THE PURIFIED, PECULIAR POSSESSION OF CHRIST
Titus 2:11-15
Two significant words appear in the opening verse of our passage – grace and
salvation. “For the GRACE of God that bringeth SALVATION hath appeared
to all men.” Many unenlightened people think of grace in isolation but God’s
word reveals virtues that are inseparably associated with it – “Grace and truth
came by Jesus Christ” (John 1:17). Grace leads us to the truth as it is in
Christ and thus sets us free. “And God is able to make all grace abound
toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may
abound to every good work” (2 Corinthians 9:8). So, recipients of God’s grace
have salvation which makes them abound in good works and the fruit of the
Spirit. Knowing “the grace of God in truth” “bringeth forth fruit” in the
believer (Colossians 1:6). God’s purpose in giving us grace is to “fulfil all [His]
good pleasure, That the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified
in you, and ye in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord
Jesus Christ” (2 Thessalonians 1:11,12). For this reason, we are exhorted
“that ye receive not the grace of God in vain” (2 Corinthians 6:1). We must
avoid the error, danger and damnation of those who “turn the grace of our
God into lasciviousness” (Jude 4,5) “looking diligently lest any man fail of
the grace of God” (Hebrews 12:15-17).
The other word has also been thought of in isolation, salvation. But salvation
does not stand alone; it has root and fruit, cause and consequence, effect and
evidence. The effect of salvation in our hearts is righteousness in our lives.
Salvation and righteousness have been joined together by divine revelation and
redemption. “For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and
with the mouth confession is made unto salvation” (Romans 10:10). The
true believer receives “righteousness from the God of his salvation” (Psalm
24:5). He can testify in truth with evidence, “God hath clothed me with the
garments of salvation, he hath covered me with the robe of
righteousness” (Isaiah 61:10) (see also Psalm 71:15; 98:2; Isaiah 45:8; 56:1;
59:17; 62:1). The grace of God brings salvation and teaches us to live
righteously in this present world (Titus 2:11,12).
1. THE PROVISION AND EFFECT OF SALVATION
Titus 2:11,12; 1 Timothy 2:4-6; 2 Peter 3:9; Romans 10:8-13; Matthew 1:21;
John 8:10-12; Luke 19:1-10; Romans 6:1-12; 1 Corinthians 6:9-11; 2
Corinthians 5:17-21; Galatians 1:4; 1 John 3:4-10.
The grace which brings salvation to all men has been revealed. All classes
of men, anyone, everyone, whosoever, the parent as well as the child, the
master as well as the servant, the king as well as the subject, the rich as
well as the poor, the learned as well as the ignorant. None is excluded
from the offer of salvation, the provision has been made for all. “Teaching
us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live
soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world.” God’s grace
transforms hearts and lives. The transformation produces a desire to live
like God as revealed in Christ and there is an aversion or deep dislike for
anything ungodly or unrighteous. The desire for sensual indulgence or
worldly pleasure is replaced with the love for God and His righteousness.
Saved from sin, we are made free from the gross passion and pursuit of
worldly-minded sinners around us. The fleshly enjoyments of those who
do not know God hold no interest for those who tasted the grace and
goodness of God in salvation. In this present world, our desire is now to
live “soberly”, with all passions and propensities under due restraint,
“righteously”, living to please our righteous God in all things and at all
times, and “godly”, acting and conducting ourselves as true children of
God, having the divine nature of holiness.
2. THE PREPARATION AND EXPECTATION OF THE SAINTS
Titus 2:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18; Philippians 3:20,21; John 14:1-3; 1
Peter 1:7,13; Colossians 3:1-4; Acts 24:
15,16; Hebrews 9:27,28; 1 John 3:1-3; 2 Peter 3:12-14.
“Looking for that blessed hope, and the glorious appearing of the
great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ.” While we are living soberly,
righteously and godly, we are expectant and patiently waiting for the
coming of our Lord. We want to be ready when He comes, so we are always
to be in a posture of expectation. Our Lord Jesus Christ is coming again.
The certainty of His coming does not leave us in any doubt. Prophecy
(future prediction of coming events) takes up a large portion of the
Scripture. There are over 660 general prophecies, 333 of them about
Christ. 109 were fulfilled at His First Coming, 224 are still to be fulfilled at
His Second Coming. There are over 1,500 Old Testament passages that
refer to the Second Coming of Christ. 1 out of every 25 New Testament
verses directly refers to the Second Coming of Christ. For every time the
Bible mentions the First Coming of Christ, it mentions His Second Coming
8 times. Jesus refers to His Second Coming 21 times and over 50 times,
we are told to be ready for His return. Christ’s Second Coming is a major
theme in the word of God.
Jesus Christ is coming again. There are many things in the Scripture that
demand His Second Coming. The promise of God demands that Jesus
came (Genesis 49:10; Psalm 2:8,9). The words of Jesus demand His
Second Coming (John 14:1-3; Luke 19:11-13). The guarantee of the Holy
Spirit demands Christ’s return (John 16:13; 1 Thessalonians 4:13-18).
The program for the Church demands that Jesus come again (Acts 15:14-18; James 5:7,8). The program for the nations also demands Christ’s
return (Joel 3:2,9-12). The program for Israel demands Christ’s Second
Coming (Isaiah 59:20,21; Jeremiah 23:5,6). The humiliation of Jesus
Christ demands His return in glory (Matthew 26:63-68). The expectation
of the saints demands Christ’s Second Coming (1 Corinthians 15:19,52;
Titus 2:11-13).
3. THE PURITY AND EXPERIENCE OF SANCTIFICATION
Titus 2:14,15; Ephesians 5:25-27; Hebrews 9:13,14; Psalm 24:3,4; 51:6-10;
Acts 15:9; 2 Timothy 2:19-22; 1 Peter 1:13-22; 2:9; 2 Timothy 4:1-5; 1
Timothy 5:20-22; 4:12-16.
“Who gave himself for us.” He “gave himself a ransom” for the
salvation of sinners (1 Timothy 2:4-6) but He “gave himself for us”, for
the Church (1) “that he might deliver us from this present evil world”
(Galatians 1:4), (2) that we might be “crucified with Christ” (Galatians
2:20), (3) “that he might sanctify and cleanse” us (Ephesians 5:25,26),
(4) “that he might redeem us from all iniquity” (Titus 2:14), (5) “that
he might present it (the Church) to himself a glorious church, not
having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing” (Ephesians 5:25,27), (6)
“that it (the Church) should be holy and without blemish” (Ephesians
5:25,27), (7) “that he might purify unto himself a peculiar people,
zealous of good works” (Titus 2:14). Christ’s sacrifice is for our
sanctification. From these Bible references on the purpose why Christ
gave Himself for the Church, it is clear that to be sanctified is to be made
free from sin, to be cleansed from moral pollution, to be redeemed from all
iniquity, set free from the power of sin, to be made holy, without spot,
blemish or wrinkle, to be purified and entirely consecrated unto Christ,
made zealous of good works.
“And purify unto himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.”
Saved and sanctified, we no longer belong to ourselves, we are now
Christ’s peculiar possession and we live only for God’s glory and Christ’s
exaltation and revelation to all around us.
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