…while we wait for the blessed hope—the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ, who gave himself for us to redeem us from all wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
Titus 2:13-14
You’re not the only one desperate for a little hope. In fact, that’s one of the things holding us back. We can only imagine a small hope. We would be satisfied with a temporary, surface level, glimmer of hope. We really need a life-transforming, redeeming, God-given hope, but it’s hard for us to believe that God loves us that much. Good news! God loves you so much, that He gave His Son, Jesus to bring you into a relationship with God.
Jesus gave Himself for us. Has anyone else sacrificed their life so that you could live? No one has loved us like Jesus. Jesus did this to redeem us. This language implies the idea of releasing us from what previously held us captive. Jesus came to set the captives of sin and wickedness free. Why does Jesus do this for us? Jesus is purifying a people for Himself. Jesus is the Son of God and He is holy or without sin. If we are going to have a relationship with Jesus, we must be holy like Jesus is holy. In Jesus’ sacrificial death, He covered our sin with His righteousness, giving us His holiness. Jesus did this so we can have a relationship with God by virtue of Jesus’ righteousness and perfection.
In dying for us, redeeming us, and purifying us, Jesus claims us as His own. Jesus puts His name on us, His blood applied to us, and His Spirit within us. The sinner who is saved has a changed heart and the one who was once a rebel against God is now “eager to do what is good.”
