Bible Society of South Africa

Hopeful purity – 25 August 2020

By Xanthe Hancox

Um(Imi)bhalo weBhayibheli

KuThithu 2

11Ngokuba umusa kaNkulunkulu wokusindisa ubonakalisiwe kubantu bonke; 12uyasifundisa ukuba sidele ukungakholwa nezinkanuko zezwe, sihambe ngokuqonda, nangokulunga, nangokumesaba uNkulunkulu kulesi sikhathi samanje, 13sibheke ithemba elibusisiweyo nokuvela kwenkazimulo kaNkulunkulu omkhulu noMsindisi wethu uJesu Kristu 14owazinikela ngenxa yethu, ukuze asihlenge ebubini bonke, asihlambulule isizwe esingesakhe, sishisekele imisebenzi emihle.

KuThithu 2:11-14ZUL59NOVula kumfundi weBhayibheli

In his short letter to Titus, a pastor on the island of Crete, the apostle Paul emphasizes how we are to live between Christ’s first and second comings. To help us stay on course in our Christian living, the apostle also reminds us of a great gift we have been given through Christ’s coming – namely, the gift of hope.

Today’s verse contains an amazing declaration of grace. It means that we don’t have to do anything to earn our salvation. Jesus Christ has already earned salvation for us, and he has offered it to us as a free gift of grace.

But that isn’t the only thing God’s grace provides for us. God’s grace also forms us into people of holiness and purity.

It’s not that we need to become holy and pure by our own efforts in order to earn salvation. Rather, the salvation that Jesus freely gives to us also teaches us and forms us into people who live holy lives out of gratitude. Salvation comes first, and holy living is a result.

The good news for people every¬where is that Jesus gives salvation to all who believe in him. But the good news gets even better than that. In addition to giving us salvation, Jesus gives us new life right now.

The gospel is not just about living with God after we die; it’s also about living in holiness and purity with God right now. We can receive the grace of holy living as we follow Jesus each day.

Prayer: Holy God, make us more and more like Jesus each day. Help us to live lives that are self-controlled and upright, showing our gratitude to you for your amazing grace. Amen

Bible Society of South Africav.4.26.9
SITHOLE KU