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.

Titus 2

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. Titus 2:11-14

I maintain pause my study of 1 Corinthians and focus on a study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church. My focus this morning is Titus 2:11-14, which are the memory verses for this week. To aid in my memorization efforts, I break down this text as follows:

• For the grace of God has appeared (first coming of God's one and only Son, Jesus Christ)
• bringing salvation for all people (Jesus desires to save all people)
• training us to renounce ungodliness and worldly passions (salvation brings about new birth or regeneration as the Holy Spirit works in our heart as we draw closer and closer to Jesus in our journey with Him; this regeneration process moves into sanctification as we are trained and molded into more of His image)
• to live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives in the present age (our lives in this world, in our earthly bodies, is temporary, and during this time our salvation and the resulting regeneration and sanctification processes move us to not only battle against sin, but also for Him)
• waiting for our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior Jesus Christ, (as we live in the present age, we wait patiently - enduring whatever circumstances God places us in - for the second coming of Jesus Christ)
• who gave himself for us to redeem us from all lawlessness (once again Christ "bought back" our salvation - He redeemed us)
• to purify for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works. (we were redeemed for a purpose - to be purified and to become His so that we work for His good and to bring others to Him)
  

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who gave Himself to redeem me - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of how You redeem and purify me. My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

[Jesus Christ] 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.

Titus 2

[Jesus Christ] 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. Titus 2:14

I maintain pause my study of 1 Corinthians and focus on a study of 2 Thessalonians and Titus as part of a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  This morning I read Titus 2 unassisted by any commentary. Here, in v1 and in the remaining verses of chapter 2, Paul pivots from a discussion of qualifications for elders in chapter 1 (and who is not qualified) to how Titus must serve the church in Crete, and how he must watch over his flock, including providing instruction that is both affirmative (encourage) and negative (admonish/rebuke).

• v1 teach what accords with sound doctrine
• v2 older men are to be sober-minded, dignified, self-controlled, sound in faith, in love and in steadfastness
• vv3-5 older women are to be reverent in behavior, not slanderers or slaves to much wine; they must also teach what is good and train young women to love their husbands and children; to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the Word of God may not be reviled
• vv6 younger men must be self-controlled
• vv7-8 Titus himself in all respects should be a model of good works, and in his teaching show integrity, dignity, and sound speech that cannot be condemned, so that an opponent may be put to shame having nothing evil to say about the church
• v9-10 bondservants (by implication all working people) are to be submissive to their own masters in everything; they are to be well-pleasing, not argumentative, not pilfering, but showing all good faith, so that in everything they may adorn the doctrine of God our Savior

Paul then concludes - in vv11-15 with how Titus and the church are equipped for this instruction - it is through the grace of God, how it trains us, and a final emphasis on how Titus must do all these things, including exhortation on what is good and rebuking what is not.  Paul ends with how Titus has authority - so use it and let no one disregard you.

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - You provide all I need and equip me to love and serve You.  Thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of my salvation and the blessed hope You provide.  My sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.

Jesus Christ[,]...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.

Titus 2

Jesus Christ[,]...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. Titus 2:13-14

I continue my pause of my study of 1 Corinthians as I participate in a men's discipleship group (d-group) at my church.  Today, my focus is once again Titus 2:11-12 - the memory verse for the 1st two weeks of our study - unlike yesterday I lean on DesiringGod.com's Look at the Book (Lab) for Titus 2:11-14. First, John Piper shares how the grace of God (v11) trains (v12) us negatively to "renounce ungodliness and worldly passions," and positively to "live self-controlled, upright, and godly lives." He then unpacks how the grace of God also gives us an ability to wait for the "blessed hope" (v13) believers have as we trust in the promise that Jesus will return. He then unpacks how God not only gave us grace, but also himself (v14) - Jesus Christ - "to redeem us from all lawlessness [negative] and to purify [positive] for himself a people for his own possession who are zealous for good works."  He wraps the lab by describing how God's grace or Christ's self-giving trains us "by producing in us a joyful, confident, hope of glory."

Comment and discuss this post.

My Prayer: Lord Jesus, You are an awesome God who loves me and who is full of grace and compassion for me - training me to become more like You and to equip me for Your will for my life - thank You Jesus!  I am not deserving of such grace, compassion, training, and equipping - my sin is great and it continues...daily.  Please forgive me Jesus and help me overcome and turn from my sin towards You.  Help me love You with all of my heart, soul, and mind and love others as You love me.  Help me grow in my faith.  Give Lisa and myself wisdom and strength.  Please heal Lisa of her cancer and from the side effects of chemo.  Help us lead Zach and Dustin to You Jesus and for them to choose You as their Lord and Savior.  Please provide Godly friends and spouses to Zach and Dustin.  Help me serve You, my family, my church, and others.  Help me understand, be obedient to, and apply Your message for me today and every day.