Titus 2:11-14: "For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation for all people, training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age, waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession who are zealous for good works."
The book of Titus is one of Paul's pastoral letters written to a personal friend, exhorting him in matters of church leadership. There are two central issues of this letter: a warning against false teachers, and instruction for how Christians should live, particularly in matters of training the church.
This passage is smack-dab in the middle of this short book and it is dense, but it is also beautiful in its conviction and its point. In a real way, Paul is telling believers two very important things. The first, and most important, is that God has redeemed and saved us through Jesus and He is the active initiator for godly living in Christians. And secondly, that the individual believer is to live with a conduct and ethic that is instep with the hope of Christ that has been deposited within his or her heart.
In the end, God does the work of salvation and sanctification but individuals due have a responsible role to play in the process. Additionally, believers are called to live a certain lifestyle that coheres to the Word of God and to the commands of Christ. Let us then take heed in joy at the path before us!
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