Titus 2:11-14
11 The grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
During every classroom conversation about God’s Grace, the same question inevitably comes up. “If we don’t have to do good things to get into heaven, why do we bother doing them at all?”
The question always makes me sad because it reduces Jesus’ entire life, death, and resurrection to a transaction. If we only live righteous and faithful lives to prove that we’re worthy to go to heaven after we die, we’re missing out on the joy of life in the Kingdom of God right here and right now. The whole idea of working our way into salvation is upside-down thinking.
Jesus was born into this world for us. He was crucified for our sake and resurrected for our salvation. God has welcomed us into the eternal Kingdom of God because of what Jesus has already done for us. There is nothing we can do, or not do, to change that reality.
Why do we bother doing good deeds then? We don’t just do good deeds to get God’s approval, we are zealous for good deeds because God has set us free from Sin and death. We don’t have to live righteous lives, we want to.
Prayer: Lord Jesus: I am so grateful for the freedom I have in You! Show me how all my words and deeds can glorify and honor you. AMEN