We Can Have It Now
Titus 2:11-13
“For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;”
I can remember someone asking me if I believed that human beings can live above sin. I am glad that the person asked me at the time they did, because my answer was full of faith. I told them that if I did not believe it, there would be no reason to be a Christian. I said that if God was not able to keep me from falling, I might as well give up now. This may be startling for some, but it is my reality.
We all should understand, without thinking very hard, that all have sinned. The Bible says that we were estranged from the womb. Everyone ever born of a woman has committed at least one sin. The Bible says that if we say that we have no sin, we make God a liar. So, it is clear that any victory we have must be after having sinned. This is part of the reason why we need a second birth. We need to be born of the Spirit because when we born of the flesh, we did not have the power to overcome sin.
As we learn to trust the Lord following the new birth experience, we receive the power of God to submit to Him, and resist the devil. As time goes on, we grow in the power and knowledge of Jesus Christ.
It is clear that even as we begin to live more holy lives that we do not become more worthy in God’s sight. We have simply begun doing what it was our duty to do (Luke 17:9, 10). We do, however, become worthy because our lives reflect our faith in Jesus’ righteousness. This faith lays hold on Him and His divine attributes are attributed to us. This is how we become worthy.
The point of all of this is that God is able to deliver us from the slavery of sin as He delivered the children of Israel from Egypt. He is able to part the Red Seas of sinfulness and replace them with the dry lands of victory. He is able to give us the living bread of the word from heaven, replacing the putrefying meat of our bondage to sin.
Thank the Lord for giving us the power to become victorious, even in this life. He is certainly not waiting to give us victory in heaven. Victory must be attained here. “Now unto him that is able to keep you from falling, and to present you faultless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy, To the only wise God our Saviour, be glory and majesty, dominion and power, both now and ever. Amen.” Jude 24, 25
