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“7 in all things, offering yourself as a model of good works and in your teaching offering integrity, gravity, 8 and sound speech that cannot be censured; then any opponent will be put to shame, having nothing evil to say of us.

11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all, 12 training us to renounce impiety and worldly passions and in the present age to live lives that are self-controlled, upright, and godly, 13 while we wait for the blessed hope and the manifestation of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ. 14 He it is who gave himself for us that he might redeem us from all iniquity and purify for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.

15 Declare these things; exhort and reprove with all authority. Let no one look down on you.”

 

How does the grace of God train us to renounce impiety? Piety is a word rarely used in popular conversation, even among Christians; it makes many of us cringe. What could piety have to do with grace? How could they possibly be so directly related, as Paul suggests to his brother in Christ?

Piety is denoted by devotion to God as shown through our actions. How does grace—the present salvation of God—train us toward lives fully devoted to God, as shown through our actions?

Piety in this context emphasizes our works and behavior as a sign of God’s salvation in our lives—which is entirely different from believing in salvation because of our works. But piety is important in the life of a believer saved by grace through faith.

It may be difficult for Lutherans, because of our Catholic baggage and our distaste for words like this, but piety must be important component of our faith journey. It is worth the struggle for us, and worth the pursuit. It’s in the Bible, after all—and the New Testament, to boot!

Thanks, Paul.

God, you are worthy of our devotion. Help us live lives fully devoted to you in all we do, trained by your grace. We may not fully understand what that means, but we can still trust it. May your Holy Spirit be our guide. Thank you for the instruction and shepherding of those, like Paul, who are often wiser than we are, especially in this complicated life of faith. Amen.

Pastor Beverly Struckmann

pastorbev@livinglord.org