Titus 2:13-14
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldliness and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.
I love how this passage couches our salvation in the past, present and future. We have a future hope in the appearing of Christ, we are waiting for Him. We depend on his sacrifice on the cross, that he has redeemed us. And we are living righteously in the present age as he buys our every deed back from the evil one and purifies us as his own.
In particular I like how he gave himself for us…why?…for the purpose of redeeming us from every lawless deed and purifying us. Every time the fork is in the road to “be zealous” for a good deed or an evil one, may the Spirit he has given remind me, “This decision has been purchased.” Jesus has a monopoly on my life. He has purchased every “deed” as his own possession.
Praise be to Him that he paid the price.
Ben Taylor 