn the grace of God into lasciviousness”
(Jude 4.) In their heads they have the notion of truth, while their
hearts are strangers to the influence of grace. “From such turn away.” -II Timothy 3:5
-preacher Wm. Mason (1724-1797 A.D.)
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