We are grateful to God for this season of Advent!
I have been meditating on the book of Titus where Paul instructs Titus to teach sound doctrine that will lead to right living. In chapter 2, after giving instructions of how different family members in a household should live and thereby adorn Christ and make the gospel beautiful, Paul commands Titus to teach the gospel with authority by summarizing the contents of the gospel in a succinct and powerful manner.
For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (Titus 2:11-14)
Here Paul describes the First Advent when the grace of God appeared, bringing salvation to mankind! This grace of God is none other than Jesus Christ, the eternal Word of God that came into this world in human flesh! The apostle John tells us that the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have
seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth! (John 1:14).
In that first coming, Jesus came as a human baby, grew up and went to the cross to die for the sins of the whole world in order to redeem mankind, who otherwise would have been doomed for destruction. But having been redeemed by the blood of Christ, we are now being purified as his precious children to live sober and godly lives through God’s Teacher – Grace!
Paul then speaks of the blessed hope that we have as we await the Second Advent when Christ will return in all his power and glory! He came as a helpless human babe, in meekness and humility, but at the second Advent, Christ Jesus will come in all his power and glory – so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Philippians 2:10-11)
As we celebrate Christmas in our churches this Advent season, let us also remember the Second Advent that is coming soon when Jesus Christ will enter our world majestically and triumphantly as the King of Kings, and the Lord of Lords! Until then let us be zealous in doing good works as God’s redeemed and purified people, declaring his glory among the nations and adorning Christ wherever we go, and in whatever we do!
BLESSED ADVENT!
