Grace Motivates

Titus 2:11-14

The word “grace” is fraught with or full of meaning. The Greek word charis is found throughout the New Testament. It involves a gift that cannot be bought because it is free (Eph. 2:8,9), a benefit to another who cannot help himself (Rom. 5:6), something given without expectation of anything in return, and was always given to a friend and not an enemy. However, when it comes to its usage in the Bible grace is given to the enemies of God in order for them to be his friends. The message of grace is the greatest of motivations for the saints to live by the sound teaching given in the previous paragraphs of Titus.

Grace Brought Salvation

Salvation has appeared. From the Greek comes the word “epiphany.” Man could search for it but on his own could never find salvation. He could plead for it, research it, try to earn it, etc. but it would be all in vain. God sent His Son so salvation could come to light. While holding baby Jesus in his arms in the Temple aged Simeon said, “for my eyes have seen Your salvation” (Luke 2:30). When the Word became flesh God showed the world of lost men and women their Savior. Jesus not only personifies the Word but in this verse He is the very embodiment of divine Grace. The phrase “to all men” does not teach universal salvation, that is, all men will be saved no matter that they do or believe. The universal need for salvation is met with a universal solution in Jesus. Grace brings a universal opportunity for every sinner. This salvation is available to all men regardless of their former moral or religious condition, race, age, gender and it is even available to those who are slaves. “For this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth” (1 Tim. 2:3,4). Yet all men will not be saved (Matt. 7:13,14; 21-23). Salvation is for “whoever” believes (Jn. 3:16).

Grace Taught Denial

For the word “teaching” Paul does not use the Greek didasko but paideuo which is instruction which is given by a parent to a small child.

The word “ungodliness” has often been misunderstood. It is translated form the Greek term asebeia which does not mean “un-God like” but rather an irreverent disregard for God and things holy. It is an anti-God mind set which shows a contempt for the existence, wisdom, love, etc. of God.

The world represents the realm of man and Satan. Grace teaches us not to crave the possessions or the pleasures of this world. “Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world—the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life—is not of the Father but is of the world” (1 John 2:15,16).

Grace instructs all the saved to change their attitude toward God and their appetite for the World.

Grace Taught Proper Living

Grace does not just stop at teaching saints what to deny in their lives, it also instructs them the proper way to live in this world. First, they must live “soberly” or sensible. The Greek world is sphronos and has been commanded of bishops, older men, young women, and young men (1:8;2:2,4,6). This calls for self-restraint in a world that knows no “no.” The fleshly desire for material goods and sex cloud the minds of men and crowd out thoughts of God. Next, grace teaches Christians to live “righteously” in their relationships with fellow man. In all of his dealings a Christians must show no partiality but always manifest fairness, justice according to what is right. Finally, grace teaches the saved to live “godly.” This term eusebeia is akin to the word translated “ungodliness.” It speaks of the right attitude toward God or reverence for Him, all His attributes, and all His commands.

This present age is the age of grace where Christians are taught to live with self-restraint within, fairness without, and respect toward God. At the same time they deny the irreverent and lustful ways of this post-modern age.

Grace Wrought Hope

The hope wrought by grace is not the wishful thoughts made while blowing out the candles on a birthday cake. Bible hope is an assured expectation of the things desired. It is not the hope for something which is most likely never to happen. “I hope to win a million dollars” Instead, it is like placing you order with a waiter and expecting it to be filled and filling you in a matter of minutes. Grace has made possible the hope of Christ’s return. That hope will be fulfilled when that final day arrives. The word “appearing” comes from the same word used in verse eleven epiphaneia. This time it refers not to the incarnation of Christ but to His second coming at the end of the age (1 Th. 4:13-18) when He comes as a thief in the night (1 Th. 5:1f). As the saints now look and wait for Him to return at any moment, they gain patience and perseverance. Our blessed, beautiful, and happy hope makes the waiting tolerable knowing that it will be glorious. Indeed all the saints who have waited and love His appearing with be filled with the joy of being reunited with the saints of all ages, transformed with incorruption, and receive a reward that can never to taken away.

Note, that the appearing is not both God the Father and Jesus Christ His Son. Appearing is never connected with the Father. Most Greek scholar believe the construction here points to the deity of Jesus and the fact that He is the Savior. Thus the verse is only speaking of God the Son and not God the Father.

Grace Bought Redemption

The concept of redemption would have been well known in the first century. “‘Redeem’ is from lutroo, which refers to the releasing of someone held captive, such as a prisoner or a salve, on receipt of a ransom payment.” (MacArthrur 121). Many slaves longed to be able to raise enough money to pay the ransom for their freedom from doing the deeds for their masters. Perhaps, if they could not redeem themselves a relative or friend may be in a position to do so. All men have become enslaved through their lawless deeds. They are incapable of paying the ransom price “for the wages of sin is death” (Rom. 6:23). They need someone who can pay it for them. Jesus came and gave Himself up voluntarily for all sinners. He, the innocent Son of God, died in our place, that is, “for us.” “God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Rom. 5:8). The redemption price was high and unique – the blood of Christ (1 Pet. 1:18,19).

Grace Sought a People

Some passages render this “peculiar people” as if Christians are purified to be odd or strange compared to the world. Although Christians are different from the world, this passage is not teaching that concept. The term used here denotes those who have been set apart, to be God very special people who are His possession and His alone. As God told the Israelites whom He redeemed out of Egyptian bondage “you shall be a special treasure to Me above all people” (Ex. 19:5). God has through redemption price of Christ blood washed or purified those who had been enslaved through the filthiness of sin. Christians are now a people who are his sanctified or set-apart saints. This purifying comes through the Word and baptism. “Christ also loved the church and gave Himself for her, that He might sanctify and cleanse her with the washing of water by the word” (Eph. 5:25,26).

Grace Begot Zeal

A people redeemed from “lawless deeds” while enslaved to sin are now God’s special people doing good deeds out of a zealous heart. Literally, a zealot doing good deeds. Whereas a slave may not be very anxious to do his work, with a new master former slaves have been turned into a group of zealots. In ancient Israel zealots were a radical group of Jews who were dedicated in throwing the Romans and their cohorts out of Israel at any cost and willing to do whatever it took. For the former slave to sin a New Manager or Master brings new zeal.

Grace Fraught With All Authority

Titus was to teach this message of grace with all the authority which comes from God and not man. The Jews once asked Jesus where did He derive His authority for doing the things He did and teaching what He taught. Authority is important, but the Jews rejected that authority and thus rejected God. After His death Jesus gave what has been labeled the Great Commission. “And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, ‘All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age’” (Matt. 28:18-20). It is by this same authority delegated to and through the apostle Paul and then to Titus that he is to teach sound doctrine and the message of grace.

Titus was to teach all these things in three ways. First, he is to “speak.” In Titus’ everyday conversation he was to seize the opportunities to converse about God’s saving grace. Second, he was to “exhort.” Just as a coach exhorts his athletes to give their best effort, so Titus was to entreat and plead with the saints to keep up the good fight and finish the course they had begun to run. Finally, he was to “rebuke” those who needed correction. This is done by showing disapproval for incorrect behavior and demanding they replace it with correct conduct.

Just as Timothy was not to allow any man to despise his youth (1 Tim. 4:12), Titus was not to let anyone without exception try to make an end run abound his teaching. Zero tolerance is to be shown to anyone trying to think beyond or evade the truth.

– Daniel R. Vess