May 26

Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world. - Titus 2:12.

HERE we see what the gospel teaches us to deny, and what it teaches us to do. It teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. We are therefore required to “lay aside all malice and guile, and hypocrisy and evil speaking,” and to receive with meekness the engrafted word-to put off the old man with his deeds, according to the deceitful lusts of the flesh-to put on the new man. It requires us not only to “cease to do evil,” but to “learn to do well.”

There are many people who are leaning on a negative religion; and a negative useless life is as criminal and as unchristian a life as a life of profligacy. The tree that brought not forth good fruit was hewn down. The servant that was unprofitable was a wicked servant, and cast into outer darkness; not because he abused his talent, but because he hid it. Therefore, observe what the gospel teaches us to do, “to live soberly, righteously, and godly.” Here is a fine reference to the three parties concerned in all moral acts and duties-ourselves, our fellow-creatures, and our God. When we are sober minded, temperate in the indulgence of our passions, affections, appetites, and senses; when we are moderate with regard to all earthly things-not too eager to gain them-not too fond of possessing them-and not too sorrowful when we resign them-then we live soberly.

When whatsoever we would that men should do unto us we do so also unto them; when we render to all their due; obedience to whom obedience is due; honour to whom honour is due; pity to whom pity is due; relief to whom relief is due; money to whom money is due; when actuated by conscientiousness, we regard what is due to the souls and bodies of our fellow-creatures, then we live righteously. And when our hearts are right with God; when we believe in him, fear him, love him, resemble him; when we make his word our rule, and his honour our aim, and do all to the glory of God, then we live godly. And the Apostle reminds us where we are thus to live-namely, “in the present evil world.”

There is another world to which we are rapidly advancing, and with which we are intimately connected. The gospel teaches us to make religion our principal concern in this world. Its truths must be learned; its principles must be gained; audits disposition must be exercised in the present world. We must now, or never, acquire that taste that will prepare for the enjoyment of heaven. We must now, or never, obtain that capacity that will fit us for the employments of heaven. We must now be made “meet for the inheritance of the saints in light.” “Now, he that hath wrought us for the selfsame thing is God, who has also given us the earnest of the Spirit.” And when the Apostle says that it must be in the present world, he means to show the possibility as well as necessity of the case.

Bad as the situation is, it is possible for the grace of God to teach a man to live righteously, soberly, and godly in the present world. There have already been instances of this, and there are instances now.