Because the grace of God that brings salvation teaches them to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live soberly, righteously, and godly while looking for the appearing of Jesus Christ.
Titus 2:11-13 is the central passage. Les Feldick teaches that God's grace is not a license to indulge the flesh but an instructor that trains believers to refuse worldly lusts and live godly in the present world. This righteous living is also driven by the blessed hope—the soon appearing of Christ—which motivates believers to purify themselves and keep their spiritual lives in order.
Titus 2:11-13 — This is the central passage Les uses: God's grace teaches believers to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live soberly, righteously, and godly while looking for Christ's appearing.
Colossians 3:1-3 — Shows that because believers are risen with Christ, they seek heavenly things and are dead to the old life, which changes their desires.
1 John 3:3 — Explains that the hope of Christ's coming purifies the believer—another reason Christians live righteously.
The apostle Paul writes in Titus 2:11-13 that the grace of God which brings salvation has appeared to all men. This same grace teaches believers to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, while looking for the blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. The verse links the denial of worldly desires directly to the teaching of grace, not to human effort alone. Colossians 3:1-3 instructs believers who have been raised with Christ to seek the things that are above, where Christ sits at God's right hand. They are to set their affection on heavenly things, not on earthly things, because they are dead to the old life and their life is hidden with Christ in God. This means the believer's desires and priorities are to be transformed by resurrection union with Christ. First John 3:3 says that every person who has this hope in Christ purifies himself, even as Christ is pure. The expectation of Christ's return is therefore a purifying hope that motivates righteous living.
Les Feldick addresses the world's challenge: Why give up the good times and get out of the fast lane just to be a Christian? He points out that Paul answers this in 1 Corinthians 15:19—if in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable. But believers are not miserable because they have the resurrection hope; the world's logic only works if death ends everything. Les emphasizes Titus 2:11-13, where the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared and teaches believers to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts and to live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world while looking for the blessed hope—Christ's glorious appearing. Les is careful to clarify that this withdrawal from the world and its appetites is not the qualification for salvation. God expects it, but those things follow salvation; they are the result, not the condition. Salvation is also a lifestyle that becomes visible to the community, as a true born-again believer will be a good citizen. At the same time, Les says this does not mean Christians must live a Spartan, monastic, or joyless existence. God has given blessings to enjoy. The issue is priorities: because believers are risen with Christ and dead to the old Adam, their appetites and desires change, and heaven becomes their first interest. Using the analogy of cleaning house before a visitor arrives, Les says every believer should keep their spiritual house in order because Christ could come at any moment.
Les Feldick directly confronts the accusation that Christians are miserable because they give up the world's good times. The world asks, 'Why do you give up the good time? Why don't you live it up? Enjoy the flesh, because after all, when you're dead, it's all over.' Paul says that if this life is the only life, there is merit in that argument. But believers have the hope of Christ's resurrection, so they are not miserable. Les also clarifies that being heavenly minded doesn't mean being no earthly good; the point is priorities. It doesn't mean you have to be frugal, live a Spartan existence, or go into a monastery. You can enjoy life to the full because God has given all these blessings to enjoy, but heaven is where your first interest lies.
Les is emphatic that denying ungodly appetites is not what saves a person. When someone becomes a believer, God naturally expects that they will withdraw from the world and all of its appetites, but that is not a qualification for salvation. Those righteous behaviors follow salvation. In addition, Les says that the basic fundamental aspect of a Christian life, immediately visible to friends, relatives, and the community, is that a true born-again child of God becomes a good citizen. Salvation is not only a way into glory; it is a lifestyle.
Believers are to live soberly, righteously, and godly in the present world while looking for the blessed hope—the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Les uses the analogy of a housewife cleaning the house because company is coming. If you know a visitor is on the way, you clean and straighten up and get things ready. Every believer should have that same attitude every day: keep your spiritual house in order because any moment you're going to have a visitor. Scripture also confirms this, saying that every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself.
Because believers are risen with Christ, they are to seek those things which are above and set their affection on things above, not on things on the earth. This doesn't mean material possessions are forbidden; it means don't let things take priority. Les recalls Jesus' instruction to seek first the kingdom of God, and all these other things will be added. It is a matter of getting priorities straight. Christians can enjoy life to the full, but heaven and eternal things should be first in their hearts and minds.
The World's 'Why Don't You Live It Up?' Argument
Les shows that Paul anticipates the criticism that Christians are miserable for refusing fleshly pleasures. If there were no resurrection hope, the world's logic would stand, but believers have that hope.
Titus 2: Grace Teaches Us to Deny Ungodliness
Les reads Titus 2:11-13, explaining that God's saving grace teaches believers to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, to live soberly, righteously, and godly now, and to look for Christ's glorious appearing.
Seek Things Above
Les teaches from Colossians 3:1-3 that believers should set their priorities heavenward because they are risen with Christ; this does not mean they cannot enjoy ordinary life.
Righteous Living Follows Salvation
Les clarifies that withdrawing from the world and its appetites is what God expects after salvation, but it is not a qualification for salvation; it follows believing the gospel.
Salvation Shows in a Changed Life
Les says salvation is not just future escape from doom but a present lifestyle; a true born-again child of God will be a good citizen visible to the community.
The Hope That Purifies
Les uses the analogy of cleaning house for company: because believers look for Christ to come any day, they keep their spiritual house in order and purify themselves.
Christians Are Not Spartans
Les emphasizes that setting affection on things above simply means not letting material things take priority; it does not require a Spartan or meager existence.
Change of Appetites and Desires
Les teaches that being risen with Christ produces a change in appetites and desires, making heaven the first interest while still allowing enjoyment of life.
Titus 2:11: For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
This introduces the teaching that saving grace is not permission to sin but the source of righteous instruction.
Titus 2:12: Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;
This is the core reason Christians deny worldly desires: grace itself instructs them to do so.
Titus 2:13: Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ;
It links the denial of worldly desires to the eager expectation of Christ's appearing.
Colossians 3:1: If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.
Believers' new life in Christ reorients their desires toward heavenly things.
Colossians 3:2: Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
This commands the believer to prioritize heavenly realities over earthly appetites.
Colossians 3:3: For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.
The believer's death with Christ is why old earthly desires lose their power.
1 John 3:3: And every man that hath this hope in him purifieth himself, even as he is pure.
The hope of Christ's return is a purifying motivation for righteous living.
Matthew 6:33: But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.
Jesus, quoted by Les, shows that God's kingdom must be the believer's first priority.
No. Les Feldick teaches that God expects believers to withdraw from the world and its appetites, but that withdrawal is not a qualification for salvation. It is what follows salvation after a person has believed the gospel.
No. Les says Christians can enjoy life to the full and God has given blessings to enjoy. The point is priorities, not a Spartan or monastic existence. Set your affection on things above, but that doesn't mean you can't enjoy the life God has given you.
According to Titus 2:13 and Les Feldick, the blessed hope is the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. Les distinguishes it from the Second Coming and presents it as the soon appearing of Christ that believers are to be looking for.
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