The Glorious Appearing of Grace – Titus 2:11-14
The word “grace” is used 117 in the NT. The first time is in John 1:14. Also, in John 1:17 we learn the law was given by Moses but “grace and truth came through Jesus Christ.” Grace and truth. We see that there is a close connection between “Grace” and “Truth.”
The apostle Paul encouraged the elders in Ephesus and commended them to the gospel of the grace of God – Acts 20:32. We might parallel being “called by grace” in Galatians 1:15 with being “called by the gospel” in 2 Thessalonians 2:14. Thus we see how God works through the Gospel to bring us into His grace. In Colossians 1:6, Paul wants us to hear the gospel and “understand the grace of God in truth.”
As we study the grace of God in our text (Titus 2:11-14), let us feed on the word…
THE GRACE THAT APPEARED TEACHES
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us…” (vs 12).
“For” begins the sentence, tying the verse into what Paul has already said. The reason why Christians have such duties to live as Paul has instructed in verses 1-10 is because the grace of God has appeared teaching us to live just that way.
“Grace” here is a metonymy – a figure of speech in which a concept is called by a name of something associated with it. In this case, it is Christ who appeared and brought the grace of God with Him. Paul here emphasizes grace and in the process, shows us that grace is closely connected with doctrine, with teaching.
THE GRACE THAT APPEARED TEACHES ME TO DENY:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny…” (vs 12).
First, the word “instruct” carries the idea of discipline. The ESV uses the word “train.” The grace of God disciplines us; it guides us; it instructs us on how to live. The grace of God appeared, disciplining us in order that, denying, we might live (the verb that completes the thought).
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THE GRACE THAT APPEARED TEACHES ME TO LIVE:
The verb “to live” is the action that completes the verb “to train / instruct.” “For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to live…” (vs 12). To live how?
Sensibly, righteously, and godly.
THE GRACE THAT APPEARED MOTIVATES US TO LOOK:
“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, …looking for the blessed hope and the appearance of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus…” (verse 13).
Observe that verse 13 begins with a participle – “looking for” or “waiting” (ESV). While we live, we wait. We wait for the blessed hope, that is, the appearing of our God and Savior, Jesus Christ.
Paul goes on to say why Jesus did what He did. He gave Himself to: 1.) redeem us; 2.) to purify us.
We need to appreciate the grace of God. We need to embrace the grace of God. We need to learn of the grace of God. We need to obey the grace of God. But we dare not turn the grace of God into a license to believe and do whatever we desire.
–Paul Holland
