"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."

Titus 2:11-12

Many times Christians find that it's a lot easier to say "yes" to sin rather than saying "not interested." We know that sin is bad for us and that it can just ruin our day, our relationships and even our walk with God, but sometimes we just can't help it. How do we turn away from sins and progressively grow in our walk with God?

There could be the misunderstanding that because we are under grace, there is no pressure to change our lifestyles - that we're fine just living the same way we used to before we knew Christ. It's sad that we would think that God is gracious anyways. No matter how much we try to twist and turn such an idea, it's clear what this kind of notion is - abuse towards the beautiful grace of God.

Some Christians think of God's grace as a feel-good, cry-in-the-middle-of-worship, experience-centered feeling and nothing more. While grace does provide those things on many occasions, grace is not just a feeling, but is also a power. Titus 2:11 refers to God's grace as the power that brings "salvation for all people." Imagine what power grace holds to be able to save so many! I don't think there is any military, civil or political force that can save as many as God's grace has.

God's grace is power not just to be set free from the consequence of sin, but even the occurrence of it in our lives. Verse 12 of Titus 2 says it this way: that is "...[trains] us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age." Most people would think that it would be the law or the self-discipline of ten steps to better living that would train us to say no to sin, but it's clear that it is God's grace that teaches us to say no to sin.

And the only way we receive God's grace is to connect to Jesus Christ. The more we connect to Jesus, the more we receive God's blessing just as Ephesians 1:3 says, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places." As we receive that grace, it transforms our hearts and thus the way we live.

That's not to say that we become perfect overnight, but the grace of God does give us ability to progressively grow in Christ and turn away from sin here in this world. God's grace is more than an "eraser" that cancels our past mistakes, but is also a "sharpener" that trains us to not make the same mistakes again.

How do you view God's grace today? Is it just a license to sin for you or do you see it as power to change the way you live?