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The Grace of Salvation and Its Sanctifying Power.
v. 11. For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men,
v. 12. teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
v. 13. looking for that blessed hope and the glorious appearing of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ,
v. 14. who gave Himself for us that He might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify unto Himself a peculiar people, zealous of good works.
v. 15. These things speak, and exhort, and rebuke with all authority. Let no man despise thee.
It was a happy choice which made this passage, with the exception of the last verse, the Epistle lesson for the festival of Christmas; for although the Christmas miracle in itself is not discussed, yet the glory of the salvation which appeared in the Babe of Bethlehem with all its consequences is here presented in a manner which makes it valuable for the entire pear. The apostle writes: For there has appeared the grace of God, bringing salvation to all men. Thus does the apostle state the reason, the motive, which should actuate the Christians of all stations to live a life in conformity with the will of God. There appeared, there was manifested, there shone forth upon the world, like the morning-star after the greatest darkness of night, the grace of God. The heathen were covered with the darkness of their idolatry, and the Jews were blinded by the foolishness of their doctrine of works. But as the sun penetrates through mist and clouds and darkness, and fills the whole world with wonderful glory, thus the grace of God in Christ Jesus shone forth in the person of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, born in Bethlehem. As bringing salvation to all men this grace, this free favor of God, was revealed. This grace brings healing in the sickness of sin; it brings deliverance in the danger of condemnation. No man is excluded from the grace as it exists in Christ Jesus; for it has appeared to all men, all of them, without a single exception, being included in God's gracious will. Note: This thought of the universality of grace should incidentally inspire the Christians to be most indefatigable in spreading the glorious news which contains the wonderful salvation in and through Christ.
The apostle now shows what proof of faith is to follow the knowledge contained in the announcement of God's grace: Educating us that, denying ungodliness and the worldly lusts, we should live sensibly and righteously and godly in this world. The apostle considers both sides of a Christian's life in presenting the grace of God to us as an educator. Just as soon as the miracles which are proclaimed to us on the great festivals and throughout the year have filled our hearts with the joyful certainty of our salvation, with faith in Jesus: our Savior, the continued remembrance of these blessings will educate, or train us, will exercise discipline over us, making us eager to follow after sanctification in the fear of God. The grace of God coaxes, it stimulates, it inspires, it gives us the strength to deny and reject all godlessness, all the desires and lusts of this world. The Christian's life consists, on the one hand, in a ceaseless renouncing and rejecting of all that which tends to hinder his development in the service of the grace of God. With faith in this grace living in the heart of the believer, the battle in his heart can have only one ending, namely, a complete victory for the Spirit of God. It is by His power that the Christians, on the other hand, are enabled to live a life of sensible self-mastery, of integrity, and of piety in this present World. With regard to his own person a Christian will live so as to keep in check every desire and temptation of his flesh; with regard to his neighbor he will lead a life of uprightness and righteousness that refrains from doing him any harm; with regard to God he will conduct himself so as to fear, love, and trust Him above all things, to honor Him and to be obedient to Him. In these fine and praiseworthy works the Christians will exercise themselves with all eagerness and patience, as long as the present life lasts.
The full and final perfection of holiness will be found and be given to the believers in the life to come: Awaiting the blessed hope and revelation of the glory of the great God and our Savior Christ Jesus, who gave Himself in our stead, in order to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify to Himself an acceptable people, zealous for good works. While the Christians are leading their lives here on earth in the continual remembrance of the grace of God and the wonderful blessings given them thereby, they are also living in firm hope, they are definitely expecting the revelation of the object of their hopes. It is a blessed hope of glory which they hold, it is a happy, glorious expectation which fills their hearts, because He, for whose second coming they are sighing, possesses heavenly glory in endless measure. At His coming this glory will be revealed before the astonished and astounded eyes of all men. It will be a glory of both the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ. He who is God from eternity with the Father, He who, in the fullness of time, took upon Himself our own flesh and blood in order to gain salvation for us, He who has now, according to this human nature, been exalted to the right hand of God, will return in glory for the judgment of all mankind. Thus the expectation of the Christians looks forward to the time when they will see their Redeemer, who gained a complete salvation for ail men, in His divine glory. That the salvation is actually gained and prepared for all men, Paul definitely states: Who gave Himself for us, in our stead. Jesus Christ offered Himself, laid down His life, as our Substitute. In unspeakable and unreachable love and mercy He brought this sacrifice of His own body and life in our stead, in order to save us from certain death, and damnation, since we were by nature children of wrath. He paid the price of redemption, His blood, His life, whose divine preciousness was so great as to outweigh the sins of the whole world. Thus He has redeemed us from the lawlessness in which we were caught by nature, from the unrighteousness and transgression which characterized our entire life. By virtue, through the power of the redemption of Christ me are no longer in the power of sin and transgression. We are freed from its power, we are cleansed from its filth. We are now a peculiar people, we belong to our Savior by virtue of His vicarious work, me have been imbued with His power to withstand sin. Together with all other believers, with whom we form the communion of saints, the holy Christian Church, the people of God, we strive after sanctification and the renewal of the image of God in us. We are studious, diligent, zealous in good works; it is our constant endeavor to excel in such a life of love as will please our heavenly Father.
Concerning this wonderful summary of the Christian doctrine the apostle now charges Titus: These things tell and exhort and rebuke with all authority; let no one despise thee. The three chief parts of a minister's work are here named. Titus should speak, proclaim, teach, expound the doctrine, be engaged in this work without growing weary. To this he must add earnest, urgent, stimulating exhortation, telling his hearers what the Word of God expects from every one of them in all situations and conditions of life. And if any one of them becomes guilty of some wrong or has gone on record as opposing the truth, he must be convinced of his error, that he may know the truth in all its parts. This threefold duty rests upon Titus even if a natural diffidence, possibly on account of his youth, should tend to hold him back. As a minister of the Lord he is clothed with authority from above and shall speak the Word with power. Lest, however, this consideration tend to interfere with the free exercise of his duties, the apostle adds: Let no one despise thee. See 1Ti_4:12. If a pastor does the work of his calling in teaching, exhorting, and rebuking properly, then the hearers should accept the Word with all meek obedience and not despise the message on account of the preacher's age. A minister of Jesus Christ, so far as his office is concerned, is a representative of God, and must be treated as such as long as he preaches the truth of Scriptures without any admixture of human doctrines and opinions.
Summary.The apostle gives Titus directions as to the manner of dealing with aged men and women, as to the instructions to be given to young men and slaves, basing his exhortations upon the glorious revelation of the grace of God the vicarious redemption of Christ