1 - Introduction - Living like a real Christian City - The World That Is | Page 11

So, we are made righteous in God’s sight, but how do we become
actuallyrighteous? In other words, how do we grow more and more into real
Christ-likecharacter?
It is deepening your understanding of the salvation of Christ andliving out of
the changes that understanding makes in your heart—the seat ofyour mind,
will, and emotions. Faith in the gospel restructures our motivations,our selfunderstanding and identity, and our view of the world. It changes ourhearts.
Behavioural compliance to rules without heart-change will be superficial and
fleeting.
In Titus 2:11–15 Paul calls his listeners to “say ‘No’ to ungodliness andworldly
passions” and “to live self-controlled…lives.” How does Paul tell themto get this
self-control? Remarkably, he says it is the “grace of God that bringssalvation,”
which “teaches us to say ‘No’ to ungodliness.” He explains whathe means by
the “grace of God” in Titus 3:5: “he saved us, not because ofrighteous things we
had done, but because of his mercy.” This is how we say“no” to temptation.
The gospel, if it is really believed, removes neediness—the need to be
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