Live Soberly, Righteously and Godly

By A. W. Tozer

      The operations of grace within the heart of a believing man will turn that heart
away from sin and toward holiness.

     “For the free gift of eternal salvation is now being offered to everyone; and along
with this gift comes the realization that God wants us to turn from godless living and
sinful pleasures and to live good, God-fearing lives day after day,  looking forward to
that wonderful time we've been expecting, when his glory shall be seen---the glory of
our great God and Savior Jesus Christ” Tit. 2:11-13

     I do not see how it could be plainer. The same grace that saves teaches that saved
man inwardly, and its teaching is both negative and positive.  Negatively it teaches us to
deny ungodliness and worldly lusts.  Positively it teaches us to live soberly, righteously
and godly, right in this present world.

     The man of honest heart will find no difficulty here. He has but to check his own
bent -- to discover whether he is concerned about sin in his life more, or less since the
supposed work of grace was done.

     Anything that weakens his hatred of sin may be identified immediately as false to the
Scriptures, to the Saviour and to his own soul. Whatever makes holiness more attractive
and sin more intolerable may be accepted as genuine.

    “I know You get no pleasure from wickedness and cannot tolerate the slightest sin.
Therefore, proud sinners will not survive Your searching gaze, for how You hate their
evil deeds”  Psa. 5:4,5

      Jesus warned, "There shall arise false Christs, and false prophets, and shall show great
signs and wonders; insomuch that, if it were possible, they should deceive the very elect."
Mat. 24:24.

     These words describe our day too well to be coincidental. In the hope that the “elect”
may profit by them I have set forth these tests. The result is in the hand of God.
_____________________________________________________________________________
Yours in Christ,
Paul N. F.