Looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ (Titus 2:13)

In the previous verse, Paul told Titus what grace teaches: that we should deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and that we should live righteous lives. Titus 2:13 carries on the same thought, adding to what grace teaches us.

Said plainly, grace teaches us to look for the second coming of Jesus Christ. In continuing the thought of what grace teaches, Paul wrote that we should be looking for the blessed hope and glorious appearing of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ.

In other words, grace teaches us to expect and prepare for our blessed hope. That hope is not heaven or glory, but Jesus Himself, face to face, closer than ever.

Yet we don’t just wait for the coming of Jesus; we live in active expectation of the return of Jesus. We are looking for it. The return of Jesus Christ should be precious for Christians to consider.

Jesus came the first time to save the soul of man; He will come a second time to resurrect the body.

Jesus came the first time to save the individual; He will come a second time to save society.

Jesus came the first time to a crucifixion; He will come a second time to a coronation.

Jesus came the first time to a cross; He will come a second time to a throne.

Jesus came the first time in humility; He will come a second time in glory.

Jesus came the first time and stood before Pilate; He will come a second time and Pilate will stand before Him.

Jesus came the first time and was judged by men; He will come a second time to judge all men.

Finally, notice whom Paul says will return: our great God and Savior Jesus Christ. From time to time, some people try to say that Paul and other early Christians didn’t really believe Jesus was God. This shows that not only did Paul know Jesus was God, but that He was and is the great God and Savior.

That same Jesus came once – and He will return just as He promised. Let grace teach you to keep looking for His return and be ready for that great day.

Click here for David’s commentary on Titus 2

For the grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men (Titus 2:11)

This brief statement of the apostle Paul in his letter to Titus introduces a new thought, but even this starting line has a wonderful truth for us to consider.

Paul begins speaking of the grace of God. We remember the greatness of God’s grace, the undeserved favor and acceptance that God gives to those who put their trust in Jesus Christ.

Here Paul considered that the grace of God actually does something: it brings salvation. That’s how great the favor and acceptance of God is. It changes the past, present, and future of the man or woman who receives it. In this sense, salvation isn’t just a ticket to heaven. It means God’s active power and life in the here and now, not just in the eternal future.

Notice also that grace brings salvation. You don’t go out and “get” salvation; it comes to you in the grace of God and you have the opportunity to receive it by faith. That’s one a fundamental difference between Christianity and every other religion or faith system on earth. Many religions tell how to find God and get something from Him. Biblical Christianity is the message of how God, by His grace, brought salvation to us.

There is something else wonderful in this short verse. Paul says that this grace of God that brings salvation has appeared to all men. I see at least two beautiful things here. First, there is one gospel of grace for all men. God doesn’t have a gospel of grace for some and a gospel of law or self-justification for others. All men (and all women) find salvation by the grace of God.

The other beautiful thing here is the phrase translated has appeared. According to Adam Clarke, it is the ancient Greek word epiphaino and it means, “has shined out.” Clarke believe this was a picture taken from the shining of the sun. Just as the sun rises in the east and makes its way across the entire globe, so the wonderful grace of God in Jesus Christ started in Jerusalem and began to shine over the entire human race.

Just as with the grace of God, the light and warmth of the sun is for the whole earth; but it does not shine upon the earth all at the same time, nor in the same intensity from place to place. God shines forth His grace according to His wisdom and plan; but we know that He always shines forth His grace through the Sun of Righteousness, Jesus Christ (Malachi 4:2). Seek Jesus, trust Jesus, and let His grace shine on you today.

Click here for David’s commentary on Titus 2

In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works; in doctrine showing integrity, reverence, incorruptibility, sound speech that cannot be condemned, that one who is an opponent may be ashamed, having nothing evil to say of you. (Titus 2:7-8)

Paul told Titus how to speak to the different groups of people in the church, and he told Timothy to tell the young men “to be sober-minded” (Titus 2:6). Then Paul explained to Titus the importance of being a good example himself.

This is what Paul wrote: “In all things showing yourself to be a pattern of good works.” Titus had to be more than a teacher, he also had to be an example, a pattern. His guidance to others could not be taken seriously if he himself was not walking after God’s truth. This is a powerful, basic principle that is often neglected. If the preacher or teacher does not live what he teaches, why should anyone else?

This doesn’t mean that leaders in the church must be perfect. Like anyone else, they will have their weaknesses and failings. Leaders can’t be examples of perfection, but they certainly can be examples of humility and repentance.

There’s a specific way that Titus had to be an example: “In doctrine showing integrity.” Titus had to be an example in doctrinal stability and integrity. If he wasn’t comfortably settled in his understanding of the Scriptures, he wasn’t ready to lead.

Titus also had to be an example of reverence, of incorruptibility, and of sound speech. Titus had to teach the older men (Titus 2:2) and the older women (Titus 2:3) to be reverent, but he had to be an example of reverence first. Titus had to teach the older men to be sound in faith (Titus 2:2), but his faith had to be incorruptible.

