Lesson for January 21, 2024

The Excellence of Grace

Titus 2:11-14

Verses 11-14

“For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men, instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously and godly in the present age, looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus, who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed, and to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, eager for good deeds.”

Appeared and bringing (Gr. “epiphano” – enlighten and “soterion” – deliver) are the two words in this verse that tell us salvation has been delivered to all people.

Many people fail to realize that there never has been a generation that did not hear the Gospel. Biblical evidence in five passages tells us that in every generation the Gospel has gone to all the inhabitants of earth. (Acts 17:6 – world – Gr. “oikoumene” – the Roman Empire); Colossians 1:3-6 and I Timothy 3:16 – world (Gr. “kosmos”- inhabitants of earth); Titus 2:11 – all men (Gr. “pas” – everyone)

There never has been a time in human history when a person has had an unfair deal from God, regardless of the time in which they live, their geographical isolation, or their language. Since God is perfect righteousness, it is impossible for Him to be unfair or unjust to any person, at any time. Since Christ died for everyone, it is His purpose to save everyone. (II Peter 3:9) However, God cannot coerce human volition and therefore any unsaved person must take the responsibility for their own decision. (John 3:18,36) Unlimited atonement is a doctrine found in many passages of Scripture, which explains that each person must use their volition to make a decision to believe in Christ as Savior.

Only negative volition, at either God-consciousness or Gospel hearing, hinders salvation. If any person, regardless of geographical isolation or linguistic barrier, desires a relationship with God after reaching God-consciousness, then God will provide Gospel information by which that person can be saved. (John 17:17; Acts 17:27) This is often called “the age of accountability.” People who do not reach God-consciousness are automatically saved at the point of death. (II Samuel 12:23)

People have the ability to arrive at God-consciousness through the activity of their own mind. (Romans 1:20-21) When a person reaches the point of God-consciousness, they become accountable to God. The “age of accountability” varies with mentality, culture, circumstances, and environment. Accountability is not fixed, because there are too many circumstances to vary it. So-called “heathens” are heathen, not because they have not heard the Gospel, but because they have rejected God, at either God-consciousness or at Gospel-hearing. (Romans 1:18-32)

Instructing us to deny ungodliness and worldly desires and to live sensibly, righteously, and godly in the present age. The Greek word for instructing is “paideuo,” which means to correct, to discipline, or to teach, as you would a child. Grace instructs believers to deny both ungodliness and worldly desires. The Greek word for ungodliness is “asebeia,” which means to disregard or to defy God. Worldly desires is the Greek word “kosmikos,” meaning lust for things. Sensibly means stability of mind. Righteously refers to practical righteousness. Godly refers to being “Christlike” in our thinking, our attitude, and our actions.

Looking for the blessed hope and the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Christ Jesus. Looking for is the Greek word “prosdexomai,” which means to wait for something with keen anticipation. The blessed hope is our confidence found in our eternal relationship with Jesus Christ. At the Rapture of the Church, happiness for all believers, for all eternity, will be a reality.

Who gave Himself for us to redeem us from every lawless deed refers to the spiritual death of Christ when He was paying the penalty for our sins as our substitute. (II Corinthians 5:21) The Greek word for redeem is “lutroo,” which means to release for a ransom, or to set free by paying a ransom. (Galatians 3:13, 4:4-6; I Peter 1:18,19; Psalm 34:22)

The Biblical definition of the word redeemed means “to be purchased from the slave-market of sin.” There are three Greek words for redemption: “agorazo” meaning, to buy, “exagorazo,” meaning to buy out of or remove from sale, and “lutroo” meaning to release on receipt of ransom or payment. 

And to purify for Himself a people for His own possession, zealous for good deeds. The Greek word for purify is “katharizo,” which means to cleanse or to purge. It is a reference to salvation when a person believes in Jesus Christ for salvation and is cleansed from all categories of sin, Adams original sin, inherent sin, and personal sin. It is a reference to the baptism of the Holy Spirit when a believer is placed in union with Jesus Christ.

At salvation, a believer becomes part of the most unique family in history – the Royal Family of God (His own possession). No longer a mere creation of God, a believer becomes a child of God. As children of God, the Bible tells us that we are now related to Jesus Christ as joint heirs. This means that we share in His inheritance, which is going to be fantastic.

No one is born into this world as a believer in Christ. Therefore, we have no family relationship with God at physical birth. What we have is spiritual death, which is separation from God without the human ability to do anything about it. However, God in His grace has made a way for us to enter into a family relationship with Him. This way is through faith in His Son, Jesus Christ. Once we become a child of God, the potential exists to function as a son/daughter of God. (Romans 8:14-17)

All children of God will spend eternity with God, but not all of His children will fulfill the responsibilities of royalty. Therefore, not all believers will receive equal rewards in the eternal state. As sons or daughters of God, believers have royal responsibilities to produce divine good.

Eager is the Greek word “zelotes,” which means to be zealous or fervent. Good deeds is a reference to divine production which can be either overt or invisible. Good is the Greek word “kalos” meaning virtuous, valuable, or honorable. So, a believer is to be highly motivated about producing divine good.

Ephesians 2:9-10, ^“For by grace you have been saved through faith; and this is not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for (divine) good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.”