Titus 2:11-14 11 For the grace of God has appeared that offers salvation to all people. 12 It teaches us to say “No” to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright and godly lives in this present age, 13 while we wait for the 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 wickedness and to purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.
This is enlightening and encouraging, so let's look at what's being said here and what we can take from it.
1. God’s grace saves us from the punishment of sin and sets us free from the power of sin. (verse 12)
Before Christ, we weren’t just burdened by the guilt of our sin, we were also in slavery to it. Romans 6:6 “We know that our old self was crucified with him in order that the body of sin might be brought to nothing, so that we would no longer be enslaved to sin.”
By God’s grace, we are being taught more and more, in the process of sanctification, to say “no.” This ungodliness and “ worldly passions” is what drives and enslaves the unregenerate. This is who we were! Paul uses this language in Ephesians “such WERE some of you,” but that’s not our identity, not our master anymore.
The verse continues on to say that God’s grace, (the same grace that made you righteous before God, teaches you more and more, through sanctification, to live self-controlled. There is still a desire to sin that is attached to our flesh, but we have the ability to overcome that flesh through the power of the Holy spirit. The power to live upright and Godly lives “in this present age.” Culture is contrary to a life of holiness, but we are not trusting in our own power, but rather, we are resting in His. The grace that snatched us from the jaws of Hell and saved us from the rightly deserved wrath of God is certainly able to empower us to live in a way that honors Him.
2. He gives power and desire for obedience. (Verse 13)
Again, Paul is asserting that Christ came to redeem us from all of our sin, and also came (and has the power to) “purify for himself a people that are his very own, eager to do what is good.”
Scripture tells us in Colossians 3:10, “and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.”
“Renewed in knowledge after the image of its creator.” We are becoming more “Christ minded!” In 2 Corinthians, it tells us if we are in Christ, we are a new Creation. The old has gone - the old guilt, but also the old desires.
The more we are in His word, the more we thrive and delight in it. (Psalm 1)
3. Like salvation, our sanctification and obedience are for His glory. (verse 14)
The language used here is unmistakable: “For Himself” “His very own”.
Isaiah 43:7 “everyone who is called by my name, whom I created for my glory, whom I formed and made.”
Conclusion
God’s grace saves us from sin and self, and continues to do so until the day we are with him forever, empowering the believer to daily crucify the flesh and walk in obedience. There is no greater joy and no greater purpose than to glorify God by pursuing Christ with our every moment.