When God’s leaders live this way, it gives those who oppose God’s work no excuse to accuse and reject the truth. Paul put it this way: “That one who is an opponent may be ashamed.” Of course, Jesus lived this better than anyone. Jesus could say to an angry mob, “Which of you convicts Me of sin?” (John 8:46) and no one could say anything.

I’m sure there are people that you really want to see come to faith and a real relationship with Jesus Christ. There are probably many others you know who already love Jesus but need to be taught in some important areas of the Christian life. With both groups, remember that your example means so much.

If we fail to be good examples of the Christian life, what we teach others is of little effect. If we fail to be good examples of the Christian life, we give others the opportunity to excuse their unbelief.

We can humbly ask Jesus to forgive us for all the times we have failed in being good examples, and then ask Him for the ongoing strength to represent God and His people by our good example.

Click here for David’s commentary on Titus 2

That they admonish the young women to love their husbands, to love their children, to be discreet, chaste, homemakers, good, obedient to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be blasphemed. (Titus 2:4-5)

According to Paul’s instruction, Titus was not to make it his work to teach the young women directly. Instead, he was to equip and encourage the older women to teach the young women. Of course, this doesn’t mean that the young women were barred from listening to Titus teach. It simply means that it was wrong – and perhaps risky – for Titus to make the young women a focus of his ministry. If there was a young women Bible Study group, Titus shouldn’t teach it. The older women should teach and encourage the younger women in some rather basic things.

We shouldn’t assume that Paul thought that these were the only things that the young women needed to know, but these were important. What were those things?

– That they should love their husbands and be obedient to their own husbands.
– That they should love their children.
– That they should be discreet, chaste, homemakers, and good.

Instruction for the young women was to begin with home matters. God has given them a strategic position of influence and assistance to their husbands and their children, and they must let love dominate their influence and assistance.

That seems pretty basic – but there is an important lesion even in that. More people than we think need to be taught the basics. We often assume that everyone grows up learning how to do these things, we many people (or even most people) do not.

We should not say, “I know how to do those things. I really don’t have anything to learn.” There may be important aspects of family life or other life basics that we haven’t learned or haven’t learned correctly. We may have bad habits of thinking or doing that need to change and brought under God’s wisdom.

We don’t only look at what we need to learn; we should also look at who we could teach. Perhaps God has put people in your circle of influence that you can teach in some basic things of life. There are people who need to learn about godly family life and the kind of habits that build a happy life. Don’t just assume that everyone knows those things. You might be the one to help them.

These basics are important for us to learn, know, and teach – so that the word of God may not be blasphemed. When Christians don’t live in a Biblical, godly manner it means that the word of God might be blasphemed among the ungodly.

Learn, know, and teach the basics.

Click here for David’s commentary on Titus 2

But as for you, speak the things which are proper for sound doctrine: That the older men be sober, reverent, temperate, sound in faith, in love, in patience. (Titus 2:1-2)

The Apostle Paul spent a lot of time in Titus chapter 1 telling his younger associate how to deal with problem people. But Titus didn’t only need to give attention to the problems, he also had to teach Christians the right way to live.

That’s what Paul had in mind when he wrote, “things which are proper for sound doctrine.” The idea behind this phrase has to do with right living, not just right thinking. The Living Bible translates this, “Speak up for the right living that goes along with true Christianity.” The New Living Translation has “Promote the kind of living that reflects right teaching.”

We can’t escape it. The Bible is a book that tells us how tolive. It is the height of hypocrisy to say that we believe its truth if we ignore how it tells us to live our lives. We don’t always like it, but we always need to hear how God expects us to live.

Paul simply wanted Titus to fulfill the command of Jesus in Matthew 28:19-20: Teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you. In that effort, he first told Titus how to teach the older men.

Titus had some older men among the Christians in Crete. They had to be approached with love and wisdom, or they might easily be offended when they were taught by a younger man like Titus.

Paul wanted Titus to know that the older men must live with the maturity and wisdom that their years should give them. This means sober, reverent, and temperate lives. The command to teach these things means that they do not come automatically with age. Sometimes we think that when people are older, they must be wiser. This is often the case, but not always.

The older men must also have stability, being stable in the right things: sound in faith, in love, in patience. As we get older, we tend to “harden” in our ways. This is a good thing if we “harden” in the ways of faith, love, and patience. Becoming hard of heart is no way to grow old gracefully.

Finally, notice that Paul wrote that the older men should be concerned with patience.

That is the great ancient Greek word hupomone. It means a steadfast and active endurance, not a passive waiting. Older men are not to just patiently wait around until they pass on to the next world. They are to actively endure the challenges of life; even the challenges of old age. Doing this they will not only be blessed themselves, but a blessing to all who know them.

As you grow older, are you growing in the right direction?

Click here for David’s commentary on Titus 2