Pastor’s Pen Pulpit

December 9, 2001

“WHEN GLORY APPEARS”

Titus 2:13, 14

Looking for that blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us, that He might redeem us from every lawless deed and purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds.

In our last Pen Pulpit we talked about when Grace appeared (Titus 2:11, 12). This, of course, referred to the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ. He came to provide salvation to the human race and for that salvation to run it’s course in this phase of God’s plan in which we are living – the Age of Grace.

It has been 2,000 years since His birth. Every day, through missionary effort throughout the world, thousands of people are plugging into that plan. However, one day that part of His plan will be completed. The last person will come to Christ through faith. The body will be complete and will be caught up to glory (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Shortly following that event will come the appearance of His Glory (Revelation 19:11-16).

We Christians live in the hope of that event every day of our lives. So did Christians before us. Living in constant expectation of the appearing of His glory does something for us:

1. It instills in us true expectation (verse 13). We run into hope all over the New Testament. Hope is everywhere. God will not let us avoid it nor should we want to (cf. John 14:3, Matthew 24, Colossians 3:1-3, Romans 8:18-25, I John 3:3). The grace of God instills the expectation of the return of Jesus Christ in the hearts of Christians.

2. It provides emancipation (verse 14a). Emancipation/redemption touches all areas of life “redeem us from every lawless deed”. Sin is like quicksand. The harder people struggle to free themselves from the hard core of life - the deeper into its deadly mire they sink e.g. drugs, alcohol, sex. Jesus Christ is the only true emancipation.

3. It produces true sanctification (verse 14b). How does God purify us? He uses two sanctifying agents: The Holy Spirit (II Cor. 3:18); The Holy Scriptures (Eph. 5:25-30), however the Christian is to participate in this purification (I John 3:3).

4. It promotes true representation (verse 14c). Good works emanate from a life that is pure before God. Good works are the issue of sanctification - not an aid to sanctification. Good works are a true representation of God in a hostile world (Matt. 5:14-16; Eph. 2:8; Titus 3:8).

Beloved, in light of the above, let us re-evaluate our reason for being here this Christmas. What an impact on the world we will have if we, as truly emancipated people, live godly lives in the expectation of the appearance of His Glory. God bless.

Love to you all,