Titus 2:11–13

We are told the English word our translators used in Titus 2:11–13 — "appearing" — is not strong enough. The Greek language, always so expressive, gives the idea of darkness suddenly giving way to bright light. Not so much a star, but a bright sun — the great sun that lights the day. The grace of God now stands in contrast to the dark times before the law was given, when God made His mind known only to a few.

The grace of God has appeared, and it appeared in the person of His Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. In Him He makes His grace known. His finished work is the source of it. It flows from the cross. And this grace comes to man with salvation. It brings salvation, not to a certain class of men, but it brings salvation for all men.

When God acts in grace, it is never at the expense of His holiness. God is love and therefore acts in grace, but He is also light and therefore acts in holiness. His acting in grace needs a righteous foundation and He has found it in the cross of the Lord Jesus.

The margin of verse 11 reads, "The grace of God that brings salvation to all men, has appeared." That reading is better than the one in the text. The point is that now there is salvation for all. And the grace of God which has brought that world-wide salvation teaches us how to live, while we wait for the appearing of the glory.

Grace has appeared. It has appeared, not limited to one people, but to all men. It does not carry promises and blessings for this life; it brings salvation. It comes from God to men with salvation. It does not expect righteousness from men. It brings salvation to those who need it. This is a precious and simple truth. It makes us know God and puts us in our place — but it does so according to the grace that has leaped over every barrier.

"Saving to all" is the grace which has appeared. That is its character. But it does not set aside the warning of the same apostle, "not to receive the grace of God in vain" (2 Cor. 6:1), and it does not set aside that the gospel alone offers this grace.

While His grace presents salvation to all, it is also said to be educating us. The change from "all men" to "us" is important, and we should not overlook it. The one is the universal message of God, which people may or may not receive. The other is the distinct effect, whenever souls receive that message in faith.

The grace received becomes teaching in those who receive the salvation it brings… And here, I note, it is "the grace" that teaches, and not something else. It is not man's wisdom, or man's morality, mixing itself with what is divine in his salvation… It is "the grace of God" that teaches him as well as saves him.

God's gospel is good news to the highest person on earth no less than to the lowest. As a rule it is preached to the poor, because they are usually the ones within reach. There is no king, no queen, no emperor who is not infinitely indebted to the grace of God, if the heart is opened. But if the heart is steeled against it, the message is one of salvation all the same. How sweet beyond words for those in the painful and trying position of slavery!

The law was like a schoolteacher who hands the same code of rules to everyone. The rules are very clear and well printed. Yet he offers his pupils no help at all in putting them into practice. Grace teaches in a far more effective way. Grace is just as clear about everything it asks. The standard it sets is even higher than the law demanded. But it adds one thing more: it works IN us.

His grace presents salvation to all. The verse also says it is educating us. The change from "all men" to "us" is important, and ought not to be overlooked. The one is the universal message of God, which may or may not be received. The other is the clear effect it has whenever souls receive that message in faith… Some put the Christian back under the law as his rule of life after he has believed the gospel. No mistake is worse. Nothing goes more against the teaching of the apostle. Christ alone remains — not only the Saviour, but the Way, the Truth, and the Life.

We are glad to turn our backs on our former life; we deny ungodliness and worldly lusts. These two things make up the life of the world. They mean, "We won't have God, and we will please ourselves." But for us, God has become so attractive through the gospel that we cannot live without Him.

Notice too that it is not simply a question of fleshly but of worldly lusts. All of it was hatred of God, and discontent with what He gives as our portion. So we give in to a craving that is never satisfied, always wanting what we do not have.

Having brought this salvation, grace instructs us fully about our walk in this world. That instruction covers our relation to ourselves, to other people, and to God. We renounce all ungodliness, and all desires that find their satisfaction in this world. We are to hold the will of the flesh in check in every respect and live soberly. We are to acknowledge the claims of others and live righteously. We are to own the rights of God over our hearts and live in godliness.

Grace instructs us to renounce all ungodliness and all desires that find their satisfaction in this age. But grace does more than that; it supplies the power to do it. It gives the believer a new nature and the Holy Spirit. Walking in the power of all this, he does not fulfil the lusts of the flesh. The believer, saved by grace, has renounced ungodliness and worldly lusts. Now he is to walk with grace as his guide, instructor and power.

Someone may say that we are not in as coarse an atmosphere as Crete. But we are in a world that is as ungodly as ever, and it is wrapped up in its own affairs… There are many things to which we must say that difficult word "No!"

This is not an ideal to hope for in the future. It is for "this present world." No matter how contrary the world is, it is here and now that grace enables a fruitful life of faith.

So there are two appearings: grace has appeared, and the glory of our blessed Lord will appear. Between these two appearings, those who have been brought into the possession of grace are to display true and practical Christianity. Without doubt the appearing of grace began when our Lord became man. It was seen in the whole of His life... it was declared at the cross... and it has continued ever since in the preaching of the good news.

The one article covering the two objects links them together. It does not make them identical. It joins them here on purpose, to give one combined outlook. "The blessed hope" is the only thing that can satisfy the heart. It means being in the presence of Christ on high, changed at His coming into His likeness, and with Him for ever. "The appearing of the" divine "glory" belongs with it, and follows at the right time. It is the display of divine power, and our renewed souls cannot help longing for it, for it shuts out all moral and physical evil and every crafty work of Satan.

"That blessed hope" is the coming of the Lord Jesus for His saints, and so it is unmixed blessing. "The appearing of the glory of the great God and our Savior Jesus Christ" is His later showing to all the world in power and great glory. To many this will be blessing; to many others solemn judgment.

The words "our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ" are arranged in the original so that they may, and beyond question do, refer to the same Person. It is not God and, separately, the Saviour Jesus Christ. The One who will appear in glory is our great God as well as our Saviour Jesus Christ. What a display of the dignity of His person — yes, of His Deity! And what a glorious event we are waiting for!

The object before us is what forms our character. The Christian's object is the Lord in glory... The essential thing for the salvation of the soul is certainly Christ and His work for us, received by faith. But if a believer lacks the true hope, then even with that, the gap left can never be repaired.

Here is a man from Crete who has been converted. This wild beast of a man is fully tamed. He now plods on serving his master in a sober, upright and godly way. But suppose he had nothing to look forward to! Life might then look very drab to him. Grace teaches him to lift up his eyes and look for the glory that is coming... That glory will be the fulfilment of all the hopes grace has awakened.