Salvation in Action (The Victor’s Mentality)

I want to welcome everyone to today’s article. I am trusting God that He will speak to you expressly and that every heart will be blessed as you read in Jesus’ name. Amen.

Last week, I started sharing on the Helmet of Salvation as a continuation of our series on the victor’s mentality.

We saw in Ephesians 6:17 (NKJV): “And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God;”

We saw how beautiful and great our salvation is, as Apostle Paul has described it. That it is not only positional, but that it is experiential; it is active in defending us against the different attacks of the devil on our minds. I shared on the use of the word from the Greek translation that Paul used here, which is soterion, not the popular use of the word with which many are familiar, which is soteria. Even though both are describing this same great salvation we have received from Christ, they come from different contexts.

Soteria functions as an abstract noun, viewing salvation as a state, a reality, a completed work. Soterion, as seen from the example we will be using today in Titus 2, functions as a concrete or operative noun/adjective, speaking of salvation in action, working in us, refining us, and renewing us.

Again, all these Greek terms used are not to mystify those words but to give us a broader insight into this great salvation we have received from the Lord so we can always put it on as a helmet on our head.

So let us dive into Titus 2:11-12. This scripture is another example of where Salvation is used as Soterion.

“For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men, teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present age,” (Titus 2:11-12 NKJV)

The Bible says that the saving grace of God has appeared to all men. This means that no one is excluded. It is available to every class of people. When you look at the context of Titus 2, you will see that Paul immediately begins to give instructions to different categories of people: older men, older women, young men, servants, masters, and so on.

Yes, salvation (sōtēria) has been made available to all. And in this same passage, we’d also see that the active working of this salvation (sōtērion) has been made available to all as well. This means that everyone who is in Christ has access to the same grace and the same saving power at work within them. In fact, when you observe how verse 11 begins, it starts with the word “for,” which tells us that there is a connection between the previous discussion and what Paul is about to say next. It means Paul is giving the reason or foundation for the instructions he has just given.

When you look at the preceding verses, you will see that Paul gives very specific instructions to Titus to teach different groups of people how to live: older men, older women, young people, servants, all with practical guidance on conduct, character, and witness. These are instructions on how to live a life that is victorious and how to represent Christ well in everyday life.

Take your time to read the previous verses (Titus 2:1-10).

So verse 11 is not introducing a new topic; it is explaining how this life can be lived. He tells us that the ability to live this way does not come from human discipline alone, but from the grace of God that brings salvation and actively works in us. So listen: irrespective of your background or who you are, as long as you have received salvation, you can win. The Bible clearly establishes that the saving grace of God has appeared to all men. Therefore, no believer is excluded from its power and operation.

Listen, you can win against pornography, because you have already been saved from it. The devil may want to tell you, you don’t have the strength to win against it. Yes, in your strength you don’t have the strength, but in the saving grace of God, you can and you will. Now, when we go to verse 12, it says this saving grace teaches us to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. This is what the devil uses to capture the heart of the believer: the lust of the eyes, the lust of the flesh, and the pride of life as seen in 1 John 2:16: “For everything in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—comes not from the Father but from the world.”

These are the very tools he uses to distract, deceive, and enslave us. Lust of the flesh talks about our desires for bodily gratification (things we crave physically or emotionally in sinful ways or that are prioritised above Christ). Lust of the eyes talks about when we begin to be covetous or exercise greed, such that we want something at all costs while our heart is estranged from Christ. Pride of life talks about self-exaltation, arrogance, and dependence on status or worldly approval.

You see, this is what the saving grace of God does; it teaches you how to put Christ in your focus, not your inordinate desire and lust. Because you are saved, the Holy Spirit will begin to check all these things in your life that do not align with Christ or that want to take the place of Christ in your heart.

Apostle Paul said he counted all those things as loss for Christ. That is what saving grace would teach you: how to put Christ in front of all our desires, achievements, and propensities. Saving grace not only rescues us from sin, but also reprograms the way we live. We begin to live in Christ consciousness.

In the next article, I will continue from here and we will see practically how this saving grace teaches us.

Brethren, prayerfully meditate on these things.