Titus 2:11-12

For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age.

The birth of a baby brings a lot of change to a family’s life. Parents have a whole other life to take care of! That is no small feat, so you had better change.

The changes come in many different forms. There are things you stop doing or do a lot less often. There are things you start doing more often. But all those changes, whether you always like them or not, you make them willingly because of that new life in your family. The birth of a baby changes your life.

The birth of Jesus changes your life, too. How could it not? Titus 2 tells us that the birth of Christ means salvation is offered to all people. Think about that? Jesus’ entrance into this world means God presents each person with forgiveness of all their sins, freedom from guilt, peace with God, a righteous status before him, and the promise of eternal life in heaven. And maybe the best part of that whole package? It’s a gift! God doesn’t expect payment. He doesn’t demand a moral life to receive it. There is literally nothing you have to do for that salvation.

A gift like that changes life, doesn’t it? Titus 2 says it teaches us to say “No” to everything that is opposite of God’s character. Won’t we gladly and willingly give up sinning because we are new people in Christ? Of course!

This gift also teaches us to say “Yes” to everything God stands for and desires for our life. Won’t we gladly and willingly live like our Savior and look like God’s people in as many ways as we possibly can? Of course!

How could we not? Without Christ, we are lost. But now that Christ is born, you not only have been offered salvation, you received it and believed it. You still believe it. You are different people now that Christ has come. How could life ever be the same now that he is in our life?

Pastor Jeremy Belter