GOOD THINGS COME IN SMALL VERSES
Titus 2:11-14 ESV
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, 12 training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, 13 waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, 14 who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works.
Paul's letter to Titus is a short three chapters that contains a wealth of information. The four verses we are looking at today are a great example of saying a lot without a lot of words.
Paul starts by proclaiming a truth that is a foundational part of the gospel. "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people." Does this mean everyone is saved? No, but. Everyone who receives the grace of God is saved. Some have taken this verse to mean that everyone, regardless of how they live and what they believe about Jesus, is automatically saved. This is inaccurate. But man no longer has to do anything to get God to save them. Many are praying, Lord, save so and so. But the grace of God has already shown up in Jesus. His death, burial, and resurrection have made it possible for anyone to receive the salvation God has provided in Christ. Salvation needs no further enhancement. Salvation is only waiting for someone to receive it.
This grace also has something to say about how we are to live after salvation has been received. This grace that brought us salvation now instructs us as to how to live for God. We start by renouncing and turning away from the things of the past that we were involved in. No longer are we to engage in living as if God was not real - ungodliness. No longer are we to be involved in the passions and desires that drive the world that does not know God. Instead, because of grace, we now are to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the current environment that we find ourselves in. This change in living is a result of God's grace, not an attempt to earn our salvation, but a response to our salvation.
We live this new way waiting for the day that Jesus is revealed as the King of Kings and Lord of Lords in all His glory. And when that day comes all that we have sacrificed in order to live self-controlled and godly will not seem nearly as important. It's not easy living upright, self-controlled, and pleasing to God, but it sure beats living any other way. Whoever said the easy way was the best way? Jesus said the gate is narrow and the way is challenging that leads to life. Thank God His grace has equipped us to do it.
This same Jesus whose return we are waiting for is the same Jesus who has redeemed or bought us back from living lives that are not pleasing to God. The NLT version of verse 14 says, "He gave his life to free us from every kind of sin, to cleanse us, and to make us his very own people, totally committed to doing good deeds." That's saying quite a lot. Grace has done a great work in us. Now, we are living this new way clean and committed to doing good, not in order to earn God's love and grace. Instead, it is because of God's love and grace that we are able to live in this new way.
There is a lot to think about in these four verses. And even more to apply to our lives grateful that God has done a good work in us by His grace through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.
PRAYER
Thank You for Your grace, Lord. You have saved me, and cleansed me, and made me one of Your people, committed to You and committed to living in a way that reflects You well.