"Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ," TIT 2:13.

Our Saviour asked His disciples in MAT 22:42, "Saying, What think ye of Christ?" What do we learn from Christ with regard to becoming reconciled with God? TIT 2:11-12 says, "For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world."

So many see Christ as the propitiation, or the appeasing of God's wrath upon their sin, but they have never sought to be redeemed from the power and service of sin itself. The church of Christ is "Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ; Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works," TIT 2:13.

I must hasten to point out that we are not redeemed from the wrath of God by good works-but we are redeemed from all iniquity-- "unto good works." "For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ not only came to redeem us from the curse of the law-but also from all iniquity--and reconcile our hearts with the perfect will of God. 1PE 1:13-17 says, "Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; As obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts in your ignorance: But as he which hath called you is holy, so be ye holy in all manner of conversation."

See the reason God's Word gives for this public confession by our attitudes and actions of the Christ's rightful Scepter. "Because it is written, Be ye holy; for I am holy. And if ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear [or holy reverence for the moral precepts of the KING of kings]: Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot."

Our holy reverence for the moral gospel precepts of the KING of kings is not optional! This is the Father's reward for Christ's humble obedience, therefore God grants the grace to bow to His Scepter.

HEB 8:10 says, "For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people."

When we become the recipients of this covenant of grace (or the Divine influence upon our hearts which is revealed in our lives) we not only will come under Christ's Scepter-but with the greatest delight. ISA 51:11 says, "Therefore the redeemed of the LORD shall return, and come with singing unto Zion; and everlasting joy shall be upon their head: they shall obtain gladness and joy; and sorrow and mourning shall flee away."

A significant part of our Saviour's exaltation unto the throne of our heart is telling of His marvelous redeeming love--as we find recorded in PSA 149:1-6, "Praise ye the LORD. Sing unto the LORD a new song, and his praise in the congregation of saints. Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: let the children of Zion be joyful in their King. Let them praise his name in the dance: let them sing praises unto him with the timbrel and harp. For the LORD taketh pleasure in his people: he will beautify the meek with salvation. Let the saints be joyful in glory: let them sing aloud upon their beds. Let the high praises of God be in their mouth, and a two-edged sword in their hand."

Amen.

REDEEMED
Redeemed--how I love to proclaim it!
Redeemed by the blood of the Lamb;
Redeemed thro' His infinite mercy
His child, and forever, I am.

Redeemed and so happy in Jesus,
No language my rapture can tell;
I know that the light of His presence
With me doth continually dwell.

I think of my blessed Redeemer,
I think of Him all the day long;
I sing, for I cannot be silent;
His love is the theme of my song.

I know I shall see in His beauty
The King in whose law I delight;
Who lovingly guardeth my footsteps,
And giveth me songs in the night.