Titus 2:11-14 ESV

“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.” (See also Ephesians 2:10)

If you want an excellent definition of God’s grace, this is it. His grace to us is not just in forgiving our sins, but it is in delivering us from our slavery to sin. His grace to us is not just a promise of life with him in heaven one day, but of new life in him on this earth whereby we walk with him in holiness and in righteousness, by the grace of God, in his power and strength. For Jesus Christ did not die that horrible death on a cross just to forgive us our sins, but to buy us back for God (to redeem us) so we would now be his possession, and so he would now be our Lord (Owner-Master).

Near the Cross

Hymn lyrics by Fanny J. Crosby, 1869
Music by William H. Doane, 1869

Jesus, keep me near the cross;
There a precious fountain,
Free to all, a healing stream,
Flows from Calvary’s mountain.

Near the cross, a trembling soul,
Love and mercy found me;
There the bright and morning star
Sheds its beams around me.

Near the cross! O Lamb of God,
Bring its scenes before me;
Help me walk from day to day
With its shadow o’er me.

Near the cross I’ll watch and wait,
Hoping, trusting ever,
Till I reach the golden strand
Just beyond the river.

In the cross, in the cross,
Be my glory ever,
Till my raptured soul shall find
Rest beyond the river.

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