"For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ. Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works."
Titus 2:11-14
Part 1
In this second chapter of Titus, Paul is speaking to the different kinds of people in the church telling them how they can live a life that is right before God and men. The reasons for a believer striving to live a godly life are found in these next verses.
Here’s the first reason…
“For the grace of God,”
God’s grace, that unmerited, undeserved, and unearned favor of God, He has blessed mankind with. We breathe His air, drink His water, and eat His food daily, under His “common grace.” And yet, so many never acknowledge these gracious gifts as coming from our charitable Creator.
Praise God[1], from Whom all blessings flow;
Praise Him, all creatures here below;
Praise Him above, ye heav’nly host;
Praise Father, Son, and Holy Ghost.
Because God is loving and generous to His creatures, He has provided the way of salvation through His Son, Jesus Christ. And so, we understand that salvation and other grace gifts can belong only to His children.
“That bringeth salvation,”
It is His grace that brings salvation to lost men and women.
“For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast” (Ephesians 2:8-9).
The Bible is very exclusive when it speaks of “salvation.” There is only one way to be saved, and only one Savior, Jesus Christ. To be saved, we must come to Him, His way.
“Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me” (John 14:6).
There is no other way but the Bible way to be saved and made fit for heaven.
“Hath appeared to all men,”
Jesus has come to bring salvation to all men who will call upon His name. This is the Gospel—that He can save a guilty sinner from his sin because He paid the price for that sin. Now the sinner can have forgiveness, by the grace of God! He has come to “seek and to save” the lost!
“The grace of God hath now been embodied in Jesus, ‘the brightness of the Father’s glory,’ manifested as the ‘Sun of righteousness,’ ‘the Word made flesh.’”[2]
Believers, God has given us the call to spread His “good news” wherever we go.
How does our gracious God want us to live on His earth? Come back tomorrow and let’s look deeper into this.
[1] “The Doxology,” words by Thomas Ken, 1674.
Music is the “Old Hundredth” by Louise Bourgeous, 1551. Copyright Status, Public Domain.
[2] Jamison, Fausset, and Brown. Jamison-Fausset-Brown’s Commentary, the electronic version in eSword.